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
It is sad but unfortunately true that man learns nothing from history.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often repeat mistakes from the past, failing to learn from history's lessons.
Carl Jung highlights the tragic reality that humanity tends to overlook or forget the valuable lessons history offers. Despite the wealth of knowledge available from past events, people frequently fail to apply these lessons to avoid making the same mistakes, suggesting a cycle of ignorance that can lead to repeated failures.
Themes
HistoryLearningMistakesHuman NatureRepetition
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on historical conflicts, this quote could illustrate the importance of learning from past wars.
More from Carl Jung
All quotes βThe 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
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The arrogance of age must submit to be taught by youth.
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Of course there is enough to stir our wonder anywhere; there's enough to love, anywhere, if one is strong enough, if one is diligent enough, if one is perceptive, patient, kind enough -- whatever it takes.
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Look at the word responsibility-"response-ability"-the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling.
Stephen CoveyRead
If you have done something meritorious, you experience pleasure and happiness; if wrong things, suffering. A happy or unhappy life is your own creation. Nobody else is responsible. If you remember this, you wonβt find fault with anybody. You are your own best friend as well as your worst enemy. (99)
Swami SatchidanandaRead