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
In studying the history of the human mind one is impressed again and again by the fact that its growth keeps pace with a widening range of consciousness, and that each step forward is an extremely painful and laborious achievement. One could almost say that nothing is more hateful to man than to give up the smallest particle of unconsciousness. He has a profound fear of the unknown. Ask anybody who has ever tried to introduce new ideas!
Interpretation
What this quote means
The growth of the human mind is painful and often met with resistance due to fear of the unknown.
Carl Jung reflects on the nature of human consciousness and its development, noting that the evolution of the mind is intricately linked to an expanding awareness. He emphasizes that each advancement in understanding often involves struggle and discomfort, as most individuals resist losing even a tiny bit of their unconsciousness due to a deep-seated fear of the unknown. This highlights the challenges faced when introducing new ideas and concepts to others.
Themes
GrowthConsciousnessFearUnknownIdeasStruggle
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about embracing change and innovation in the workplace.
More from Carl Jung
All quotes →The majority of my patients consisted not of believers but of those who had lost their faith.
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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.
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