Respect Quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
““The word success is an ambiguous word. Success with respect to the outside? Or success with respect to oneself? And if it is a success with respect to the outside, then how do you evaluate it? Very often outside success is irrelevant, wrong, and misplaced. So how can one talk about it? Externally, you may think I am successful because people write about some aspects of my work. But that is an external judgment. And I have no idea as to how to value that judgment.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, 1990
Success can be judged by personal fulfillment rather than external accolades, which may be misleading or irrelevant.
In simple terms: True success is internal, not just external praise.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize personal growth over outside validation.
Themes
self‑actualization
values
evaluation
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- creative projects
- personal milestones
- public recognition
Key Concepts
intrinsic motivation
self‑determination theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What does success feel like to you?
- How do you separate your worth from others’ opinions?
A Different Perspective
External metrics can distort personal meaning and cause anxiety.
