--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it is arrogance that keeps one alive…" description: "\"“But it is arrogance that keeps one alive: the belief that one can choose, that one' choice is important, that one is responsible only to oneself. With..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/penelope-mortimer-50967_faith_but-it-is-arrogance-that-keeps-one-alive_2047845.jpg" --- # But it is arrogance that keeps one alive: the belief that… ![“But it is arrogance that keeps one alive: the belief that one can choose, that one' choice is important, that one is responsible only to oneself. Without arrogance what would we be?” quote by Penelope Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/penelope-mortimer-50967_faith_but-it-is-arrogance-that-keeps-one-alive_2047845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/penelope-mortimer-50967_faith_but-it-is-arrogance-that-keeps-one-alive_2047845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/penelope-mortimer-50967_faith_but-it-is-arrogance-that-keeps-one-alive_2047845.jpg) > ““But it is arrogance that keeps one alive: the belief that one can choose, that one' choice is important, that one is responsible only to oneself. Without arrogance what would we be?”” [Penelope Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mortimer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Arrogance fuels a sense of agency and personal responsibility, but may isolate us from collective purpose. **In simple terms:** Arrogance drives self‑belief and responsibility. Key Takeaway Recognize confidence without alienating others. Themes confidence responsibility individualism Mood reflective critical Type literary psychological When to use this quote - career choices - personal growth - leadership decisions Key Concepts existentialism psychology ego Questions to Reflect On - When does confidence become arrogance? - How can responsibility be shared? A Different Perspective Excessive arrogance can hinder cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) [Arrogance Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance-keeps-3843812/) [Belief Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-choose-1994805/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Oneself Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-arrogance-3843811/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Responsible Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible-oneself-2541066/) ## Related quotes > [One has to become absolutely responsible for oneself, and then one can understand the mind. If you go on depending on others, your very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/one-has-to-become-absolutely-responsible-for-oneself-and-then-one-can/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“A core belief is how we choose to define and believe in our person and life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-don-brown/a-core-belief-is-how-we-choose-to-define-and-believe-in-our-person/) [Asa Don Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-don-brown/) > [ \[On Werner Erhard, founder of est:\] If I wanted a new belief system, I'd choose to believe in God - He's been in business… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-grizzuti-harrison/on-werner-erhard-founder-of-est-if-i-wanted-a-new-belief-system-i-d/) [Barbara Grizzuti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-grizzuti-harrison/) > [“It is not holiness, but arrogance displayed to take away the greatest gift—free will— bestowed by God from the beginning of time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullia-d-aragona/it-is-not-holiness-but-arrogance-displayed-to-take-away-the-greatest/) [Tullia d'Aragona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullia-d-aragona/) > [The pride,arrogance or vanity are the roots of sins, source of anger,the door of hypocrisy,strengthening of evil,guardian of sins,creator of evil and the root…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-pride-arrogance-or-vanity-are-the-roots-of-sins-source-of-anger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/) [Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/) > [My success isn't a result of arrogance - it's a result of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-success-isn-t-a-result-of-arrogance-it-s-a-result-of-belief/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [Closed some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenz-jeffrey/closed-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/) [Frenz Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenz-jeffrey/) > [Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/timing-and-arrogance-are-decisive-factors-in-the-successful-use-of/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Never mistake someones quietness for their arrogance as you can surely miss out on an awsome personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mistake-someones-quietness-for-their-arrogance-as-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [What you see of me on TV and all of that, that is me - that's truly how I feel. I'm just multiplying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/what-you-see-of-me-on-tv-and-all-of-that-that-is-me-that-s-truly-how/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) ## More by Penelope Mortimer > [“I don't know who I am, I don't know what I'm like, how can I know what I want? I only know that whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-mortimer/i-don-t-know-who-i-am-i-don-t-know-what-i-m-like-how-can-i-know-what/) [Penelope Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mortimer/) > [“I have tried to be honest with you, although I suppose that you would really have been more interested in my not being honest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-mortimer/i-have-tried-to-be-honest-with-you-although-i-suppose-that-you-would/) [Penelope Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mortimer/) > [“I began drinking because the thought that I was drinking gave me a kind of identity: each time I poured myself a brandy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-mortimer/i-began-drinking-because-the-thought-that-i-was-drinking-gave-me-a/) [Penelope Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mortimer/) > [“I was worrying about the milk, about my children falling in love, about the creatures who crawled through the dark towards us, their ancestors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-mortimer/i-was-worrying-about-the-milk-about-my-children-falling-in-love-about/) [Penelope Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mortimer/) > [“When I was fourteen I had the world at my feet but somebody didn't do their job properly and allowed me to sin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-mortimer/when-i-was-fourteen-i-had-the-world-at-my-feet-but-somebody-didn-t-do/) [Penelope Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mortimer/) > [“I want to fly from a window and pour through the air like a wind of love to raise his hair and slide into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-mortimer/i-want-to-fly-from-a-window-and-pour-through-the-air-like-a-wind-of/) [Penelope Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mortimer/) [Explore all 7 Penelope Mortimer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mortimer/) ## More Arrogance quotes > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [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/) > [What you see of me on TV and all of that, that is me - that's truly how I feel. I'm just multiplying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/what-you-see-of-me-on-tv-and-all-of-that-that-is-me-that-s-truly-how/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Never mistake someones quietness for their arrogance as you can surely miss out on an awsome personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mistake-someones-quietness-for-their-arrogance-as-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/timing-and-arrogance-are-decisive-factors-in-the-successful-use-of/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [Closed some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenz-jeffrey/closed-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/) [Frenz Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenz-jeffrey/) > [My success isn't a result of arrogance - it's a result of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-success-isn-t-a-result-of-arrogance-it-s-a-result-of-belief/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) [Miguel Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cervantes/) > [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/) [Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/) [Browse all 1,418 Arrogance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But it is arrogance that keeps one alive: the belief that one can choose, that one' choice is important, that one is responsible only to oneself. 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