Erich Fromm in article 'Selfishness and Self Love'
Erich Fromm in article 'Selfishness and Self Love'. "People are their own slave drivers; instead of being the slaves of a master outside of themselves, they have put the master within. This master is harsh and cruel. He does not give them a moment's rest, he forbids them the enjoymnet of any pleasure, does not allow them to do what they want. If they do so, they do it furtively and at the expense of a guilty conscience. Even the pursuit of pleasure is as compulsory as is work. it does not lead them away from the continual restlessness which pervades their lives. For the most part, they are not even aware of this."
— from Who Is Flying (Self, Nature & Nurture)
In the book
The second fault is the cruelty of your own inner voice. Erich Fromm noticed that people are their own slave drivers, lashing themselves harder than any master would dare. Most of what we proudly call "thinking" about ourselves is not thinking at all — it is just self-criticism wearing the costume of honesty. — Who Is Flying (Self, Nature & Nurture)