Eldridge Cleaver Quotes

The more successful I become, the more I want to remain like me, with my defects and insecurities.

I find that I'm not as worried anymore about what other people think. That's a comfortable place to be. And I'm starting to let go of the feeling that I need to push myself to do things I don't want to do - an impulse that has always been linked to the feeling that I'm not enough.

You've got to be happy with yourself. You can't sell yourself if you're out here and you ain't good. Because you're giving people messages, and if your message is wrong, then it's like the blind leading the blind.

I wish for myself as an adult that I cared less what people thought of me, especially people who don't know me.

I personally have a philosophy around authenticity and vulnerability.

I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I'm out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.

I was so adamant about proving myself for so long and I've gotten to the point where I don't have to do that as much.

It is very difficult for us to know we love somebody because it is an insecure position to be in. But in the end, it is important to be honest about your love because life is not that long.

The ideas I'm working with are ideas I'm committed to. I don't know how to soft-shoe them. I don't know how to make them more palpable. I just never knew how to be one of those girls. I wish I knew how to be that sometimes, but I don't know how to be that way.

I am not skilled enough or energetic enough to craft a persona. I just have to be who I am and hope people like it.

The big thing for me is no longer is trying to impress people around me.

Best advice: 'Just be yourself.' Worst advice: 'Just be yourself.'

You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.

I do not trust people who don't love themselves and yet tell me, 'I love you.' There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.

Most people settle because they don't like themselves enough.

Honesty and vulnerability endear us to people; they don't endanger us in our relationship.

In some way I felt I was never good enough until I started fighting. I was always striving to show my worth and value.

I've just decided that I have to continue to live my life and do what I do. Hopefully, people love me because of who I am, not who I pretend to be.

When you acknowledge that there is nothing repulsive or unforgivable or shameful about yourself, it becomes easier to be that authentic person and feel like you're living a less performed life.

I've learned from her [ Oprah Winfrey] really how to stand in one's truth, how if you just simply are who you are, you know, you're heavy, you're thin, you're happy, you're sad - if you just speak your truth as it comes into your mind, then that's what people relate to.

Be as honest with yourself as you possibly can. And it's not going to work for everybody, and I know you're going to be afraid of that, but please don't worry about being accepted by everybody. The people who like you and want to be around you, that's what matters, and that's what's healthiest for yourself.

You spend so much of your life basing yourself on what you think other people think of you. Then you realise that maybe one of the purposes of life is not to care.

Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

On the flip side, no one has any idea who the hell I am. I felt like I had to prove myself to them. On any new project I'm working on, the first week is nerve-wracking, but especially with these people that I admire so much and who I just want to be equal with.