The Four Agreements

by

Don Miguel Ruiz

Ruiz argues that since most people go through life with an internal commentary on everything they are doing imperfectly (delivered by their inner critical voice, the Judge), they also develop another inner voice—which he names the Victim—that receives the Judge’s harsh criticisms and feels ashamed, fearful, and inadequate. The victim fears being judged so much that most people go through life trying to avoid negative judgement, instead of acting based on their own desires. Essentially, the Victim is an internal voice that says “I’m not good enough” and makes people feel disempowered and sorry for themselves. Ruiz’s goal in The Four Agreements is to silence the Victim and replace this voice with self-acceptance, self-love, courage, and positivity.

Victim Quotes in The Four Agreements

The The Four Agreements quotes below are all either spoken by Victim or refer to Victim . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Judgment and Fear Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1. Domestication... Quotes

We are so well trained that we are our own domesticator. We are an autodomesticated animal.

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Page Number: 8-9
Explanation and Analysis:

The Judge decrees, and the Victim suffers the guilt and the punishment. But who says there is justice in this dream?

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Related Symbols: Dream
Page Number: 11-12
Explanation and Analysis:

Our image of perfection is the reason we reject ourselves; it is why we don’t accept ourselves the way we are, and why we don’t accept others the way they are.

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5. The Fourth Agreement Quotes

I did my best.

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6. The Toltec Path to Freedom Quotes

The parasite dreams through your mind and lives its life through your body. It survives on the emotions that come from fear, and thrives on drama and suffering.

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Related Symbols: Dream, Parasite
Page Number: 102
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Four Agreements PDF

Victim Quotes in The Four Agreements

The The Four Agreements quotes below are all either spoken by Victim or refer to Victim . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Judgment and Fear Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1. Domestication... Quotes

We are so well trained that we are our own domesticator. We are an autodomesticated animal.

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Page Number: 8-9
Explanation and Analysis:

The Judge decrees, and the Victim suffers the guilt and the punishment. But who says there is justice in this dream?

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Related Symbols: Dream
Page Number: 11-12
Explanation and Analysis:

Our image of perfection is the reason we reject ourselves; it is why we don’t accept ourselves the way we are, and why we don’t accept others the way they are.

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5. The Fourth Agreement Quotes

I did my best.

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6. The Toltec Path to Freedom Quotes

The parasite dreams through your mind and lives its life through your body. It survives on the emotions that come from fear, and thrives on drama and suffering.

Related Characters: Miguel Ruiz (speaker), Judge, Victim
Related Symbols: Dream, Parasite
Page Number: 102
Explanation and Analysis: