Amour proper is French and means literally “self-love”. As a philosophical concept, it is found in the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Blaise Pascal, La Rochefoucauld and many others.

At its best amour proper is a reasonable belief and justified confidence in your own ability and value. Amour proper is sometimes linked to your ability to contribute to society and also can encompass an awareness of how you are regarded by others.

Like many things, amour proper is best practiced in moderation. We need confidence and courage to face life’s challenges and a healthy sense of self-esteem to develop our fullest potential. At the same time, excess leads to over confidence, even superiority complexes and arrogance. Furthermore, while civilization requires we cooperate and observe justifiable social norms, excessive concern for the regard of others can result in debilitating “other esteem” where one’s sense of self is dependent upon the opinions of others.

Closing Quotes:

‘It’s not your job to like me, it’s mine!” – Byron Katie

“Low self-esteem is like driving through life with the handbrake on.” – Maxwell Maltz; Psycho-Cybernetics

“Self-Love, Self-Respect, Self-Worth. There is a reason they all start with ‘Self’: You cannot find them in anyone else.” – Quotes & Thoughts

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier