On May 6, 1856, Sigmund Freud was born in Freiberg, Moravia (now Pribor, Czech Republic) to Jewish parents Amalia and Jakob Freud. His family were prosperous wool traders who had relocated to Vienna for business reasons.
Freud showed an early interest in science and medicine and art and poetry. Then, at the age of 17, he entered the University of Vienna, at which time he turned his attention more fully towards philosophy with a particular interest in archaeology. He began studying under Karl Bruhl, who introduced him to Darwin’s work on evolution theory, which would profoundly impact his developing theories about human psychology.
In this blog post, we look at some famous quotes from Sigmund Freud and implement them in different aspects of our lives.
1. “Dreams are the royal road to the unconscious.” – Sigmund Freud
Freud famously coined this term which means that our dreams can show us what was happening in our unconscious mind while we were asleep. Our unconscious is powerful and impacts every aspect of who we are, so it is important to understand it. Freud also thought that our dreams were a sign of a healthy mind, so if you have troubling dreams, this could be a sign something has gone wrong in your life (like stress)
2. “The most important breakthroughs are the ones on which you stumble when you are looking for something else.” – Sigmund Freud
This is a great quote for a couple of different reasons. First, it reminds us that breakthroughs come in unexpected places and often when we’re not looking for them. Second, this quote helps us understand the importance of being open to possibilities. If you are too set on something happening in your life, you may miss out on new opportunities that will bring you success.
3. “Neurosis is the inability to tolerate ambiguity.” – Sigmund Freud
This quote speaks to the idea that some people need their lives to be black and white, with no shades of grey (no pun intended). If something doesn’t fit into their vision of how things should be, they will try to fit it, leading to neurosis. This is a great quote to keep in mind if you’re going through a tough time and need some motivation to push yourself past your limits.
4. “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” – Sigmund Freud
This quote reminds us of the importance and deep-seated need we all have to feel safe and protected by our parents. This is especially true in childhood, but even as an adult, it can lead to significant stress if your life lacks safety or security. So whenever you’re feeling particularly stressed, this could signify that something in your life is lacking in terms of safety.
5. “The great question that has never been answered, and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my 30 years of research into the feminine soul, is ‘What does a woman want?” – Sigmund Freud
This quote sums up one of the biggest questions in psychology: what do women want? Freud himself spent 30 years studying this question with little progress. So, unfortunately, this quote isn’t very helpful for men looking to understand the mysterious ways of the fairer sex. But maybe you can figure it out!
6. “What progress we are making. In the Middle Ages, they would have burned me. Now they are content with burning my books.” – Sigmund Freud
This quote reminds us that things can change for the better. Although some may disagree on what progress is, it’s important to recognize times when society has changed for the better and people who once were deemed “dangerous” or even evil can live freely. We need to keep an eye on freedom and equality because it is up to us to fight for what we believe in.
7. “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” – Sigmund Freud
This quote reminds us that sometimes things are exactly what they seem like. There is no hidden meaning. There is no symbol. A cigar is just a cigar, and it’s okay to be okay with that. It’s important for us, especially in this day and age of conspiracy theories and hidden messages, to remember that sometimes things are just what they seem like: a thing.
8. “We often contradict an opinion when we like the holder of it.” – Sigmund Freud
This is a great quote for anyone who has trouble presenting their opinions in the real world. Maybe your parents always said you were wrong, or maybe you learned somewhere along the way that it didn’t get you very far to voice your opinion (for whatever reason). The good news about this quote is that it means most people will like you more if you disagree with them. Plus, it’s always better to voice your opinion than sit back and let everyone else do the talking!
Thanks so much for stopping by, have a fantastic day!