Friendship with oneself is all important because without it, one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Friendship With Oneself

Topic: Family & Friendship

In the last analysis you have to be friends with yourself twenty-four hours of the day. If you run counter to others now and then, you have enemies, but life would become unbearable if you thought about it all of the time, so you have to ignore the critics. You know quite well when you face audiences… that perhaps everybody present dislikes you cordially. Then you do your best to make others see your point of view, but if you cannot win them over, you still must go on your way because each human being has an obligation to do what seems right according to his own conscience. Friendship with oneself is all important because without it, one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, born on October 11, 1884, and passing away on November 7, 1962, was a significant American political figure, diplomat, and activist. Her service as the First Lady of the United States from March 1933 to April 1945, alongside her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his four terms in office, marked her as the longest-serving First Lady of the United States. Her tenure as First Lady was just the beginning of a long and impactful career in public service, showcasing her commitment to various social and political causes.

Following her role as First Lady, Roosevelt transitioned into a diplomatic position, serving as the United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952. This role significantly contributed to her reputation as a dedicated advocate for human rights. Her work in promoting human rights on an international stage was groundbreaking, bringing attention to issues that were often overlooked, and working towards creating a world where human rights were recognized and protected.

Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy is marked by her dedication to human rights, her service to her country, and her continuous advocacy for the marginalized and oppressed. Her efforts in the realm of human rights were acknowledged by President Harry S. Truman, who honored her with the title "First Lady of the World." This title not only pays tribute to her achievements in the realm of human rights but also recognizes the lasting impact she had on both national and international platforms. Through her life’s work, Roosevelt set a lasting standard for public service and remains a notable figure in American history.

(1884-1962) Universal Wisdom and Compassionate Action

Roosevelt, Eleanor. "How to Take Criticism." Ladies' Home Journal, vol. 61, Nov. 1944, pp. 155, 171.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Theme: Friendship

About This Eleanor Roosevelt Quotation [Commentary]

Eleanor Roosevelt begins with a plain requirement: “in the last analysis you have to be friends with yourself twenty-four hours of the day.” She does not romanticize it. “If you run counter to others now and then, you have enemies,” and “life would become unbearable if you thought about it all of the time,” so “you have to ignore the critics.” Self-friendship, in her order of thought, means refusing to live inside other people’s approval.

She writes from the pressure of public life: when you “face audiences” and feel that “perhaps everybody present dislikes you cordially.” Even then, she keeps the sequence practical: “Then you do your best to make others see your point of view,” but “if you cannot win them over, you still must go on your way.” The work is honest effort without surrendering your direction.

Her reason is moral, not sentimental: “each human being has an obligation to do what seems right according to his own conscience.” Read with gender-balanced care today, her meaning is clear: each person has an obligation to do what seems right according to their own conscience. That steadiness is why she can say, without softening it, “Friendship with oneself is all important because without it, one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.”

Additional Eleanore Roosevelt Quotations

“Friendship with oneself is all-important because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.”

—Richmond, Arthur, editor. Modern Quotations for Ready Reference. Dover Publications, 1947, p. 455.

“It is a curious thing in human experience, but to live through a period of stress and sorrow with another person, creates a bond which nothing seems able to break.”

—Roosevelt, Eleanor. You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life. Harper & Brothers, 1960.

.”One of the blessings of age is to learn not to part on a note of sharpness, to treasure the moments spent with those we love, and to make them whenever possible good to remember, for time is short.”

—Roosevelt, Eleanor. “My Day, February 5, 1943.” The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, George Washington University, 2024, erpapers.columbian.gwu.edu/my-day-february-5-1943.

“The real value of any relationship is the fact that we learn to like people in spite of our differences.”

—Roosevelt, Eleanor. “My Day, November 24, 1943.” The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, George Washington University, 2024, erpapers.columbian.gwu.edu/my-day-november-24-1943.

Friendship With Oneself

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