Eric Hoffer Quotes

When you are facing the wilderness on your own, you have a totally different attitude to someone who works in government or who has a monthly cheque.

I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be an uncommon man—if I can. I seek opportunity, not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

Individualism, the love of enterprise, and the pride in personal freedom, have been deemed by Americans not only as their choicest, but their peculiar and exclusive possessions.

I always knew that I would have to make it on my own somehow.

He travels the fastest who travels alone.

I don't need government to be successful.

I think that's important for all ages, to not be afraid of being an individual. I grew up on my own, as an only child, so early on I think I was quite capable of making decisions by myself and being an individual.

I'm responsible for what I am and what I want to be. I'm not trying to live by another's standards.

I know how important it is to, you know, to be my own person.

I don't have to do anything for anyone else's benefit anymore. I just want to exceed my own expectations.

Individualism is rather like innocence; there must be something unconscious about it.

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

I've run into certain geniuses of individualism - they are very few and far between - who live their lives completely on their own terms; they are very powerful and have a great amount of happiness. We all should aspire to that.

I do my own thing. And I believe what I do is the right thing.

I'm my own person, and am trying to carve out a career on my own.

In America, it is difficult to be your own man.

No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.

I have great friends around me that are positive and I think that's the key to life is making your own path. Set your own rules because there is no set rule, there is no set look, there is no set anything. You make your own rules in your life. You make your own decisions.

Even if it's not what you planned, you can make a life for yourself on your own and be happy.

I am definitely an individual.

I think as a guy you need a little bit to be on your own from early on, to start to live your own life, and try to understand what is going on around you, you have to be able to survive.

I appreciate individualism.

It's not what your parents give you. It's what you do with your own stuff.

You have no idea how promising the world begins to look once you have decided to have it all for yourself. And how much healthier your decisions are once they become entirely selfish.

I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow; if I fail, or if I succeed at least I did as I believe.