--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If people are really narcissistic or have…" description: "\"If people are really narcissistic or have a need to be seen as more than they really are, or to be admired as having it all together, then they cannot ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/henry-cloud-1322_narcissistic_if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-hav_2607103.jpg" --- # If people are really narcissistic or have a need to be… ![“If people are really narcissistic or have a need to be seen as more than they really are, or to be admired as having it all together, then they cannot be followed and trusted by others.” quote by Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/henry-cloud-1322_narcissistic_if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-hav_2607103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/henry-cloud-1322_narcissistic_if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-hav_2607103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/henry-cloud-1322_narcissistic_if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-hav_2607103.jpg) > “If people are really narcissistic or have a need to be seen as more than they really are, or to be admired as having it all together, then they cannot be followed and trusted by others.” [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Narcissism involves a need for admiration and perfection, which erodes trust and followability. **In simple terms:** Narcissists seek admiration, making trust hard. Key Takeaway Beware of leaders who demand unrealistic perfection. Themes trust leadership psychology Mood cautious analytical Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - team management - personal relationships - public speaking Key Concepts narcissism authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Can you identify healthy confidence? - How to balance self‑esteem and humility? A Different Perspective Some may argue charisma can coexist with trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Every child has a legitimate narcissistic need to be noticed, understood, taken seriously, and respected by his mother. In the first weeks and months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/every-child-has-a-legitimate-narcissistic-need-to-be-noticed/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [I think being self-referential is really narcissistic. Who's to say anybody's even thinking of you that much? But some of these movies that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-think-being-self-referential-is-really-narcissistic-who-s-to-say/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [“You have more power than you realise. There is nothing your mother can really do. Her Narcissistic Rage is only toddlers’ tantrums, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danu-morrigan/you-have-more-power-than-you-realise-there-is-nothing-your-mother-can/) [Danu Morrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danu-morrigan/) > [I don't feel the need to be seen for the sake of being seen. If there is work that's worth seeing, then I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/i-don-t-feel-the-need-to-be-seen-for-the-sake-of-being-seen-if-there/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [Sum things need to b seen to believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/sum-things-need-to-b-seen-to-believe/) Author Name > [What's so crazy about it is I grew up with this need to be seen, and suddenly I'm in a place where I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/what-s-so-crazy-about-it-is-i-grew-up-with-this-need-to-be-seen-and/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [“You have to believe the lie to live it, to make others see you the way you need to be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/you-have-to-believe-the-lie-to-live-it-to-make-others-see-you-the-way/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [Our deepest need is to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/our-deepest-need-is-to-be-seen/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Jodi Melnick is hotly self-absorbed. Her onstage musicians are much too loud, and like so many narcissistic performers, she goes on much too long:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/jodi-melnick-is-hotly-self-absorbed-her-onstage-musicians-are-much/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [The discussion of ideas as opposed to the American narcissistic obsession with what's going on with the self, that's the general thing people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-crouch/the-discussion-of-ideas-as-opposed-to-the-american-narcissistic/) [Stanley Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-crouch/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [“Often, her mate is the child of a narcissist, already indoctrinated to regard exploitation and disregard as love. Others lured by the narcissistic aura…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elan-golomb/often-her-mate-is-the-child-of-a-narcissist-already-indoctrinated-to/) Elan Golomb > [Ultimately there is no power to narcissistic, self-indulgent thinking. Authentic thinking originates with an encounter with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/ultimately-there-is-no-power-to-narcissistic-self-indulgent-thinking/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) cannot be medicated. It is treatable only through therapy. The problem is therapy is rarely sought by the afflicted. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/narcissistic-personality-disorder-npd-cannot-be-medicated-it-is/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [“If I’m my biggest fan, the only person in the stadium is probably me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-m-my-biggest-fan-the-only-person-in-the-stadium-is-probably-me/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More by Henry Cloud > [The amount of truth a relationship can handle is proportional to the amount of perceived love that's present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-amount-of-truth-a-relationship-can-handle-is-proportional-to-the/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Are we paying attention to what is important, inhibiting the things that will not help or will hurt us, and keeping current?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/are-we-paying-attention-to-what-is-important-inhibiting-the-things/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Neglecting them leads to spiritual and emotional problems; having them met, however, frees us to meet the needs of others cheerfully and without resentment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/neglecting-them-leads-to-spiritual-and-emotional-problems-having-them/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“we need people to whom we can talk and who will understand without invalidating our feelings by saying the following: You shouldn’t feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/we-need-people-to-whom-we-can-talk-and-who-will-understand-without/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Leadership is not taken, it is given. People give leadership to those that they trust. They allow people that they trust to have influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/leadership-is-not-taken-it-is-given-people-give-leadership-to-those/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“What appear to be dangerous and even bad periods in some lives can actually bring them closer to the Lord, because these individuals honestly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/what-appear-to-be-dangerous-and-even-bad-periods-in-some-lives-can/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“We are drawn to Jesus because “he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). People who are growing up are also drawn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/we-are-drawn-to-jesus-because-he-learned-obedience-from-what-he/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [If you want to become healthy, you have to surround yourself with a group of people that are getting healthy, and you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/if-you-want-to-become-healthy-you-have-to-surround-yourself-with-a/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Dont use all-or-nothing thinking. Take each day as its own day, and dont worry about it if you mess up one day. The most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/dont-use-all-or-nothing-thinking-take-each-day-as-its-own-day-and/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Faith goes beyond reason. It goes beyond what you can see. But it is as real as anything you can touch or feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/faith-goes-beyond-reason-it-goes-beyond-what-you-can-see-but-it-is-as/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Boundaries are basically about providing structure, and structure is essential in building anything that thrives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/boundaries-are-basically-about-providing-structure-and-structure-is/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Forgiveness and opening up to more abuse are not the same thing. Forgiveness has to do with the past. Reconciliation and boundaries have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/forgiveness-and-opening-up-to-more-abuse-are-not-the-same-thing/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get even” isn’t accurate. It’s far better to say, “Don’t get mad. Set a limit!” Myth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-even-isn-t-accurate-it-s-far/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“When we fail to express our needs, we remain islands unto ourselves—detached, alone, arrogant, and proud. But when we expose our needs, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/when-we-fail-to-express-our-needs-we-remain-islands-unto-ourselves/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Receiving forgiveness when we know we’ve truly blown it is a humbling and growth-producing experience. It’s the only thing better than forgiving someone else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/receiving-forgiveness-when-we-know-we-ve-truly-blown-it-is-a-humbling/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) [Explore all 251 Henry Cloud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) ## More Narcissistic quotes > [Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) cannot be medicated. It is treatable only through therapy. The problem is therapy is rarely sought by the afflicted. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/narcissistic-personality-disorder-npd-cannot-be-medicated-it-is/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [Ultimately there is no power to narcissistic, self-indulgent thinking. Authentic thinking originates with an encounter with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/ultimately-there-is-no-power-to-narcissistic-self-indulgent-thinking/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“Often, her mate is the child of a narcissist, already indoctrinated to regard exploitation and disregard as love. Others lured by the narcissistic aura…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elan-golomb/often-her-mate-is-the-child-of-a-narcissist-already-indoctrinated-to/) Elan Golomb > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Jodi Melnick is hotly self-absorbed. Her onstage musicians are much too loud, and like so many narcissistic performers, she goes on much too long:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/jodi-melnick-is-hotly-self-absorbed-her-onstage-musicians-are-much/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [“If I’m my biggest fan, the only person in the stadium is probably me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-m-my-biggest-fan-the-only-person-in-the-stadium-is-probably-me/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [The discussion of ideas as opposed to the American narcissistic obsession with what's going on with the self, that's the general thing people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-crouch/the-discussion-of-ideas-as-opposed-to-the-american-narcissistic/) [Stanley Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-crouch/) > [I fell in love with Erica Kane the summer before my freshman year of high school. Like all red-blooded teen American boys, I'd come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/i-fell-in-love-with-erica-kane-the-summer-before-my-freshman-year-of/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) > [Adolescents swing from euphoric self-confidence and a kind of narcissistic strength in which they feel invulnerable and even immortal, to despair, self-emptiness, self-deprecation. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-e-apter/adolescents-swing-from-euphoric-self-confidence-and-a-kind-of/) [Terri E Apter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-e-apter/) > [We are to give (and take) true love without falling into the narcissistic habit of only trying to take it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/we-are-to-give-and-take-true-love-without-falling-into-the/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“But that’s the thing about narcissists. They can try to fool you, with all their heart, but in the end, they’re just fooling themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-fox/but-that-s-the-thing-about-narcissists-they-can-try-to-fool-you-with/) [Ellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-fox/) > [“I can confidently state that the greatest rescues in my life have occurred when I’ve been saved from myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-can-confidently-state-that-the-greatest-rescues-in-my-life-have/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Can we come to the point where we can accept the impossible strivings that we have, the utter inability to ever fulfill our narcissistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-levy/can-we-come-to-the-point-where-we-can-accept-the-impossible-strivings/) [Francis Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-levy/) > [Compared to other people, I am not that narcissistic. Sometimes, I don't even plan all that I wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-dhawan/compared-to-other-people-i-am-not-that-narcissistic-sometimes-i-don-t/) [Varun Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-dhawan/) > [“Narcissistic Parents often enlist other family members on their side, causing rifts and building alliances against a “bad” child. In other words, they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-burgo/narcissistic-parents-often-enlist-other-family-members-on-their-side/) Joseph Burgo Browse all 334 Narcissistic quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If people are really narcissistic or have a need to be seen as more than they really are, or to be admired as having it all together, then they cannot be followed and trusted by others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Cloud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-have-a-need-to-be-seen-as-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Narcissistic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-have-a-need-to-be-seen-as-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/henry-cloud-1322_narcissistic_if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-hav_2607103.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/henry-cloud-1322_narcissistic_if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-hav_2607103.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/henry-cloud-1322_narcissistic_if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-hav_2607103.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If people are really narcissistic or have a need to be seen as more than they really are, or to be admired…” — Henry Cloud", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Cloud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If people are really narcissistic or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-have-a-need-to-be-seen-as-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/if-people-are-really-narcissistic-or-have-a-need-to-be-seen-as-more/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```