Maxwell Maltz Quotes (Psycho-Cybernetics & The Power of Self-Image)

The following quotes by Maxwell Maltz provide an interesting snapshot about his concept on self-image and can encourage us to think more in-depth about just how our own self-image may or may not be helping us.

Maxwell Maltz was an American plastic surgeon and author of the self-improvement book Psycho-Cybernetics. Originally published in 1960, it has since sold millions of copies and is still considered a classic in its field today.

Dr. Maltz proposed that self-image is the key to success and that what we personally believe about our selves (both consciously and subconsciously) determines the results that we achieve in our lives. The actions (or inactions) that we take, the behaviors that we exhibit and the results that we achieve in life are all driven by our very own perception of ourselves.

Today, Maxwell Maltz’s teachings are still very relevant in our modern society, where self-help books and other forms of personal development abound. His advice is timeless, as it holds true regardless of the era: if you want to achieve more success in life, you must first change your understanding of yourself.

Maxwell Maltz Quotes

“Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-brake on.” Maxwell Maltz

“The ‘self-image’ is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self-image and you change the personality and the behavior.” Maxwell Maltz

“Our self-image and our habits tend to go together. Change one and you will automatically change the other.” Maxwell Maltz

“Accept yourself as you are. Otherwise, you will never see opportunity. You will not feel free to move toward it; you will feel you are not deserving.” Maxwell Maltz

“Realizing that our actions, feelings and behaviour are the result of our own images and beliefs gives us the level that psychology has always needed for changing personality.” Maxwell Maltz

“You make mistakes. Mistakes don’t make you.” Maxwell Maltz

“Our self-image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become.” Maxwell Maltz

Maxwell Maltz Quote on selling yourself to yourself

“Your most important sale in life is to sell yourself to yourself.” Maxwell Maltz

“Often the difference between a successful man and a failure is not one’s better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on his ideas, to take a calculated risk, and to act.” Maxwell Maltz

“Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment.” Maxwell Maltz

“Man maintains his balance, poise, and sense of security only as he is moving forward.” Maxwell Maltz

“Self-improvement is the name of the game, and your primary objective is to strengthen yourself, not to destroy an opponent.” Maxwell Maltz

“We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals, and we find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve.” Maxwell Maltz

“Successful people are able to rise above crises by relaxing no matter what the external situation. Their belief in themselves, the strength of their self-image is impenetrable armor, which protects them against shattering events.” Maxwell Maltz

“To change a habit, make a conscious decision, then act out the new behavior.” Maxwell Maltz

“Your nervous system cannot tell the difference between an imagined experience and a ‘real’ experience. In either case, it reacts automatically to information which you give to it from your forebrain. Your nervous system reacts appropriately to what you THINK or IMAGINE to be ‘true.” Maxwell Maltz

“You can always find the sun within yourself if you will only search.” Maxwell Maltz

“If you make friends with yourself, you will never be alone.” Maxwell Maltz

“For imagination sets the goal picture which our automatic mechanism works on. We act, or fail to act, not because of will, as is so commonly believed, but because of imagination.” Maxwell Maltz

“Remember you will not always win. Some days, the most resourceful individual will taste defeat. But there is, in this case, always tomorrow – after you have done your best to achieve success today.” Maxwell Maltz

“We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness.” Maxwell Maltz

“Take the trouble to stop and think of the other person’s feelings, his viewpoints, his desires and needs. Think more of what the other fellow wants, and how he must feel.” Maxwell Maltz

“The minute that we change our minds, and stop giving power to the past, the past with its mistakes loses power over us.” Maxwell Maltz

“Close scrutiny will show that most ‘crisis situations’ are opportunities to either advance or stay where you are.” Maxwell Maltz

“The most delightful surprise in life is to suddenly recognise your own worth.” Maxwell Maltz

“I am a firm believer in ‘negative thinking’ when used correctly. We need to be AWARE of negatives so that we can steer clear of them. A golfer needs to know where the bunkers and sand traps are – but he doesn’t think continuously about the bunker – where he doesn’t want to go. His mind glances at the bunker, but he dwells upon the green.” Maxwell Maltz

“Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible.” Maxwell Maltz

“The biggest secret of self-esteem is this: Begin to appreciate other people more; show respect for any human being merely because he is a child of God and therefore a thing of value.” Maxwell Maltz

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