Grounded in the natural philosophy of the Middle Ages, alchemy formed a bridge: on the one hand into the past, to Gnosticism, and on the other into the future, to the modern psychology of the unconscious.
Carl JungRead
But what if I should discover that the least amongst them all, the poorest of all beggars, the most impudent of all offenders, yea the very fiend himself— that these are within me, and that I myself stand in need of the alms of my own kindness, that I myself am the enemy who must be loved— what then?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote explores the idea of self-acceptance and recognizing one's own vulnerabilities.
Carl Jung's quote invites deep introspection and reflects on the profound realization that our perceived flaws and worst aspects may reside within us. It suggests that instead of rejecting these darker facets, we should acknowledge them and extend compassion towards ourselves, implying that true strength lies in self-love and acceptance, regardless of our shortcomings or the parts of ourselves we might wish to hide.
Themes
Self-AcceptanceKindnessIntrospectionCompassionVulnerability
In practice
Example use cases
In a therapy session discussing self-love.
More from Carl Jung
All quotes →The majority of my patients consisted not of believers but of those who had lost their faith.
Carl JungRead
Complexes are psychic contents which are outside the control of the conscious mind. They have been split off from consciousness and lead a separate existence in the unconscious, being at all times ready to hinder or to reinforce the conscious intentions.
Carl JungRead
We are in a far better position to observe instincts in animals or in primitives than in ourselves. This is due to the fact that we have grown accustomed to scrutinizing our own actions and to seeking rational explanations for them.
Carl JungRead
From the viewpoint of analytic psychology, the theatre, aside from any aesthetic value, may be considered as an institution for the treatment of the mass complex.
Carl JungRead
I have treated many hundreds of patients. Among those in the second half of life - that is to say, over 35 - there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life.
Carl JungRead
Similar quotes
The sun is simple. A sword is simple. A storm is simple. Behind everything simple is a huge tail of complicated.
Terry PratchettRead
Since I am convinced that I wrong no one, I am not likely to wrong myself.
SocratesRead
Where there is no imagination there is no horror.
Arthur Conan DoyleRead
It is not enough for me to ask question; I want to know how to answer the one question that seems to encompass everything I face: What am I here for?
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
The born-again Christian sees life not as a blurred , confused, meaningless mass, but as something planned and purposeful.
Billy GrahamRead
But the most obvious fact about praise — whether of God or anything — strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless (sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it.
C. S. LewisRead