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
There is rarely a creative man who does not have to pay a high price for the divine spark of his greatest gifts... the human element is frequently bled for the benefit of the creative element and to such an extent that it even brings out the bad qualities, as for instance, ruthless, naive egoism (so-called "auto-eroticism"), vanity, all kinds of vices-and all this in order to bring to the human I at least some life-strength, since otherwise it would perish of sheer inanition.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The creative process often demands personal sacrifice, leading to both virtues and vices in an artist's character.
Carl Jung's quote reflects on the heavy toll that creativity can take on an individual, suggesting that while the divine spark of creativity can produce great gifts, it often requires individuals to confront their darker instincts and personal challenges. The 'human element' of creativity may suffer and endure hardships, indicating that pursuing artistic greatness is not just about talent but also about the trials that shape the artist's journey.
Themes
CreativitySacrificeArtHuman NatureVices
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creativity and innovation, one might cite Jung's quote to emphasize the struggles artists face.
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.
Carl JungRead
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
Similar quotes
I won't get into it any more than to say that there are parts of me in all the songs that I write.
Tracy ChapmanRead
I read a great deal of science fiction with consummate pleasure between, say, the ages of 12 and 16. Then I got away from it. In my mid- to late 20s, I started trying to write it.
William GibsonRead
I thought that was a pretty stupid argument, really, because it's the final product that matters. The look of the film, however it's done, is still the cinematographer's vision in my mind. People said the same when color film came in, didn't they? The world evolves, and image-making evolves.
Roger DeakinsRead
The essential elements of singing are voice, musicianship, and story. It is the rare artist that has all three in abundance.
Linda RonstadtRead
I have fun with my clothes onstage; it's not a concert you're seeing, it's a fashion show.
Freddie MercuryRead
It's hard to write a good play because it's hard to structure a plot. If you can think of it off the top of your head, so can the audience.
David MametRead