Carl Jung (1875-1961)

Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychologist who founded the school of analytical psychology. He was a prolific author of over twenty books, illustrator, and correspondent, and academic, best known for his concept of archetypes. Widely considered one of the most influential psychologists of the early 20th century, and of all time, Jung's work has fostered not only scholarship, but also popular interest. His work has been influential in the fields of psychiatry, anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, psychology, and religious studies.

Quotes

Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol, morphine or idealism.
As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of being.
Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves.

Understanding
The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.
Nobody, as long as he moves about among the chaotic currents of life, is without trouble.
Sometimes, indeed, there is such a discrepancy between the genius and his human qualities that one has to ask oneself whether a little less talent might not have been better.
All the works of man have their origin in creative fantasy. What right have we then to depreciate imagination.
In studying the history of the human mind one is impressed again and again by the fact that the growth of the mind is the widening of the range of consciousness, and that each step forward has been a most painful and laborious achievement. One could almost say that nothing is more hateful to man than to give up even a particle of his unconsciousness. Ask those who have tried to introduce a new idea!
It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves.
The teacher pretended that algebra was a perfectly natural affair, to be taken for granted, whereas I didn't even know what numbers were. Mathematics classes became sheer terror and torture to me. I was so intimidated by my incomprehension that I did not dare to ask any questions.
An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.
Creative powers can just as easily turn out to be destructive. It rests solely with the moral personality whether they apply themselves to good things or to bad. And if this is lacking, no teacher can supply it or take its place
Religion is a defense against the experience of God.
The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.
I could not say I believe. I know! I have had the experience of being gripped by something that is stronger than myself, something that people call God.
As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.
Where love rules, there is no will to power, and where power predominates, love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other.
The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.

Creativity
Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children than the unlived life of the parent.

Failure