"When one child says to another, "I..." - Quote by Eckhart Tolle
When one child says to another, "I can do this, I bet you can't"; "My dad has a bigger car than yours"; or, "My dad is stronger than yours." Children identify with this or that, trying to build up a sense of self - a mentally defined sense of self.
More by Eckhart Tolle
More on Ego
“Another rule I have is: Don't let your ego get tied up in a policy dispute. Otherwise, if things don't go your way, you can end up breaking a relationship with somebody with whom you can't afford to break.”
“The ego's form of happiness can't exist without unhappiness. The ego will be happy when something good happens but unhappy when it ends.”
“Desire for approval and recognition is a healthy motive, but the desire to be acknowledged as better, stronger, or more intelligent than a fellow being or fellow scholar easily leads to an excessively egoistic psychological adjustment, which may become injurious for the individual and for the community.”
More on Identity
“I think self-expression is present at all times, and whether or not you're talking about the outside world or your responses to it depends on the moment and the subject.”
“We are defined not by our borders but by our bonds.”
“How do I know who I am or where I am? How could a single wave locate itself in an ocean.”