A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small parcel.

The most important single thing we had to pound into ourselves is that we were not important, we musn't be pedants; we were not to feel superior to anyone else in the world. We're nothing more than dust jackets for books, of no significance otherwise.

For how long will insult hurt a person? For as long as he covets self-importance. For as long as one covets temporary [non eternal] things.

Norman Mailer records in his recent essays and public appearances his perfecting of himself as a virile instrument of letters; he is perpetually in training, getting ready to launch himself from his own missile pad into a high, beautiful orbit; even his failures may yet be turned to successes.

It astounds us to come upon other egoists, as though we alone had the right to be selfish, and be filled with eagerness to live.

Glory consists of two parts: the one in setting too great a value upon ourselves, and the other in setting too little a value upon others.

It was his [Gen. Douglas MacArthur's] relationship with the administration In Washington which became poisoned by his egomania. Link upon link the bond between events on the battlefield and his own ruin was forged, and, as is essential in genuine tragedy, the gods used the victim himself to forge the links.

Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.

We would rather speak badly of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.

The extreme pleasure we take in speaking of ourselves should make us apprehensive that it gives hardly any to those who listen to us.

There's a world of difference between a strong ego, which is essential, and a large ego-which can be destructive.

A sick man that gets talking about himself, a woman that gets talking about her baby, and an author that begins reading out of his own book, never know when to stop.

Every cock is proud on his own dunghill.

What, will the world be quite overturned when you die?

We all wish to be of importance in one way or another. The child coughs with might and main, since it has no other claim on the company.

Man desires to be free and he desires to feel important. This places him in a dilemma, for the more he emancipates himself from necessity the less important he feels.

Man errs not that he deems His welfare his true aim, He errs because he dreams The world does but exist that welfare to bestow.

But enough of me. Lets talk about you. What do you think of me?

Half of the harm that is done in this world Is due to people who want to feel important.