--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We often mistake the original part of…" description: "\"We often mistake the original part of ourselves for a weakness.\" — Mason Cooley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/mason-cooley-92_failure_we-often-mistake-the-original-part-of-ou_1009152.png" --- # We often mistake the original part of ourselves for a… ![“We often mistake the original part of ourselves for a weakness.” quote by Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/mason-cooley-92_failure_we-often-mistake-the-original-part-of-ou_1009152.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/mason-cooley-92_failure_we-often-mistake-the-original-part-of-ou_1009152.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/mason-cooley-92_failure_we-often-mistake-the-original-part-of-ou_1009152.png) > “We often mistake the original part of ourselves for a weakness.” [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. People often view their authentic self as a flaw, mistaking inner truth for weakness. **In simple terms:** True self is seen as weak. Key Takeaway Embrace your authentic self. Themes self‑acceptance identity vulnerability Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - relationships - leadership Key Concepts psychology self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability affect trust? - What parts of yourself do you hide? A Different Perspective Authenticity can be socially risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-original-2181111/) [Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original/) [Original Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-weakness-2181110/) [Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality/) [Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originals/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [To be original, or different, is felt to be "dangerous."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/to-be-original-or-different-is-felt-to-be-dangerous/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [I'll develop my own image. I'm an original man. A one and only. I just need some help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-ll-develop-my-own-image-i-m-an-original-man-a-one-and-only-i-just/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [The best way to be original is to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-best-way-to-be-original-is-to-be-yourself/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [No man who values originality will ever be original. But try to tell the truth as you see it, try to do any bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/no-man-who-values-originality-will-ever-be-original-but-try-to-tell/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Instead of trying to be original, try being you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aegelis/instead-of-trying-to-be-original-try-being-you/) [Aegelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aegelis/) > [“Be yourself because an original is worth more than just a copy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/be-yourself-because-an-original-is-worth-more-than-just-a-copy/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [If you're not prepared to be wrong, you're not prepared to be original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/if-you-re-not-prepared-to-be-wrong-you-re-not-prepared-to-be-original/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“Improvement is not enough, you also need innovation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/improvement-is-not-enough-you-also-need-innovation/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Be yourself. Be original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona/be-yourself-be-original/) [Fiona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona/) > [“You couldn't get more original than Laura. Laura. Yes, she was an original, all right. One of a kind. 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Originality is a product, not an intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/being-good-is-more-important-than-being-original-originality-is-a/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [When people are very original, sometimes they are original as a way to resist the mainstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/when-people-are-very-original-sometimes-they-are-original-as-a-way-to/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) ## More by Mason Cooley > [Nostalgia keeps dissolving the ironic narratives in which I have contained my past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/nostalgia-keeps-dissolving-the-ironic-narratives-in-which-i-have/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Even the most abject have a sense of superiority based on powerful though undefined merits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-abject-have-a-sense-of-superiority-based-on-powerful/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Money comes to life as it is spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/money-comes-to-life-as-it-is-spent/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Even the most fickle are faithful to a few bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-fickle-are-faithful-to-a-few-bad-habits/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Rage is exciting, but leaves me confused and exhausted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/rage-is-exciting-but-leaves-me-confused-and-exhausted/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Literary tradition is full of lies about poverty-the jolly beggar, the poor but happy milkmaid, the wholesome diet of porridge, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/literary-tradition-is-full-of-lies-about-poverty-the-jolly-beggar-the/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Experience teaches us, but we scarcely know what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/experience-teaches-us-but-we-scarcely-know-what/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The body has a mind of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-body-has-a-mind-of-its-own/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [In retirement, I look for days off from my days off. 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