Assertive Quotes

• Being assertive does not mean attacking or ignoring others feelings. It means that you are willing to hold up for yourself fairly-without attacking others.

  Albert Ellis

  Attitude, Mean, Feelings

  36 Copy quote

• At sixteen I was stupid, confused and indecisive. At twenty-five I was wise, self-confident, prepossessing and assertive. At forty-five I am stupid, confused, insecure and indecisive. Who would have supposed that maturity is only a short break in adolescence?

  Jules Feiffer

  Wise, Confused, Stupid

  "Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History, Second Edition". Book edited by William H. McNeill, Jerry Bentley and David Christian, April 30, 2010.

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• The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others.

  Sharon Anthony Bower

  Compassion, Rights, Differences

  86 Copy quote

• New Yorkers, by reputation, are fast-talking, assertive and easily annoyed; I fit right in.

  Jane Pauley

  Talking, Annoyed, Reputation

  Jane Pauley (2004). “Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue”, p.22, Random House

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• Being assertive and somewhat really firm has to be backed up with being fair.

  Gordon Ramsay

  Firm, Being Assertive, Fairs

  Source: articles.chicagotribune.com

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• Assertiveness is not what you do, it's who you are!

  Shakti Gawain

  Confidence, Integrity, Who You Are

  59 Copy quote

• There's boldness in being assertive; there's strength and confidence.

  Bryan Cranston

  Being Assertive, Boldness

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• The Canadian spirit is cautious, observant and critical where the American is assertive.

  V. S. Pritchett

  Spirit, Cautious, Critical

  7 Copy quote

• There is a fine line between assertiveness and being relaxed.

  Justin Guarini

  Lines, Fine, Relaxed

  51 Copy quote

• Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it.

  Malcolm X

  Motivational, Freedom, Patriotic

  "Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements". Book edited by George Breitman, p. 111, 1965.

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• The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.

  William F. Buckley, Jr.

  Freedom, Government, Democracy

  "WindFall: The End of the Affair". Book by William F. Buckley Jr., 1992.

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• Too many of us fail to fulfill our needs because we say no rather than yes, yes when we should say no.

  William Glasser

  Needs, Failing, Should

  William Glasser, M.D. (2010). “Reality Therapy: A New Approach to Psychiatry”, p.18, Harper Collins

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• If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which is what has made our country strong.

  Arlen Specter

  Country, Strong, Play

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• Women are a little more assertive in terms of our ability to express our feelings when we fall in love.

  Alicia Machado

  Falling In Love, Feelings, Littles

  7 Copy quote

• Let's build bridges, not walls.

  Martin Luther King, Jr.

  Wall, Bridges, Assertiveness

  385 Copy quote

• The practice of assertiveness: being authentic in our dealings with others; treating our values and persons with decent respect in social contexts; refusing to fake the reality of who we are or what we esteem in order to avoid disapproval; the willingness to stand up for ourselves and our ideas in appropriate ways in appropriate contexts.

  Nathaniel Branden

  Reality, Order, Practice

  Nathaniel Branden (1999). “The Art of Living Consciously: The Power of Awareness to Transform Everyday Life”, p.169, Simon and Schuster

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• It is naive to think that self-assertiveness is easy. To live self-assertively--which means to live authentically--is an act of high courage. That is why so many people spend the better part of their lives in hiding--from others and also from themselves.

  Nathaniel Branden

  Mean, Thinking, Self

  Nathaniel Branden (1998). “Nathaniel Brandens Self-Esteem Every Day: Reflections on Self-Esteem and Spirituality”, p.202, Simon and Schuster

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• A bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness.

  Nathaniel Branden

  Self, Opposites, Fake

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• Being assertive in the home does not produce any smiling faces, but it does bring out a few tongues.

  Wes Fesler

  Home, Doe, Tongue

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• Assertiveness is most effective when least applied.

  Wes Fesler

  Assertiveness

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• Mother Nature's ruthless to the weak, but isn't arbitrary cruel or negative. Mother Nature saves aggression for extreme situations, and instead uses consistent leadership--to help keep things running smoothly. Mother nature doesn't rule by fear and anger, but by calm strength and assertiveness.

  Cesar Millan

  Mother, Running, Negative

  48 Copy quote

• My generation of bossy, confident, baby-boom women were something brand new in history. Our energy and assertiveness weren't created by Betty Friedan, unknown before her 1963 book, or by Gloria Steinem, whose political activism, as even the Lifetime profile admitted, did not begin until 1969.

  Camille Paglia

  Baby, Book, Political

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• I think naturally, if you're an actor, there's a high level of assertiveness that you need to have to survive this business. There's boldness in being assertive, and there's strength and confidence.

  Bryan Cranston

  Thinking, Needs, Actors

  "Bryan Cranston Answers Fan Questions (Part I)". www.amc.com.

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• Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as having been with Jesus, or am I getting more self-assertive, more deliberately determined to have my own way? It is a great thing to tell yourself the truth.

  Oswald Chambers

  Jesus, Humble, Men

  Oswald Chambers (2015). “The Place of Help: A Book of Devotional Readings”, p.82, Discovery House

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• Don't be a victim. Be busy with your horse so you stay out of trouble - otherwise, trouble will come and find you”, Brannaman would say. “Be assertive but don't be aggressive, if you are aggressive you'll make the horse flighty. The horse needs perimeters like anyone else. Give them guidance, support, rules. The same rules. Don't change the game. Don't let them have excuses just cause of their past. And love them.

  Buck Brannaman

  Horse, Past, Games

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