--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a mistake to look at someone who is…" description: "\"It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive and say, \"It's easy for her, she has good self-esteem.\" One of the ways you build self-esteem ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/nathaniel-branden-2125_assertive_it-is-a-mistake-to-look-at-someone-who-i_583615.jpg" --- # It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive… ![“It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive and say, "It's easy for her, she has good self-esteem." One of the ways you build self-esteem is by being self-assertive when it is not easy to do so. There are always times when self-assertiven ess requires courage, no matter how high your…” quote by Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/nathaniel-branden-2125_assertive_it-is-a-mistake-to-look-at-someone-who-i_583615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/nathaniel-branden-2125_assertive_it-is-a-mistake-to-look-at-someone-who-i_583615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/nathaniel-branden-2125_assertive_it-is-a-mistake-to-look-at-someone-who-i_583615.jpg) > “It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive and say, "It's easy for her, she has good self-esteem." One of the ways you build self-esteem is by being self-assertive when it is not easy to do so. There are always times when self-assertiven ess requires courage, no matter how high your self-esteem.” [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-assertion requires courage even for those with high self-esteem; it builds confidence. **In simple terms:** Being assertive is brave, even if you feel confident. Key Takeaway Practice assertiveness in challenging moments. Themes self-esteem assertiveness courage Mood motivational encouraging Type self-help psychological When to use this quote - workplace negotiations - public speaking - conflict resolution - personal boundaries Key Concepts psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When have you needed courage to be assertive? - How does assertiveness affect your self-view? A Different Perspective Assertiveness alone may not fix underlying insecurities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assertive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertive/) [Assertive Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertive-easy-4791445/) [Assertive Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertive-say-4791446/) [Building self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-self-esteem/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Assertive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-assertive-2486589/) [Self Assertiven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-assertiven-4791444/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [No man is an island- he is a holon. A Janus-faced entity who, looking inward, sees himself as a self-contained unique whole, looking outward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/no-man-is-an-island-he-is-a-holon-a-janus-faced-entity-who-looking/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [the self-assertive tendency is the dynamic expression of the holon's wholeness, the integrative tendency, the dynamic expression of its partness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-self-assertive-tendency-is-the-dynamic-expression-of-the-holon-s/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/am-i-getting-nobler-better-more-helpful-more-humble-as-i-get-older-am/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Individuality is a real power inherent in all and the development and consequent expression of this power enables one to assume the responsibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-haanel/individuality-is-a-real-power-inherent-in-all-and-the-development-and/) [Charles F. 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It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/nobody-can-make-you-feel-inferior-without-your-consent-it-s-not-who/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/heavenly-father-we-come-before-you-today-to-ask-your-forgiveness-and/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The deeper you love yourself, the more the universe will affirm your worth. Then you can enjoy a lifelong love affair that brings you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-deeper-you-love-yourself-the-more-the-universe-will-affirm-your/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The table is the number one place we pass on family stories and it's the knowledge of where your family came from that helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/the-table-is-the-number-one-place-we-pass-on-family-stories-and-it-s/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [If you feel inadequate to face challenges, unworthy of love or respect, untitled to happiness, and fear assertive thought, wants, or needs- if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-you-feel-inadequate-to-face-challenges-unworthy-of-love-or-respect/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Why building self esteem?. The benefits of having self esteem are numerous. Self esteem is strongly associated with happiness, psychological resilience, and a motivating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-schiraldi/why-building-self-esteem-the-benefits-of-having-self-esteem-are/) [Glenn R. Schiraldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-schiraldi/) > [Wouldn't it be powerful if you fell in love with yourself so deeply that you would do just about anything if you knew it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/wouldn-t-it-be-powerful-if-you-fell-in-love-with-yourself-so-deeply/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The practice of assertiveness: being authentic in our dealings with others; treating our values and persons with decent respect in social contexts; refusing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/the-practice-of-assertiveness-being-authentic-in-our-dealings-with/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-is-nothing-enlightened-about-shrinking-so-that-other-people/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More by Nathaniel Branden > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [What a great teacher, a great parent, a great psychotherapist and a great coach have in common is a deep belief in the potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/what-a-great-teacher-a-great-parent-a-great-psychotherapist-and-a/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If we are happy within ourselves, we don't accept or demand that our partner should fulfill every need. We need to be comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-we-are-happy-within-ourselves-we-don-t-accept-or-demand-that-our/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The world belongs to those who persevere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/the-world-belongs-to-those-who-persevere/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Productive achievement is a consequence and an expression of health, self-esteem, not its cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/productive-achievement-is-a-consequence-and-an-expression-of-health/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Faith is the commitment of one's consciousness to beliefs for which one has no sensory evidence or rational proof. When man rejects reason as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/faith-is-the-commitment-of-one-s-consciousness-to-beliefs-for-which/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [In the nature of our existence, we must act to achieve values. And in order to act appropriately, we need to value the beneficiary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/in-the-nature-of-our-existence-we-must-act-to-achieve-values-and-in/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [I cannot remember a time when the question of why people behave as they do was not intensely interesting to me. The desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/i-cannot-remember-a-time-when-the-question-of-why-people-behave-as/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Suppose you feel you cannot accept some fact about yourself. Then own your refusal to accept. Own the block. Embrace it fully. And watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/suppose-you-feel-you-cannot-accept-some-fact-about-yourself-then-own/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Doing more of what doesn't work doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/doing-more-of-what-doesn-t-work-doesn-t-work/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [“Out of fear, out of the desire for approval, out of misguided notions of duty, people surrender themselves--their convictions and their aspirations--every day. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/out-of-fear-out-of-the-desire-for-approval-out-of-misguided-notions/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If you overcome your fear to ask someone for a date, a raise, or help with a project, that is an act of self-assertiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-you-overcome-your-fear-to-ask-someone-for-a-date-a-raise-or-help/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [It would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/it-would-be-hard-to-name-a-more-certain-sign-of-poor-self-esteem-than/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [When we bury our feelings, we also bury ourselves. It means we exist in a state of alienation. We rarely know it, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/when-we-bury-our-feelings-we-also-bury-ourselves-it-means-we-exist-in/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Explore all 183 Nathaniel Branden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) ## More Assertive quotes > [“Be calm; yet assertive. Be meek; yet courageous. Be gentle; yet bold. Be kind; yet strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman-2/be-calm-yet-assertive-be-meek-yet-courageous-be-gentle-yet-bold-be/) [Charles F Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman-2/) > [Of course you don't want to make outs on the bases , but there are times you have to be assertive in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/of-course-you-don-t-want-to-make-outs-on-the-bases-but-there-are/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [Being assertive in the home does not produce any smiling faces, but it does bring out a few tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/being-assertive-in-the-home-does-not-produce-any-smiling-faces-but-it/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [Arrogance is a mixture of impertinence, disobedience, indiscipline, rudeness, harshness, and a self-assertive nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/arrogance-is-a-mixture-of-impertinence-disobedience-indiscipline/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [I think naturally, if you're an actor, there's a high level of assertiveness that you need to have to survive this business. There's boldness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/i-think-naturally-if-you-re-an-actor-there-s-a-high-level-of/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [I was very shy and withdrawn as a child, but people know me as these assertive women. They are not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bea-arthur/i-was-very-shy-and-withdrawn-as-a-child-but-people-know-me-as-these/) [Bea Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bea-arthur/) > [Let your desire for truth transcend all minor considerations. Ignorance is invariably confident. The man of knowledge learns to realize his own needs. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/let-your-desire-for-truth-transcend-all-minor-considerations/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/the-best-defense-against-usurpatory-government-is-an-assertive/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [Out of the closets and into the museums, libraries, architectural monuments, concert halls, bookstores, recording studios and film studios of the world. Everything belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-the-closets-and-into-the-museums-libraries-architectural/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The word 'seek' means to go in search of, try to discover, try to acquire. It requires an active, assertive approach to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-word-seek-means-to-go-in-search-of-try-to-discover-try-to-acquire/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [The North American intellectual tradition began, I maintain, in the encounter of British Romanticism with assertive, pragmatic North American English - the Protestant plain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-north-american-intellectual-tradition-began-i-maintain-in-the/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm not a very assertive person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/i-m-not-a-very-assertive-person/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [I'm as proud and assertive in my Quebec identity as any Quebecer. I believe it's to Quebec's advantage to be part of the Canadian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/i-m-as-proud-and-assertive-in-my-quebec-identity-as-any-quebecer-i/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [The person who knows a great deal about things but has never learnt to see, tends to be assertive; those who have once lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-vann/the-person-who-knows-a-great-deal-about-things-but-has-never-learnt/) [Gerald Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-vann/) > [Be assertive, but don't forget to look around. I realized there are other opinions that can be more useful to me than just sticking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-robertson/be-assertive-but-don-t-forget-to-look-around-i-realized-there-are/) [Britt Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-robertson/) [Browse all 167 Assertive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive and say, \"It's easy for her, she has good self-esteem.\" One of the ways you build self-esteem is by being self-assertive when it is not easy to do so. 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