--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-satisfaction and self-pity are both…" description: "\"Self-satisfaction and self-pity are both condemned. What are people permitted to feel about themselves?\" — Mason Cooley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/mason-cooley-92_feels_self-satisfaction-and-self-pity-are-both_968838.png" --- # Self-satisfaction and self-pity are both condemned. What… ![“Self-satisfaction and self-pity are both condemned. What are people permitted to feel about themselves?” quote by Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/mason-cooley-92_feels_self-satisfaction-and-self-pity-are-both_968838.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/mason-cooley-92_feels_self-satisfaction-and-self-pity-are-both_968838.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/mason-cooley-92_feels_self-satisfaction-and-self-pity-are-both_968838.png) > “Self-satisfaction and self-pity are both condemned. What are people permitted to feel about themselves?” [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑satisfaction and self‑pity are both harmful; we need balanced self‑assessment. **In simple terms:** Both extremes are bad. Key Takeaway Seek realistic self‑view. Themes self‑esteem humility balance Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal growth - mental health - relationships Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What feelings are acceptable to acknowledge? - How can you balance pride and humility? A Different Perspective People may fear judgment, leading to denial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-pity/) [Self satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-satisfaction/) ## Related quotes > [The really wonderful moments of joy in this world are not the moments of self-satisfaction, but self-forgetfulness. Standing on the edge of the Grand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-really-wonderful-moments-of-joy-in-this-world-are-not-the-moments/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [A writer with her work needs to be like a dog with a bone all the time. She needs to know where she's hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/a-writer-with-her-work-needs-to-be-like-a-dog-with-a-bone-all-the/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [One's self-satisfaction is an untaxed kind of property which it is very unpleasant to find deprecated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/one-s-self-satisfaction-is-an-untaxed-kind-of-property-which-it-is/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Be original, be yourself. In trying to become like someone else, we are compromising our own self being. If we are not satisfied with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/be-original-be-yourself-in-trying-to-become-like-someone-else-we-are/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [If the opponent is weak, victory can make you arrogant; but conquering over a powerful opponent not only shows your ability, but also gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-opponent-is-weak-victory-can-make-you-arrogant-but-conquering/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So spirituality itself should be self satisfying. If you are spiritually endowed, then you are self satisfied. And this self satisfaction within you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/so-spirituality-itself-should-be-self-satisfying-if-you-are/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/success-is-peace-of-mind-which-is-a-direct-result-of-self/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Domesticity is the enemy of art. I don't know if that's true. You can write good happy songs. So, I don't think it's necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/domesticity-is-the-enemy-of-art-i-don-t-know-if-that-s-true-you-can/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [Working hard becomes a habit, a serious kind of fun. You get self-satisfaction from pushing your self to the limit, knowing that all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/working-hard-becomes-a-habit-a-serious-kind-of-fun-you-get-self/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [Self-pity makes people callous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/self-pity-makes-people-callous/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [If I could do my life over, I would try to cleanse at least my pleasures of self-pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/if-i-could-do-my-life-over-i-would-try-to-cleanse-at-least-my/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Self-pity dries up our sympathy for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/self-pity-dries-up-our-sympathy-for-others/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Self-pity is the worst disability a person can have, Callie. It's crippling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-terrell/self-pity-is-the-worst-disability-a-person-can-have-callie-it-s/) Shelley Terrell > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. 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Thus I feel both self-indulgent and deprived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/my-intentions-go-one-way-my-desires-another-thus-i-feel-both-self/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The Puritan sours his pleasures by disguising them as duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-puritan-sours-his-pleasures-by-disguising-them-as-duties/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Unlike the actual, the fictional explains itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/unlike-the-actual-the-fictional-explains-itself/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Vacations prove that a life of pleasure is overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/vacations-prove-that-a-life-of-pleasure-is-overrated/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Outside literature, high-flown sentiments are merely exasperating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/outside-literature-high-flown-sentiments-are-merely-exasperating/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) [Explore all 1,401 Mason Cooley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More Feels quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. 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