---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the narcissistic personality disorder…"
description: "\"“the narcissistic personality disorder are: Grandiosity, extreme self-involvement, and lack of interest and empathy for others, in spite of the pursuit..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/john-bradshaw-2227_jealousy_the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-ar_2871939.jpg"
---

#  the narcissistic personality disorder are: Grandiosity…

![“the narcissistic personality disorder are: Grandiosity, extreme self-involvement, and lack of interest and empathy for others, in spite of the pursuit of others to obtain admiration and approval. The narcissist is endlessly motivated to seek perfection in everything he does. Such a personality is…” quote by John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/john-bradshaw-2227_jealousy_the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-ar_2871939.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/john-bradshaw-2227_jealousy_the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-ar_2871939.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/john-bradshaw-2227_jealousy_the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-ar_2871939.jpg)

> ““the narcissistic personality disorder are: Grandiosity, extreme self-involvement, and lack of interest and empathy for others, in spite of the pursuit of others to obtain admiration and approval. The narcissist is endlessly motivated to seek perfection in everything he does. Such a personality is driven to the acquisition of wealth, power and beauty and the need to find others who will mirror and admire his grandiosity. Underneath this external facade there is an emptiness filled with envy and rage. The core of this emptiness is internalized shame.””

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Narcissistic traits mask deep emptiness, envy, and shame, driving a relentless pursuit of external validation and perfection.

**In simple terms:** Narcissism hides inner emptiness and shame.

Key Takeaway

Address underlying shame.

Themes

narcissism validation emptiness

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

psychological self‑help

When to use this quote

- therapy
- relationships
- personal growth

Key Concepts

psychology self‑esteem

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives your need for approval?
- How can you nurture inner worth?

A Different Perspective

Change requires confronting painful self‑knowledge.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Approval Narcissist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval-narcissist-3934534/) [Disorder Grandiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorder-grandiosity-3934533/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) [Narcissist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissist/) [Narcissist Endlessly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissist-endlessly-3934535/) [Narcissistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissistic/) [Narcissistic Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissistic-personality-1476837/) [Personality disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality-disorder/)

## Related quotes

> [I believe that narcissistic personality disorder is a middle- and upper-class disease because you have to have the means to indulge it; you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-colin-campbell/i-believe-that-narcissistic-personality-disorder-is-a-middle-and/)

[Lady Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-colin-campbell/)

> [“Narcissistic personality disorder is named for Narcissus, from Greek mythology, who fell in love with his own reflection. Freud used the term to describe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-w-black/narcissistic-personality-disorder-is-named-for-narcissus-from-greek/)

[Donald W. Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-w-black/)

> [“narcissistic personality disorder. This is the one you probably know something about. Its primary characteristics are grandiosity and lack of empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-is-the-one-you-probably-know/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“narcissistic personality disorder, or NPD. According to DSM-IV, NPD is distinguished by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/narcissistic-personality-disorder-or-npd-according-to-dsm-iv-npd-is/)

[Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/)

> [There is no cure for narcissistic personality disorder. If you have a relationship with someone who has it, there will be a certain level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-colin-campbell/there-is-no-cure-for-narcissistic-personality-disorder-if-you-have-a/)

[Lady Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-colin-campbell/)

> [Narcissism, like the other personality disorders, is a condition that's known as ego-syntonic. In other words, the paranoid person really does believe that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/narcissism-like-the-other-personality-disorders-is-a-condition-that-s/)

[Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/)

> [“Simply because a person has a more avoidant attachment style does not in and of itself make them a narcissist. Second, “avoidant” is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-tanasugarn/simply-because-a-person-has-a-more-avoidant-attachment-style-does-not/)

[Annie Tanasugarn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-tanasugarn/)

> [Narcissism falls along the axis of what psychologists call personality disorders, one of a group that includes antisocial, dependent, histrionic, avoidant and borderline personalities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/narcissism-falls-along-the-axis-of-what-psychologists-call/)

[Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/)

> [“There came a time in my life when I had to admit to myself that I have some very clear narcissistic tendencies. Ironically, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-engel/there-came-a-time-in-my-life-when-i-had-to-admit-to-myself-that-i/)

[Beverly Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-engel/)

> [“The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is the reference manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose psychological problems, defines the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/the-diagnostic-and-statistical-manual-of-mental-disorders-which-is/)

[Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/)

> [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/)

> [“He’s already run the standard battery of questions, checked the check boxes, computed the data: hears voices = schizophrenic; too agitated = paranoid; too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-t-lee/he-s-already-run-the-standard-battery-of-questions-checked-the-check/)

[Mira T. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-t-lee/)

> [“When I think about what it would take to achieve freedom from all psychological stuff, the response that comes is this: life is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-m-ingram/when-i-think-about-what-it-would-take-to-achieve-freedom-from-all/)

[Daniel M. Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-m-ingram/)

> [“The word is dissociate. There is no 'a' before the 'ss'. People invariably say dis-a-ssociate, which, if you're suffering Disso-ciative Identity Disorder/Multiple Personality Disorder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-jamieson/the-word-is-dissociate-there-is-no-a-before-the-ss-people-invariably/)

[Alice Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-jamieson/)

> [“Shorter believes that psychosomatic illnesses (such as leg paralysis at the turn of the twentieth century or multiple personality disorder at the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-watters/shorter-believes-that-psychosomatic-illnesses-such-as-leg-paralysis/)

[Ethan Watters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-watters/)

## More by John Bradshaw

> [Recovery begins with embracing our pain and taking the risk to share it with others. We do this by joining a group and talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/recovery-begins-with-embracing-our-pain-and-taking-the-risk-to-share/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“Generally speaking, most of our vital, spontaneous, instinctual life gets shamed. Children are shamed for being too rambunctious, for wanting things and for laughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/generally-speaking-most-of-our-vital-spontaneous-instinctual-life/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“A covert kind of sexual abuse occurs when Dad or Mom talk about sex in front of the children when the age level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/a-covert-kind-of-sexual-abuse-occurs-when-dad-or-mom-talk-about-sex/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they cant feel anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-when-people-are-beaten-and-hurt/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“Love-that which biologists, nervous about being misunderstood call "attachment"-fuels the bond between dog and master or mistress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/love-that-which-biologists-nervous-about-being-misunderstood-call/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“(b) Boundary Violation. This involves children witnessing parents in sexual behavior. They may walk in on it because parents don’t provide closed or locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/b-boundary-violation-this-involves-children-witnessing-parents-in/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“A toxically shamed person is divided within himself and must create a false-self cover-up to hide his sense of being flawed and defective. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/a-toxically-shamed-person-is-divided-within-himself-and-must-create-a/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [I define a 'good person' as somebody who is fully conscious of their own limitations. They know their strengths, but they also know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-define-a-good-person-as-somebody-who-is-fully-conscious-of-their/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“The ego defense of conversion transforms developmental needs into the need for something else. This could be food, money or excessive attention. In Max’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-ego-defense-of-conversion-transforms-developmental-needs-into-the/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“In fact, the most paradoxical aspect of neurotic shame is that it is the core motivator of the superachieved and the underachieved, the star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/in-fact-the-most-paradoxical-aspect-of-neurotic-shame-is-that-it-is/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“If our primary caregivers are shame-based, they will act shameless and pass their toxic shame onto us. There is no way to teach self-value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/if-our-primary-caregivers-are-shame-based-they-will-act-shameless-and/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [Ego is to the true self what a flashlight is to a spotlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/ego-is-to-the-true-self-what-a-flashlight-is-to-a-spotlight/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“If a cat falls out of a high-rise building or a tall tree, it has another trick available: forming a “parachute” by spreading all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/if-a-cat-falls-out-of-a-high-rise-building-or-a-tall-tree-it-has/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“In the past, when dogs’ functions were mostly rural, it was accepted that they were intrinsically messy and needed to be managed on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/in-the-past-when-dogs-functions-were-mostly-rural-it-was-accepted/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“IDENTIFICATION When victimization takes place the victim often identifies with the persecutor. By so doing the victim no longer feels the helplessness and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/identification-when-victimization-takes-place-the-victim-often/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

[Explore all 178 John Bradshaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

## More Jealousy quotes

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“To be mature is, we're told, to move beyond possessiveness. Jealousy is for babies. The mature person knows that no one owns anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-be-mature-is-we-re-told-to-move-beyond-possessiveness-jealousy-is/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [Being with a jealous person is better than someone who never cares about what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-with-a-jealous-person-is-better-than-someone-who-never-cares/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Dont hate me cause ur man want me dont be jealouse cause hes thinking of when he says he loves u dont hate him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/dont-hate-me-cause-ur-man-want-me-dont-be-jealouse-cause-hes-thinking/)

[Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/)

> [~Haters only Hate things they cant have and the people they cant be. its just a little thing called Jealousy~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/haters-only-hate-things-they-cant-have-and-the-people-they-cant-be/)

[Im Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-nothing/)

> [“Love is like a box, fair on every side, jealousy is like a triangle, sharp at every corner,miss is like a circle,endless”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabil-marzuq-khairi/love-is-like-a-box-fair-on-every-side-jealousy-is-like-a-triangle/)

[Nabil Marzuq Khairi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabil-marzuq-khairi/)

> [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/)

[Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/)

> [But love is different for every person. For some it's hate, for some it's joy, for some it's fear, for some it's jealousy, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/but-love-is-different-for-every-person-for-some-it-s-hate-for-some-it/)

[James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/)

> [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/)

[Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/)

> [Men are jealous of every woman, even when they dont have the slightest interest in her themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-neruda/men-are-jealous-of-every-woman-even-when-they-dont-have-the-slightest/)

[Jan Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-neruda/)

> [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [I used to get so jealous if my wife liked another band more than my own. Come to think of it, I still do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/i-used-to-get-so-jealous-if-my-wife-liked-another-band-more-than-my/)

[Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/)

> [Let your love drive you mad, mad about life, mad about the smell of Jasmine. Mad about the painting that reminds you of one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/let-your-love-drive-you-mad-mad-about-life-mad-about-the-smell-of/)

[Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/)

[Browse all 2,945 Jealousy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“the narcissistic personality disorder are: Grandiosity, extreme self-involvement, and lack of interest and empathy for others, in spite of the pursuit of others to obtain admiration and approval. The narcissist is endlessly motivated to seek perfection in everything he does. Such a personality is driven to the acquisition of wealth, power and beauty and the need to find others who will mirror and admire his grandiosity. Underneath this external facade there is an emptiness filled with envy and rage. The core of this emptiness is internalized shame.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Bradshaw"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-are-grandiosity-extreme-self/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Jealousy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-are-grandiosity-extreme-self/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/john-bradshaw-2227_jealousy_the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-ar_2871939.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/john-bradshaw-2227_jealousy_the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-ar_2871939.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf4/john-bradshaw-2227_jealousy_the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-ar_2871939.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“the narcissistic personality disorder are: Grandiosity, extreme self-involvement, and lack of interest and…” — John Bradshaw",
                "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": "John Bradshaw",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“the narcissistic personality disorder are: Grandiosity,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-are-grandiosity-extreme-self/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-are-grandiosity-extreme-self/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
