Individualism is at once an ethical-psychological concept and an ethical-political one. As an ethical-psychological concept, individualism holds that a human being should think and judge independently, respecting nothing more than the sovereignty of his or her mind; thus, it is intimately connected with the concept of autonomy. As an ethical-political concept, individualism upholds the supremacy of individual rights
Nathaniel BrandenA bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness.
Nathaniel BrandenThe greatest barrier to achievement and success is not lack of talent or ability but rather the feeling that achievement and success, above a certain level, are outside our self-concept-our image of who we are and what is appropriate to us.
Nathaniel BrandenIt would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior.
Nathaniel BrandenMost of the time, I regard the judgment of people as a waste of time. I regard the judgment of behavior as imperative.
Nathaniel BrandenIn the whole history of capitalism, no one has been able to establish a coercive monopoly by means of competition in a free market...Every single coercive monopoly that exists or ever has existed...was created and made possible only by an act of government...which granted special privileges (not obtainable in a free market) to a man or a group of men, and forbade all others to enter that particular field.
Nathaniel Branden