Shirin Ebadi Quotes

You start comparing yourself to other people, you end up trying to be that person. You've got to be your own person, do it your own way. You can be motivated by somebody, but you don't have to take after them.

True individuality can be lonely.

Life choices and projects and photo shoots, I can't base them on anybody else but myself. I've done things where I'm like, "Do I want my dad to see this? I don't know!" But the best lesson I can teach my sisters, or any younger women, is "Do what YOU do. Don't follow me, follow you."

I was inspired by lots of people, certainly in acting and in writing and stuff, but I never wanted to be somebody else.

I never wanted to be like anyone growing up. It's always been about the enjoyment, and I've just never wanted to imitate anyone.

At WSX I think I was very much trying to figure it out on my own and we were creating our own style and our own thing. I can only speak for myself, I was not trying to be anything. I was not trying to be like anyone else.

I don't think I constantly have to be on a promotional spree or be seen in the newspapers every day or even be part of social parties and film gangs. I'm having my own set of journey, and I am happy with it because I don't want to be like everybody.

I can't be Martin O'Neill; I can't be any of the other coaches - I have to make my own way.

Wait, I'm deciding to be my own individual self. And it looks nothing like what anyone else is doing.

Harmelody allows everybody to be an individual who does not have to imitate anybody else.

I have never been convinced throughout my life that one needs to be imitating others. I even tell my daughters not to look at me as a model. Everyone's condition is different, and the way that each person lives his or her life is different. What is important is that one utilizes one's intellect and not to be 100 percent sure about one's convictions. One should always leave room for doubt.

Each individual's way is going to be different. Never follow anybody. That is the greatest calamity that can happen to a man. Once you start following somebody else, you become a carbon copy. You become an imitation.

The function of education is to help you from childhood not to imitate anybody, but be yourself all the time.

Be neither a conformist or a rebel, for they are really the same thing. Find your own path, and stay on it.

I feel like there are so many people I admire for so many reasons that I can't look at one person's life and say, "I want that life." I want to make my own history.

The strongest lesson I can teach my son is the same lesson I teach my daughter: how to be who he wishes to be for himself.

I discovered very early that it wasn't quite enough for me to imitate people.

I love my father, but I have worked to develop a separate and distinct identity in different projects I have worked on.

I want an identity outside of my work.

To refrain from imitation is the best revenge.

It's a life's journey of finding ourselves, finding our power, and living for yourself, not for everyone else.

People tell you the world looks a certain way. Parents tell you how to think. Schools tell you how to think. TV. Religion. And then at a certain point, if you're lucky, you realize you can make up your own mind. Nobody sets the rules but you. You can design your own life.

I am sure it is one's duty as a teacher to try to show boys that no opinions, no tastes, no emotions are worth much unless they are one's own. I suffered acutely as a boy from the lack of being shown this.

I want to be fulfilled in myself, rather than try to follow exactly in my father's footsteps.

It's just about keeping people who are close to me, near. It's important to have people around who love themselves, are true to themselves, who have their own hobbies and their world doesn't revolve around Hollywood.