--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't kid yourself. Be honest with…" description: "\"Don't kid yourself. Be honest with yourself. Take your own inventory.\" — Jack Canfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2af/jack-canfield-796_be-honest-with-yours_don-t-kid-yourself-be-honest-with-yourse_186447.png" --- # Don't kid yourself. Be honest with yourself. Take your own… ![“Don't kid yourself. Be honest with yourself. Take your own inventory.” quote by Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2af/jack-canfield-796_be-honest-with-yours_don-t-kid-yourself-be-honest-with-yourse_186447.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2af/jack-canfield-796_be-honest-with-yours_don-t-kid-yourself-be-honest-with-yourse_186447.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2af/jack-canfield-796_be-honest-with-yours_don-t-kid-yourself-be-honest-with-yourse_186447.png) > “Don't kid yourself. Be honest with yourself. Take your own inventory.” [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-deception hinders growth; honest self‑assessment is essential for progress. **In simple terms:** Be honest with yourself and assess yourself. Key Takeaway Practice honest self‑inventory regularly. Themes self‑awareness growth integrity Mood introspective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career review - health check - relationship evaluation Key Concepts psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you avoiding? - How can you create a safe space for self‑reflection? A Different Perspective Self‑audit can be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be honest with yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-honest-with-yourself/) [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Inventory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-inventory-1980271/) [Honest with yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-with-yourself/) [Inventory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventory/) [Kid Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid-honest-1343241/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [I guess it has to be healthy, you have to be honest with yourself and I think that's when ego is okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/i-guess-it-has-to-be-healthy-you-have-to-be-honest-with-yourself-and/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be-honest-with-yourself-you-can/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Be honest with yourself and lie to everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/be-honest-with-yourself-and-lie-to-everyone-else/) [Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/) > [Recipe for success: Be polite, prepare yourself for whatever you are asked to do, keep yourself tidy, be cheerful, don't be envious, be honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/recipe-for-success-be-polite-prepare-yourself-for-whatever-you-are/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [In terms of getting people to experiment more and take more risk, there are at least three things that immediately come to my mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-terms-of-getting-people-to-experiment-more-and-take-more-risk/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Be honest. Be honest with yourself, be honest with, you know, your fellow politicians. This is a rare quality of politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-ying-jeou/be-honest-be-honest-with-yourself-be-honest-with-you-know-your-fellow/) [Ma Ying-jeou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-ying-jeou/) > [You're always learning about yourself, if you're honest with yourself. It's very tough to be honest with yourself. We all are dishonest with ourselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/you-re-always-learning-about-yourself-if-you-re-honest-with-yourself/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [Love is being honest with yourself at all times being honest with the other person at all times telling, listening, respecting the truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-polis-schutz/love-is-being-honest-with-yourself-at-all-times-being-honest-with-the/) [Susan Polis Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-polis-schutz/) > [When you know something or someone in your life is unhealthy or unproductive, that you have grown beyond where they are and where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-you-know-something-or-someone-in-your-life-is-unhealthy-or/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Be honest with yourself and with people always do everything on time. Never give up, go to your goals, even if all the bad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/be-honest-with-yourself-and-with-people-always-do-everything-on-time/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Being honest when you're dealing with others is easier to do because your honesty is on the table for all to view...Being honest with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/being-honest-when-you-re-dealing-with-others-is-easier-to-do-because/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [You are honest enough by nature to be able to see and judge your own self clearly - and that is a great thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enid-blyton/you-are-honest-enough-by-nature-to-be-able-to-see-and-judge-your-own/) [Enid Blyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enid-blyton/) > [Everybody knows what they were kind of drawn towards or what they're gifted at and it's more of courage and looking at yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/everybody-knows-what-they-were-kind-of-drawn-towards-or-what-they-re/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I think, as a filmmaker, it's important to be honest with yourself at all times in terms of what's working and what's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-wingard/i-think-as-a-filmmaker-it-s-important-to-be-honest-with-yourself-at/) [Adam Wingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-wingard/) > [You learn how to do good work by being honest with yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/you-learn-how-to-do-good-work-by-being-honest-with-yourself/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) ## More by Jack Canfield > [“ Around our pillows golden ladders rise, And up and down the skies, With winged sandals shod, The angels come, and go, the Messengers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/around-our-pillows-golden-ladders-rise-and-up-and-down-the-skies-with/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-you-really-need-help-people-will-respond-sincerity-means/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [True freedom is an inward state of being. Once it is attained, no situation in the world can bind one or limit one's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/true-freedom-is-an-inward-state-of-being-once-it-is-attained-no/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I like Dr. Daniel Amen's 18/40/60 Rule: When you're 18, you worry about what everybody is thinking of you; when you're 40, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-like-dr-daniel-amen-s-18-40-60-rule-when-you-re-18-you-worry-about/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“ Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer. -Author Unknown ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/leave-sooner-drive-slower-live-longer-author-unknown/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I believe that people make their own luck by great preparation and good strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-believe-that-people-make-their-own-luck-by-great-preparation-and/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [You don't know you're going to get a 'No' until you ask, and if you don't ask, you've given yourself the No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/you-don-t-know-you-re-going-to-get-a-no-until-you-ask-and-if-you-don/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [When Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner asked a roomful of Olympic hopefuls if they had a list of written goals, every one raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-olympic-decathlon-gold-medalist-bruce-jenner-asked-a-roomful-of/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“ When the Angels arrive, the devils leave. -Egyptian Proverb ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-the-angels-arrive-the-devils-leave-egyptian-proverb/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. -Psalm 34:7 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/the-angel-of-the-lord-encamps-around-those-who-fear-him-and-he/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Remember, you and you alone are responsible for maintaining your energy. Give up blaming, complaining and excuse making, and keep taking action in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/remember-you-and-you-alone-are-responsible-for-maintaining-your/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [If you go to a tree with an ax and take five whacks at the tree every day, it doesn't matter if it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-go-to-a-tree-with-an-ax-and-take-five-whacks-at-the-tree-every/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I think setting goals is critical; having deadlines for ourselves- how much by when? Too many people have these big dreams where they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-think-setting-goals-is-critical-having-deadlines-for-ourselves-how/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Don't worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/don-t-worry-about-failures-worry-about-the-chances-you-miss-when-you/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) [Explore all 361 Jack Canfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) ## More Be honest with yourself quotes > [I guess it has to be healthy, you have to be honest with yourself and I think that's when ego is okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/i-guess-it-has-to-be-healthy-you-have-to-be-honest-with-yourself-and/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [I think, as a filmmaker, it's important to be honest with yourself at all times in terms of what's working and what's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-wingard/i-think-as-a-filmmaker-it-s-important-to-be-honest-with-yourself-at/) [Adam Wingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-wingard/) > [Everybody knows what they were kind of drawn towards or what they're gifted at and it's more of courage and looking at yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/everybody-knows-what-they-were-kind-of-drawn-towards-or-what-they-re/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [You are honest enough by nature to be able to see and judge your own self clearly - and that is a great thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enid-blyton/you-are-honest-enough-by-nature-to-be-able-to-see-and-judge-your-own/) [Enid Blyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enid-blyton/) > [Being honest when you're dealing with others is easier to do because your honesty is on the table for all to view...Being honest with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/being-honest-when-you-re-dealing-with-others-is-easier-to-do-because/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [Be honest with yourself and with people always do everything on time. Never give up, go to your goals, even if all the bad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/be-honest-with-yourself-and-with-people-always-do-everything-on-time/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [When you know something or someone in your life is unhealthy or unproductive, that you have grown beyond where they are and where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-you-know-something-or-someone-in-your-life-is-unhealthy-or/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Love is being honest with yourself at all times being honest with the other person at all times telling, listening, respecting the truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-polis-schutz/love-is-being-honest-with-yourself-at-all-times-being-honest-with-the/) [Susan Polis Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-polis-schutz/) > [“A new building built on old foundation can't last. Maybe for a while; but when the earthquakes come and the floods flow in, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/a-new-building-built-on-old-foundation-can-t-last-maybe-for-a-while/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [You're always learning about yourself, if you're honest with yourself. It's very tough to be honest with yourself. We all are dishonest with ourselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/you-re-always-learning-about-yourself-if-you-re-honest-with-yourself/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [Be honest. Be honest with yourself, be honest with, you know, your fellow politicians. This is a rare quality of politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-ying-jeou/be-honest-be-honest-with-yourself-be-honest-with-you-know-your-fellow/) [Ma Ying-jeou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-ying-jeou/) > [In terms of getting people to experiment more and take more risk, there are at least three things that immediately come to my mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-terms-of-getting-people-to-experiment-more-and-take-more-risk/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Recipe for success: Be polite, prepare yourself for whatever you are asked to do, keep yourself tidy, be cheerful, don't be envious, be honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/recipe-for-success-be-polite-prepare-yourself-for-whatever-you-are/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [Be honest with yourself and lie to everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/be-honest-with-yourself-and-lie-to-everyone-else/) [Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/) > [As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be-honest-with-yourself-you-can/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Browse all 64 Be honest with yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-honest-with-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't kid yourself. Be honest with yourself. 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