Stefan Sagmeister Quotes

I was the middle of five children, and we were five very opinionated siblings. That probably pushed me to learn to speak up for myself.

I wanted to try and trace the genuine origins of 'Johnny' and how he so successfully staged this takeover of 'Michael Pennington.' 'Johnny' is a contradiction to who I am as a person. I'm not very good at confrontation, I have a tendency to internalise and to carry things around.

I have kind of a personality defect in that I find the word 'no' hard to articulate.

I need to learn to be more assertive.

In order to be who you are as a human being, you need to be willing to upset people.

I cannot be more aggressive than my nature makes me,.

If your character doesn't express himself or doesn't feel confident expressing himself, then you don't express yourself.

I really don't like confrontations. One of the reasons I'm retiring is that I'm tired of hurting people's feelings.

I'm not terribly confrontational, but I've gotten better at holding my ground.

I grew up where the repercussion of you having an opinion was being 'cocky,' or people would be mad at you. And I have finally learnt that it is better for them to be mad at you and disagree than you be so mad at yourself all of the time for not speaking up.

I feel the less you project of yourself, the more you can be believable as a character. I also think it's just better for your own mental health. Then you can be a human being and change your mind, and nobody asks you questions about it!

It's not my character to up and challenge anyone.

Honestly, I don't talk; I just like to fight. I'm not a good talker.

I've learned to recognize that I'm in certain rooms for a reason, and I've learned - if I have an opinion or something I want to say - to say those things and not feel afraid about it.

A lot of Wynonna is what I wish I could be. I don't like confrontation. I'm pretty polite. But I think she's the side of me that, if I could be free, that's who I'd be.

Live long, my friend, be wise and strong. But do not from any man his song.

I should just keep me mouth shut, I just upset people.

An individual dies ... when, instead of taking risks and hurling himself toward being, he cowers within, and takes refuge there.

I know people are saying they like you. I'm not being insulted or pushed around or anything. People are coming up because they like me. Nevertheless, I can't be everybody's...none of us can. I hate saying no to people.

I'm apologetic when I feel like I've made a mistake. And when I have done a disservice to myself or someone else. But I don't feel a need to apologize for doing or saying something that I think needs to be said, just because it may not sit comfortably with somebody else.

The man who alters his way of thinking to suit others is a fool.

I do what I want. I try to be nice to everybody. When I fail, I try to apologize.

I finally learned that it was all right to say something wasn’t working for me when it wasn’t working. The world doesn’t come crashing down when you speak the truth.

We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.

I really grew up more of a people pleaser and I just wanted to make people happy, and maybe didn't always say exactly how I was feeling.