A quest for self-respect is proof of its lack
Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead.
“Listen to what is being preached today. Look at everyone around us. You've wondered why they suffer, why they seek happiness and never find it. If any man stopped and asked himself whether he's eve...”
“I love you so much that nothing can matter to me - not even you...Only my love- not your answer. Not even your indifference”
“I could die for you. But I couldn't, and wouldn't, live for you.”
“To sell your soul is the easiest thing in the world. That's what everybody does every hour of his life. If I asked you to keep your soul - would you understand why that's much harder?”
“No! I don't want to speak of that! But I'm going to. I want you to hear. I want you to know what's in store for you. There will be days when you'll look at your hands and you'll want to take someth...”
“I often think that he's the only one of us who's achieved immortality. I don't mean in the sense of fame and I don't mean he won't die someday. But he's living it. I think he is what the conception...”
“Nothing resembles selfishness more closely than self-respect”
“In a drama of the highest order there is little food for censure or hatred it teaches rather self-knowledge and self-respect.”
“But I think that because they trusted themselves and respected themselves as individuals, because they knew beyond doubt that they were valuable and potentially moral units -- because of this they ...”