Gene Wilder Quotes

You don't realize you're vying for the approval of everyone so much until being yourself is not approved of.

I cared too much about people liking me because I didn't like myself enough.

We cease loving ourselves if no one loves us.

I don't have a strong sense of self-worth unless I'm doing something.

All my life I had believed that unless I was perfect I would not be loved.

This weird thing that musicians have... it's got something to do with approval, and not feeling good enough, and therefore going out and being great somehow makes your life valid.

I wish they would only take me as I am.

If I wasn't so insecure about myself I wouldn't work as hard as I do. I am constantly seeking approval.

It's hard for me to accept love. I wish I could lie to you and tell you that it's easy for me, but it's not.

A lot of times black folks look for love in all the wrong places. You're always looking for somebody to love you, be accepted, and there's the insecurities that are even transmitted through rap. Everyone is trying to aim to please too much.

I would say that my fatal flaw, as a human being, is that I need people to like me, and if they don't like me, I will obsess over it - and try to change my personality until they like me - even if they don't like me for reasons that have nothing to do with me, and even if they're strangers.

I'm sure that my wanting to be an actor had to do with a need for approval.

When it comes to life and love, why do we believe our worst reviews?

We'll love you just the way you are if you're perfect.

I felt inferior. I had this tremendous need to perform. I wanted to be acceptable to my peers. I thought if I could just be a big star, I'd feel like somebody, too.

I spent my entire childhood going 'look at me, look at me, look at me,' before realising I needed someone to look at me for more than just what I was showing off for.

I didn't need the belt to validate me.

It's hard loving those who don't much like themselves: "If you're so great, why would you think I'm so great.

That’s what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is....Most people love you for who you pretend to be....To keep their love, you keep pretending - performing. You get to love your pretense...It’s true, we’re locked in an image, an act...

It's difficult to seek other people's love. It's deadly. In seeking it you lose what is genuine. This is the prison we create for ourselves as we seek what we already have.

I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it up in my persona. I felt like I wouldn't be able to do stand-up for a career if I was needy. I didn't want to be complaining or whining onstage. I wanted to be cool and do exactly what I wanted to do. That way I would never have to change for anybody.

I hate how I don't feel real enough unless people are watching.

If you're not someone who has a natural and effortless love for yourself, it's hard to let go of your desire to please other people, and that's really not an ingredient for a happy life.

I want people to love me, but it's not going to hurt me if they don't.

It's easy to love yourself when you feel good enough, when you feel special enough, when you're loved enough, when you have enough money, and you're appreciated.