When they teach [doctors] how to suture, they also teach them how to stitch their self-worth to being all-powerful.

Source: "Listening to Shame." TED2012. Mar. 2012. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote is from vulnerability researcher Brené Brown's 2012 TED Talk which explores what happens when people confront shame. The quote means that people's self esteem is commonly tied to their career: being a surgeon, for example, is associated with a feeling of powerfulness; however, this sense of authority serves as a psychological barrier that prevents surgeons from making practical changes that would improve their accuracy. Watch the full TED Talk here: Brené Brown - Listening to Shame

“Listening to Shame.” TED2012. Mar. 2012. Conference Presentation.