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Roy Baumeister Quotes

Professor

Roy Baumeister is a renowned psychologist known for his research in self-control, willpower, self-regulation, and self-efficacy. His work has had a profound impact on understanding the psychological foundations of human behavior.

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All Self Esteem People Self Control Self Esteem Ends Pursuit Animal Discipline Harm

Famous Roy Baumeister Quotes

“Trophies should go to the winners. Self-esteem does not lead to success in life. Self-discipline and self-control do, and sports can help teach those.”

Should Doe Self Helping Sports Teach Self Esteem Discipline Esteem Winner Self Control Success In Life Self Discipline Trophies Discipline And Self Control

Author:Roy Baumeister

“Willpower is what separates us from the animals. It's the capacity to restrain our impulses, resist temptation - do what's right and good for us in the long run, not what we want to do right now. It's central, in fact, to civilisation.”

“Most of the problems that plague our society - addiction, overeating, crime, domestic violence, prejudice, debt, unwanted pregnancy, educational failure, underperformance at school and work, lack of savings, failure to exercise - are in some degree a failure of self-control.”

“Researchers were surprised to find that people with strong self-control spent less time resisting desires than other people did. . . . people with good self-control mainly use it not for rescue in emergencies but rather to develop effective habits and routines in school and at work.”

People Self Use School Desire Strong Habit Rescue Self Control Emergencies Researchers Resisting Strong Self

Author:Roy Baumeister

“Willpower is a muscle that can be strengthened.”

Muscles Willpower

Author:Roy Baumeister

“Evil is not likely to result where people firmly believe that ends do not justify the means.”

People Believe Mean Ends Evil Results Justify

Author:Roy Baumeister

“The societal pursuit of high self-esteem for everyone may literally end up doing considerable harm.”

May Ends Self Self Esteem Harm Pursuit Esteem High Self Esteem

Author:Roy Baumeister

“People with high but unstable self-esteem exhibit the greatest hostility.”

People Self Self Esteem Esteem Hostility Exhibits Unstable

Author:Roy Baumeister

“Violence appears to be most commonly a result of threatened egotism -- that is, highly favorable views of self that are disputed by some person or circumstance. ... violence is perpetrated by a small subset of people with favorable views of themselves. ... Viewed in this light, the societal pursuit of high self-esteem for everyone may literally end up doing considerable harm.”

People May Persons Ends Self Light Results Views Violence Self Esteem Circumstances Harm Pursuit Esteem Threatened Egotism High Self Esteem

Author:Roy Baumeister

“For most of us... the problem is not a lack of goals but rather too many of them.”

Problem Goal

Book:Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

Source: Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

“What sets human beings apart from animals is not the pursuit of happiness, which occurs all across the natural world, but the pursuit of meaning, which is unique to humans.”

World Humans Natural Human Beings Animal Unique Pursuit Natural World Pursuit Of Happiness

Author:Roy Baumeister

About the Author

Born: May 16, 1953
Known for: Professor
Quotes: 11

Books & Sources

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human StrengthRelated source material

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