Alain de Botton Quotes

As a child, one looks for compliments. As an adult, one looks for evidence of effectiveness.

You may think it was a very little thing, and in these days it seems to me like a trifle, but it was a most important incident in my life. I could scarcely credit that I, the poor boy, had earned a dollar in less than a day; that by honest work, I had earned a dollar. I was a more hopeful and thoughtful boy from that time.

A man's worth is no greater than his ambitions.

My success is not who I am.

Greater self-esteem produces greater success, and greater success produces more high self-esteem, so it keeps on spiraling up.

Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment.

And I don't think that success is going to destroy me at this point in my life, like I used to think.

Success isn't measured by money or power or social rank. Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.

Whatever it is that gives you that confidence will vary from person to person, but I do believe that it is the key to succeeding at anything in life - career, relationships, anything.

The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval.

I really just want to do the best at everything I do. I just want to have all the great people around me that I feel is family, as well as my friends, and I have an amazing girlfriend. I think having love in your life is most important.

I have more self-confidence than I did when I was in my 20s.

A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.

I don't have anything else to prove.

I think the reason why a lot of young people are such screw ups... is oftentimes they didn't have the luxury I had of forming important relationships and opinions and life experiences before having success.

Anybody that's intimidated by my success probably isn't the right person for me.

I want to prove myself.

It is normal that when results are better, self-esteem grows, and improving things becomes more easier.

It isn't just about winning the championship and I don't think you should be defined by that.

After the World Cup, I feel more mature, more confident.

I have a lot to prove. Not only to other people, but to myself, that I'm the best in the world.

The hardest thing to have is success, because it seems to tell people what you are. But it doesn't.

It's really important that people don't view success as a competition.

I just want to do my best to prove myself.

Getting older doesn't bother me. When I was 30, I thought I should have achieved more, but you get more comfortable and think it's time to stop putting pressure on yourself.