Religion is an illusion and it derives its strength from the fact that it falls in with our instinctual desires. Sigmund Freud More Quotes by Sigmund Freud More Quotes From Sigmund Freud Much of our highly valued cultural heritage has been acquired at the cost of sexuality. Sigmund Freud heritage cost culture Analogies, it is true, decide nothing, but they can make one feel more at home. Sigmund Freud home writing peace Nature delights in making use of the same forms in the most various biological connections: as it does, for instance, in the appearance of branch-like structures both in coral and in plants, and indeed in some forms of crystal and in certain chemical precipitates. Sigmund Freud connections use doe A state of consciousness is characteristically very transitory; an idea that is conscious now is no longer so a moment later, although it can become so again under certain conditions that are easily brought about. Sigmund Freud consciousness moments ideas What psycho-analysis reveals in the transference phenomena of neurotics can also be observed in the lives of some normal people. The impression they give is of being pursued by a malignant fate or possessed by some 'daemonic' power; but psycho-analysis has always taken the view that their fate is for the most part arranged by themselves and determined by early infantile influences. Sigmund Freud fate taken views There is an intellectual function in us which demands unity, connection and intelligibility from any material, whether of perception or thought, that comes within its grasp; and if, as a result of special circumstances, it is unable to establish a true connection, it does not hesitate to fabricate a false one. Sigmund Freud unity perception intellectual Sadism is all right in its place, but it should be directed to proper ends. Sigmund Freud sadism ends should Concerning the factors of silence, solitude and darkness, we can only say that they are actually elements in the production of the infantile anxiety from which the majority of human beings have never become quite free. Sigmund Freud anxiety silence darkness If all the evidence put forward for the authenticity of religious teachings originates in the past, it is natural to look round and see whether the present, about which it is easier to form judgements, may not also be able to furnish evidence of the sort. If by this means we could succeed in clearing even a single portion of the religious system from doubt, the whole of it would gain enormously in credibility. Sigmund Freud teaching religious mean The transformation of object-libido into narcissistic libido which thus takes place obviously implies an abandonment of sexual aims, a desexualization - a kind of sublimation, therefore. Sigmund Freud narcissistic transformation kind Another technique for fending off suffering is the employment of the displacements of libido which our mental apparatus permits of and through which its function gains so much in flexibility. The task here is that of shifting the instinctual aims in such a way that they cannot come up against frustration from the external world. Sigmund Freud frustration technique suffering The communal life of human beings had . . . a two-fold foundation: the compulsion to work, which was created by external necessity, and the power of love. Sigmund Freud foundation love two At bottom God is nothing more than an exalted father. Sigmund Freud bottom father religion The inclination to aggression constitutes the greatest impediment to civilization. Sigmund Freud inclination aggression civilization I do not in the least underestimate bisexuality... I expect it to provide all further enlightenment. Sigmund Freud bisexuality enlightenment underestimate I do not doubt that it would be easier for fate to take away your suffering than it would for me. But you will see for yourself that much has been gained if we succeed in turning your hysterical misery into common unhappiness. Sigmund Freud fate suffering doubt My way of working was different years ago. I used to wait until an idea came to me. Now I go half-way to meet it, though I don't know whether I find it any the quicker. Sigmund Freud waiting years ideas The most ancient and important taboo prohibitions are the two basic laws of totemism: not to kill the totem animal and to avoid sexual intercourse with members of the totem clan of the opposite sex. Sigmund Freud law animal sex Obsessional prohibitions are extremely liable to displacement. They extend from one object to another along whatever paths the context may provide, and this new object then becomes, to use the apt expression of one of my women patients, 'impossible' - till at last the whole world lies under an embargo of 'impossibility'. Sigmund Freud expression use lying The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety. Sigmund Freud anxiety birth firsts
