"He sido un hombre afortunado en la vida, nada me ha sido facil." "I've been a fortunate man in life, nothing has come easy"
Sigmund FreudRead
One thing only do I know for certain and that is that man's judgments of value follow directly his wishes for happiness-that, accordingly, they are an attempt to support his illusions with arguments. [p.111]
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our desires shape our perceptions of value, often distorting our judgment to align with what makes us happy.
This quote by Sigmund Freud suggests that the way individuals evaluate the value of things in life is heavily influenced by their personal desires for happiness. Rather than making objective judgments, people often construct arguments to support their illusions, meaning they may rationalize decisions or beliefs that ultimately serve their own happiness rather than truth. This highlights the psychological tendency to conform our perceptions to our wishes.
Themes
JudgmentValueHappinessIllusionDesire
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about personal values, this quote can be used to emphasize how our desires influence our perceptions.
More from Sigmund Freud
All quotes →I take up the standpoint that the tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man, and I come back now to the statement that it constitutes the most powerful obstacle to culture.
Sigmund FreudRead
One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.
Sigmund FreudRead
We are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love, never so forlornly unhappy as when we have lost our love object or its love.
Sigmund FreudRead
I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.
Sigmund FreudRead
The tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man... it constitutes the powerful obstacle to culture.
Sigmund FreudRead
Similar quotes
When you look at a guy like a Jay-Z or look at a guy like a Nas, you don't necessarily qualify them as conscious rap purely, although they are extremely conscious of the social inequities that prevail.
Michael Eric DysonRead
The purpose of spiritual life is not to create some special state of mind. A state of mind is always temporary. The purpose is to work directly with the most primary elements of our body and our mind, to see the ways we get trapped by our fears, desires, and anger, to learn directly our capacity for freedom.
Jack KornfieldRead
It was when I was the age where you can, as they say, "hear voices" without worrying that something is wrong with you. I "heard voices" all the time as a small child.
David Foster WallaceRead
Some people who've read my story think I had a terrible childhood and that I was neglected or even abused, while others feel that my parents, while certainly flawed, also had truly wonderful qualities. And that's the way it should be, because in real life two people can look at the same president and one will see a hero and the other a villain.
Jeannette WallsRead
I no longer care about the financial system. I gave them my roadmap. OK? Thanks, bye. I've no idea what's going on. I'm disconnected. I'm totally disengaged.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
In a brutal country like ours, where human life is 'cheap', it's stupid to destroy yourself for the sake of your beliefs. Beliefs? High ideas? Only people in rich countries can enjoy such luxuries.
Orhan PamukRead