Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

I'm not tough, and I never have been. I suppose over the years I've built up kind of a veneer to protect myself because I have functioned on my own for a long, long time, and I have never had a lot of flunkies preceding me to clear the way.

It emasculated people to be protected in this way... [They should] be used to protecting themselves.

Can't nobody else get in there and help you. Your coach, he can't get in the ring and fight with you. You don't have your dad, your mom. When you get in the ring, you don't have anybody but yourself.

I'm very realistic about who's coming to my defense. I am my defense.

Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be ye a refuge to yourselves. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp; hold fast as a refuge to the truth. Look not for refuge to anyone besides yourselves.

Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to the truth as a refuge. Look not for a refuge in anyone besides yourselves. And those, Ananda, who either now or after I am dead, Shall be a lamp unto themselves, Shall betake themselves as no external refuge, But holding fast to the truth as their lamp, Holding fast to the truth as their refuge, Shall not look for refuge to anyone else besides themselves, It is they who shall reach to the very topmost height; But they must be anxious to learn.

It is only as a man puts off from himself all external support, and stands alone, that I see him to be strong and to prevail.

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

There are things one must do for oneself.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

Whoever will be free must make himself free. Freedom is no fairy gift to fall into a man's lap. What is freedom? To have the will to be responsible for one's self.

Do not rely completely on any other human being, however dear. We meet all life's greatest tests alone.

Never count on the crowd to take care of you.

You have to hold your bloody own or you're lost.

We are ultimately alone in that we are ultimately responsible for ourselves.

I don't want to be a burden on anybody.

Every tub must stand upon its bottom.

Your security is not in the hands of Kerry, Bush or al-Qaida. Your security is in your own hands.

Everyone has to kind of fend for themselves.

You've got to stand up and do your own battles. My daddy taught me that a long time ago, that you fight your own battles. The only way to shut everybody up is to win.

You cannot rely on other people's support.

See me safe up: for in my coming down, I can shift for myself.

We all have to work for happiness. And you cannot listen to other people. That is the worst mistake you can make.

I have grown up alone. I've taken care of myself. I worked, earned money and was independent at 18.

I'm of the school of thought where if you can't sort something out for yourself then no one can help you.