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
A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them. As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being. Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True self-awareness comes from experiencing and understanding our own passions and frustrations.
Carl Jung's quote highlights the importance of confronting and overcoming our inner struggles, or passions, as a pathway to self-discovery and enlightenment. He suggests that the challenges and irritations we face in life, particularly in our relationships with others, provide critical insights into understanding ourselves and fulfilling our purpose in existence, which he describes as bringing light to the otherwise mundane experience of living.
Themes
Self-AwarenessPassionsUnderstandingLightDarknessHuman Existence
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a motivational speech about personal growth.
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.
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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.
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
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