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
I would rather be whole than good.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being authentic and true to oneself is more important than conforming to societal standards of goodness.
This quote by Carl Jung emphasizes the value of authenticity over the often superficial ideals of morality or goodness. It suggests that to be complete and fulfilled as a person, one must embrace their true self, imperfections and all, rather than strive to fit into the mold of what society deems as 'good'. Such wholeness enables genuine connections and life experiences, rather than adhering to an arbitrary standard of behavior.
Themes
AuthenticityWholenessSelf-AcceptanceGoodnessMorality
In practice
Example use cases
In a personal development workshop, when discussing self-acceptance.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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