Center stage Quote by Henry Cloud
““Entitlement is a demand for special treatment. Instead of being grateful for ordinary, “good-enough” resources and situations, we demand the best. Here are a few examples of entitlement: feeling that I deserve a better lot in life than I received a sense that people need to make restitution for their sins against me a need for others to apologize for hurting me before I will get better an inability to feel loved when I am not front and center stage a sense of deprivation when I am not made special to others feeling that people don’t treat me with the respect I deserve Obviously, entitlement destroys safety, because no normal human can fulfill our demands! It’s impossible to love an entitled person, as some fault, empathic misstep, or insensitivity will send the entire relationship tumbling down. The entitled person must be listened to and understood perfectly at all times, or she feels injured and wounded. The end result is isolation. The antidote to entitlement is forgiveness in two directions. We need to ask forgiveness for our own imperfections. And we need to learn to forgive others for not meeting our outrageous expectations.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John Townsend, 1992
Entitlement is expecting special treatment beyond what is reasonably available, leading to resentment and isolation.
In simple terms: Expecting special treatment harms relationships.
Cultivate realistic expectations and forgiveness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- workplace dynamics
- family interactions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can I recognize my own entitlement?
- What steps foster realistic expectations?
Entitlement may stem from unmet emotional needs, making change challenging.