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
Learn your techniques well and be prepared to let them go when you touch the human soul.
Interpretation
What this quote means
One should master techniques but be willing to transcend them when engaging with deeper human experiences.
This quote by Carl Jung emphasizes the importance of mastering one's skills and techniques while also recognizing that true connection with others often requires going beyond those techniques. It speaks to the balance between knowledge and empathy, reminding us that when we engage with the complexities of human emotion and experience, rigid adherence to learned methods may hinder genuine interaction and understanding.
Themes
TechniquesHuman SoulConnectionEmpathyMastery
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about the importance of human connection, this quote could emphasize the need for emotional intelligence in leadership.
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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