John Bradshaw Quotes & Sayings

“I define a 'good person' as somebody who is fully conscious of their own limitations. They know their strengths, but they also know their 'shadow' - they know their weaknesses. In other words, they understand that there is no good without bad. Good and evil are really one, but we have broken them up in our consciousness. We polarize them.”

“Evil is a source of moral intelligence in the sense that we need to learn from our shadow, from our dark side, in order to be good.”

“Many self-help books give you these neat, tidy formulas that are really illusions. They dupe people into thinking, 'Well if I can just do that, then everything's going to be okay.' My work differs in that I don't offer quick solutions and simple explanations.”

“Children are natural Zen masters; their world is brand new in each and every moment.”

“Our beliefs create the kind of world we believe in. We project our feelings, thoughts and attitudes onto the world. I can create a different world by changing my belief about the world. Our inner state creates the outer and not vice versa.”

“I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they can't feel anymore.”

“The spiritual quest is not some added benefit to our life, something you embark on if you have the time and inclination. We are spiritual beings on an earthly journey. Our spirituality makes up our beingness.”

“Ego is to the true self what a flashlight is to a spotlight.”

“Healthy shame is an emotion that teaches us about our limits. Like all emotions, shame moves us to get our basic needs met.”

“Virtue is an inner strength. It expands your nature.”