Erving Goffman

"We are all actors on the stage of life, playing roles we create for ourselves."

"The self is not something that preexists our social interactions."

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."

"We manage the impressions we give to others to maintain a desired image."

"Face-work is the process by which we maintain our dignity in social situations."

"Interaction rituals structure our everyday social life."

"We perform different versions of ourselves in different contexts."

"Social life requires constant negotiation and performance."

"The presentation of self is a fundamental aspect of human interaction."

"We are all engaged in impression management."

"Embarrassment is a social phenomenon that threatens our self-image."

"Stigma is a socially constructed concept that marks individuals as different."

"Total institutions reshape individual identity through systematic control."

"Our sense of self is shaped by our social roles and relationships."

"Performance is not mere deception; it is essential to social life."

"The front stage and back stage of life reveal different versions of ourselves."

"Social interaction is governed by implicit rules and norms."

"We use props and settings to support our social performances."

"Dignity is something we maintain through careful social performance."

"Every interaction involves a kind of cooperation and collaboration."

"We are strategic in how we present ourselves to others."

"Social life requires constant attention to how we appear to others."

"The self is a social product, not an individual creation."

"Interactions are choreographed performances that maintain social order."

"We negotiate identity through our daily encounters with others."

"Social institutions shape our understanding of acceptable behavior."

"Impression management is a universal human activity."

"Our public selves are often quite different from our private selves."

"The audience influences how we perform and present ourselves."

"Social rituals create order and predictability in our interactions."