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
Once upon a time men were possessed by devils. Now they are not less obsessed by ideas
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that while humanity has shifted from being influenced by external evil to being consumed by internal ideas, the obsession continues.
Carl Jung's quote reflects on the evolution of human thought. Historically, people may have believed they were subjected to external demonic forces, but in modern times, they find themselves more often preoccupied with their own ideologies and thoughts. This shift highlights the continuous struggle between external influences and internal beliefs, emphasizing how ideas can possess us just as much as any external entity.
Themes
ObsessionIdeasThoughtsPhilosophyBeliefs
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on the influence of thoughts on our actions, quoting Carl Jung can illustrate how ideas shape our lives.
More from Carl Jung
All quotes βThe 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
I don't think it had ever occurred to me that man's supremacy is not primarily due to his brain, as most of the books would have one think. It is due to the brain's capacity to make use of the information conveyed to it by a narrow band of visible light rays. His civilization, all that he had achieved or might achieve, hung upon his ability to perceive that range of vibrations from red to violet. Without that, he was lost.
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A faith that cannot survive collision with the truth is not worth many regrets.
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It is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy is greatest, when the cross is heaviest.
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