Authors

Nathaniel Branden

Nathaniel Branden (1930–2014) was a Canadian-American psychotherapist, writer, and lecturer best known for pioneering work on self-esteem and authoring The Psychology of Self-Esteem. His work emphasized personal responsibility and self-esteem as foundations for psychological health, reflected in quotes about awareness and acceptance.

Quotes: 2

Quotes by Nathaniel Branden

Self-assertion is the willingness to stand up for yourself and treat your life with respect. Surrendering your values to be liked is a corrosion of self-esteem that no applause can fix. — Nathaniel Branden

Self-Assertion as the Foundation of Self-Esteem

Nathaniel Branden frames self-assertion less as bravado and more as a basic moral posture toward one’s own life: to stand up for yourself is to acknowledge that your needs, perceptions, and boundaries matter. In that sen...

Created on: 2/10/2026

The First Step Towards Change is Awareness. The Second is Acceptance — Nathaniel Branden

This quote emphasizes that the initial step towards any meaningful transformation in life is becoming aware of the need for change. Without awareness, one cannot identify areas that require improvement.

Created on: 9/16/2024