When I first heard this quote many years ago, I was totally taken aback and didn't believe it. Then I started noticing, looking and "feeling" about it. Now I think it should be on signs in every school to help students deal with bullies and bitches.

A comment below says Ms. Roosevelt was born to money and power. True, but she was among Washington's least beautiful. When she was mistreated, you can bet it was about looksnot something that money and power could (in those days) remedy.

She had to learn and practice this point of view on her own, probably n the face of overt and covert insult. She gets my vote for being an original thinker and person of great guts.

An important truth.
Without our permission, no one can make us FEEL inferior.
That does not mean that others need our permission to TREAT us like an inferior person. Arrogant people do that to others all the time.
Eleanor was talking about attitude and self-esteem. While she was probably addressing women and racial minorities, the saying is as valid for anyone who may have self-esteem issues.
Have you ever seen someone who is angry with another person (like a sibling or spouse) and tried to insult them and make them feel inferior, but instead the object of the attempt simply smiles at their attacker?
A person who treats another as an inferior (calling them stupid, ugly, etc.) by insulting them, gets no where when that person SMILES BACK KNOWINGLY like, "insult me all you want, I know better".
If the insulted person shows that they do not FEEL INFERIOR by smiling back, it usually makes their attacker feel very frustrated obviously because they have failed to MAKE that person FEEL INFERIOR.
Instead of yelling back at someone in an argument, simply SMILE back knowingly. It works every time.
My wife used to smile at me all the time, until I figured out how really smart she really was, so I started smiling back and stopped being obnoxious. Now we smile together a lot.

A comment that is a lot easier for a woman of inherited money, power and privilege to make, than for a "lesser" mortal.

Something that I've learned over the years. This is so true. I've been the "inferior" one because I was mistreated and abused, but it was my choice to take it. I wish I could see some of these people now, I would give me "the peace of mind".

i sure wish i could keep this in mind more often.It can be awful hard to feel good about myself when others take great delight in stomping on me. I should have this on a bracelet or something to remind me. i could use this quote at times.

And this decades before "you pack your own chute."

Check this quote...I believe it is actually "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Nobody should be able to make you feel anything you don't want to feel. By believing that no one can make you feel what you don't want to, it will prevent others from being able to get under your skin... and after awhile it will close the door to people who want to have some sort of control over you, and they will stop trying... from then on, one just has to deal with it as it comes :)

you are the one that is ultimately responsible for how you feel.