--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of us hide behind egocentric biases…" description: "\"Most of us hide behind egocentric biases that generate the illusion that we are special. These self-serving protective shields allow us to believe that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/philip-zimbardo-8654_above-average_most-of-us-hide-behind-egocentric-biases_1061235.jpg" --- # Most of us hide behind egocentric biases that generate the… ![“Most of us hide behind egocentric biases that generate the illusion that we are special. These self-serving protective shields allow us to believe that each of us is above average on any test of self-integrity. Too often we look to the stars through the thick lens of personal invulnerability when…” quote by Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/philip-zimbardo-8654_above-average_most-of-us-hide-behind-egocentric-biases_1061235.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/philip-zimbardo-8654_above-average_most-of-us-hide-behind-egocentric-biases_1061235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/philip-zimbardo-8654_above-average_most-of-us-hide-behind-egocentric-biases_1061235.jpg) > “Most of us hide behind egocentric biases that generate the illusion that we are special. These self-serving protective shields allow us to believe that each of us is above average on any test of self-integrity. Too often we look to the stars through the thick lens of personal invulnerability when we should also look down to the slippery slope beneath our feet.” [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) ## 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 overestimate their own moral standing due to ego‑driven biases, creating a false sense of superiority. **In simple terms:** We think we’re better than average because of self‑protective bias. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge your own bias. Themes ego bias self‑perception humility Mood introspective critical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - performance reviews - team meetings - personal reflection - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑deception social psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your belief in being special affect your decisions? - What evidence contradicts your self‑image? A Different Perspective Bias can blind us to genuine feedback and growth opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Invulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invulnerability/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Slippery slope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slippery-slope/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) ## Related quotes > [There exists a special self which takes every event as if it were the very thing you wanted to happen. 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He's about absolute vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/a-warrior-is-not-about-perfection-or-victory-or-invulnerability-he-s/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [A piece of simple goodness--a letter gushing from the heart; a beautiful unstudied vindication of the worth and untiring sweetness of human nature--a record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/a-piece-of-simple-goodness-a-letter-gushing-from-the-heart-a/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [Achieving vulnerability-based trust (where team members have overcome their need for invulnerability) is difficult because in the course of career advancement and education, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/achieving-vulnerability-based-trust-where-team-members-have-overcome/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [You haven't yet opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior's way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability--to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/you-haven-t-yet-opened-your-heart-fully-to-life-to-each-moment-the/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [There is nothing that I so greatly admire as purposefulness. I have an enormous respect for people who know exactly what they are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-dickinson-rich/there-is-nothing-that-i-so-greatly-admire-as-purposefulness-i-have-an/) [Louise Dickinson Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-dickinson-rich/) > [The fact is, the contest has always been invulnerability, and even when you win, you still lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-yovanoff/the-fact-is-the-contest-has-always-been-invulnerability-and-even-when/) [Brenna Yovanoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-yovanoff/) > [Remember teamwork begins by building trust. 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He didn't do a good job of keeping it there though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/it-was-god-who-created-hell-as-a-place-to-store-evil-he-didn-t-do-a/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [That human behavior is more influenced by things outside of us than inside. The 'situation' is the external environment. 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A good cult nourishes the needs of its members, has transparency and integrity, and creates provisions for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/a-good-cult-delivers-on-its-promises-a-good-cult-nourishes-the-needs/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [We can assume that most people, most of the time, are moral creatures. 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That means they're totally out of sync in traditional classes, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/boys-brains-are-being-digitally-rewired-for-change-novelty-excitement/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Research shows that the deciscions of a group as a whole are more thoughtful and creative when there is minority dissent than when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/research-shows-that-the-deciscions-of-a-group-as-a-whole-are-more/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Boys are 30 percent more likely than girls to drop out of school. In Canada, five boys drop out for every three girls. Girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/boys-are-30-percent-more-likely-than-girls-to-drop-out-of-school-in/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) [Explore all 79 Philip Zimbardo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) ## More Above average quotes > [Hay fever suffers tend to be above average in intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-tobias/hay-fever-suffers-tend-to-be-above-average-in-intelligence/) [Andrew Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-tobias/) > [Holidays are in no sense an alternative to the congestion and bustle of the cities and work. Quite the contrary. People look to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/holidays-are-in-no-sense-an-alternative-to-the-congestion-and-bustle/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [I asked many friends if Australian anti-intellectualism was still a living force and they all told me it was. If you are above average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/i-asked-many-friends-if-australian-anti-intellectualism-was-still-a/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [I didn't have a very starry school career, I was medium to above average, nothing special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-didn-t-have-a-very-starry-school-career-i-was-medium-to-above/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [While the other guy's sleeping? I'm working. While the other guy's eatin'? I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/while-the-other-guy-s-sleeping-i-m-working-while-the-other-guy-s/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [The average estimate themselves by what they do, the above average by what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-average-estimate-themselves-by-what-they-do-the-above-average-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If a man's got talent and guts to buck society, he's obviously above average. You want to hold on to him. You straighten him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-bester/if-a-man-s-got-talent-and-guts-to-buck-society-he-s-obviously-above/) [Alfred Bester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-bester/) > [Most of us form estimates of our intelligence, wisdom, and moral fiber that are considerably higher than an objective estimate would warrant; no doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/most-of-us-form-estimates-of-our-intelligence-wisdom-and-moral-fiber/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [Everybody thinks their website is above average.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cutts/everybody-thinks-their-website-is-above-average/) [Matt Cutts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cutts/) > [I've never really viewed myself as particularly talented. I've viewed myself as slightly above average in talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-ve-never-really-viewed-myself-as-particularly-talented-i-ve-viewed/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I loved nuns when I was growing up. I thought they were beautiful. For several years I wanted to be a nun. I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-loved-nuns-when-i-was-growing-up-i-thought-they-were-beautiful-for/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [You know, my boy, he said, it's impossible to love men such as they are. And yet we must. So try to do good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-my-boy-he-said-it-s-impossible-to-love-men-such-as-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The average detective story is probably no worse than the average novel, but you never see the average novel. It doesn't get published. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-average-detective-story-is-probably-no-worse-than-the-average/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [It just seems logical that sticking to investing in only a small number of companies that you understand well, rather than moving down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-greenblatt/it-just-seems-logical-that-sticking-to-investing-in-only-a-small/) [Joel Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-greenblatt/) > [Above average intelligence has always run in my family. Ambition, however, has always walked with a limp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-macnelly/above-average-intelligence-has-always-run-in-my-family-ambition/) Jeff MacNelly Browse all 41 Above average quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most of us hide behind egocentric biases that generate the illusion that we are special. 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