QUOTES
Quotes
(External Authority Library)
What this page is
This page provides a library of external authority.
The quotes collected here are not advice, instruction, or doctrine.
They are reference points — examples of statements that exist outside any individual’s trauma, emotions, or self-assessment.
They are published without commentary on purpose.
Why quotes exist in this system
Trauma-based repetitive thoughts (TBRTs) often persist because internal reasoning cannot be trusted.
In environments shaped by gaslighting or chronic reality distortion:
- words are unreliable
- reassurance is suspect
- self-validation fails
- internal baselines are corrupted
This system relies instead on external authority — sources that:
- predate the trauma
- are independent of the abuser
- have no emotional stake
- do not change under pressure
Quotes are one way to collect such authority.
What these quotes are not
These quotes are not:
- affirmations
- inspiration
- moral instruction
- “wisdom to live by”
- a canon to adopt
No quote is presented as correct, necessary, or universal.
If a quote does not carry authority for you, discard it.
How these quotes are meant to be used
Quotes are raw material.
They are useful only insofar as they support Contras — evidence-based counters to specific TBRTs.
A quote may be useful if:
- it decisively contradicts a TBRT
- your mind accepts it as legitimate
- it ends a loop rather than deepening it
If reading a quote leads to reflection, interpretation, or rumination, it is being misused.
Why there is no commentary
Commentary would:
- suggest interpretation
- imply endorsement
- elevate one voice over another
- turn authority into persuasion
None of that is desired here.
Authority must stand on its own.
About authorship
Some quotes are attributed to well-known authors.
Some are labeled Anonymous or Unknown.
Some are labeled Anonymous (1).
Authorship is indexed only to preserve origin — not to establish hierarchy.
No author’s words are privileged over another’s.
Categories
Quotes are grouped by functional category, not by theme or popularity.
Each category reflects the kind of authority a quote provides, not what it “means.”
Available categories include:
- Self-Mastery
- Virtues & Reality
- Mind & TBRTs
- Practice
Additional categories may appear later.
None are exhaustive.
How to approach this library
You do not need to read everything.
Most people will:
- skim briefly
- recognize a small number of authoritative sources
- ignore the rest
That is expected.
A small number of decisive references is more useful than a large collection.
A warning
If you find yourself:
- collecting quotes compulsively
- reading for comfort
- substituting reading for application
- treating this as self-help material
Stop.
Return to Contras and Practice.
The system does not work through consumption.
Where to go next
- To see how authority is applied, visit Contras
- To understand governing rules, see Constitution
- To view quotes by category, choose one below
Quote Categories
- Mind & TBRTs
- Practice
- Self-Mastery
- Virtues & Reality
Finitethoughts.com 