--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To attain \"success\" without attaining…" description: "\"To attain \"success\" without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an imposter anxiously awaiting exposure.\" — Nathaniel Bra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/nathaniel-branden-2125_esteem_to-attain-success-without-attaining-posi_1718579.png" --- # To attain "success" without attaining positive self-esteem… ![“To attain "success" without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an imposter anxiously awaiting exposure.” quote by Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/nathaniel-branden-2125_esteem_to-attain-success-without-attaining-posi_1718579.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/nathaniel-branden-2125_esteem_to-attain-success-without-attaining-posi_1718579.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/nathaniel-branden-2125_esteem_to-attain-success-without-attaining-posi_1718579.png) > “To attain "success" without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an imposter anxiously awaiting exposure.” [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. Success without self‑esteem leads to impostor feelings and chronic anxiety. **In simple terms:** Success needs self‑esteem. Key Takeaway Build self‑esteem alongside achievements. Themes self‑esteem success impostor syndrome Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career advancement - academic pursuits - creative projects Key Concepts psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate self‑esteem while succeeding? - What signs indicate impostor syndrome? A Different Perspective High achievement can still coexist with low self‑esteem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Exposure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposure/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Imposter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imposter/) [Positive self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-self/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [I've always felt like an imposter, in the whole, as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-ve-always-felt-like-an-imposter-in-the-whole-as-a-musician/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“You know those times when an opportunity comes up and you hear yourself in some voice you hardly recognize saying yes? Like some imposter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-bloom/you-know-those-times-when-an-opportunity-comes-up-and-you-hear/) [Rebecca Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-bloom/) > [I've always viewed my career with some suspicion, like I don't want to count on it to be the only thing I do. Partly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-k-samson/i-ve-always-viewed-my-career-with-some-suspicion-like-i-don-t-want-to/) [John K. Samson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-k-samson/) > [All I've really been working on since I was a kid is music, but sometimes I feel like I'm an imposter or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-spielberg/all-i-ve-really-been-working-on-since-i-was-a-kid-is-music-but/) [Sasha Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-spielberg/) > [If you always feel like an imposter, you work harder, and that makes you better at your job. You've got to keep a level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-campbell/if-you-always-feel-like-an-imposter-you-work-harder-and-that-makes/) [Edie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-campbell/) > [Positive self-esteem operates as, in effect, the immune system of the consciousness, providing resistance, strength, and a capacity for regeneration. When self-esteem is low,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/positive-self-esteem-operates-as-in-effect-the-immune-system-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Our love of art is often quite temporary, dependent upon our moods, and our love of art is subservient to our demand for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/our-love-of-art-is-often-quite-temporary-dependent-upon-our-moods-and/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [The single most outwardly identifiable trait demonstrated by a winning human being is that of positive self-expectation- which is pure and simple optimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-single-most-outwardly-identifiable-trait-demonstrated-by-a/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [A positive self image and healthy self esteem is based on approval, acceptance and recognition from others; but also upon actual accomplishments, achievements and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/a-positive-self-image-and-healthy-self-esteem-is-based-on-approval/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [I do not have a genetically "gifted" body. I have to work hard everyday and I am always working on maintaining a positive self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-lyons/i-do-not-have-a-genetically-gifted-body-i-have-to-work-hard-everyday/) [Kim Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-lyons/) > [Action eradicates fear. No matter what you fear,--- positive, self-affirming action can diminish or completely cancel that which you are fearful of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/action-eradicates-fear-no-matter-what-you-fear-positive-self/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [A positive self-image has little relationship to our material circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/a-positive-self-image-has-little-relationship-to-our-material/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Positive self-expectancy is the first, most outwardly identifiable quality of a top-achieving, winning human being. Positive self-expectancy is pure and simple optimism: real enthusiasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/positive-self-expectancy-is-the-first-most-outwardly-identifiable/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image - from inferiority to self-esteem, from fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/to-be-born-again-means-that-we-must-be-changed-from-a-negative-to-a/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [Change your thoughts, change your life. —LAO TZU When I was fighting depression, I remember hearing this expression and not understanding it at first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/change-your-thoughts-change-your-life-lao-tzu-when-i-was-fighting/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) ## 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. 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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 Esteem quotes > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/nothing-is-better-for-self-esteem-than-survival/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [So I went to a club the other day, which is timely because my self esteem had been hovering right around 'normal' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/so-i-went-to-a-club-the-other-day-which-is-timely-because-my-self/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [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/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [You never exist quite so much as when you are not thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-never-exist-quite-so-much-as-when-you-are-not-thinking/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Never let the opinion of another affect your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/never-let-the-opinion-of-another-affect-your-opinion-of-yourself/) [Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/) > [You'd be surprised how addicting high self-esteem is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/you-d-be-surprised-how-addicting-high-self-esteem-is/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/when-one-is-a-stranger-to-oneself-then-one-is-estranged-from-others/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Browse all 1,681 Esteem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To attain \"success\" without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an imposter anxiously awaiting exposure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathaniel Branden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-attain-success-without-attaining-positive-self-esteem-is-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Esteem" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-attain-success-without-attaining-positive-self-esteem-is-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/nathaniel-branden-2125_esteem_to-attain-success-without-attaining-posi_1718579.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/nathaniel-branden-2125_esteem_to-attain-success-without-attaining-posi_1718579.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/nathaniel-branden-2125_esteem_to-attain-success-without-attaining-posi_1718579.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To attain \"success\" without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an imposter…” — Nathaniel Branden", "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": "Nathaniel Branden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To attain \"success\" without attaining positive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-attain-success-without-attaining-positive-self-esteem-is-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-attain-success-without-attaining-positive-self-esteem-is-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```