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Thinker · 7 quotes

Sigmund Freud quotes for UPSC

7 sourced quotes by Sigmund Freud on justice & rule of law, equality & social justice, peace, non-violence & conflict, truth & wisdom, media, speech & public opinion, with a use case for each in GS4, Essay and interviews.

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The first requisite of civilization, therefore, is that of justice—that is, the assurance that a law once made will not be broken in favour of an individual.
— Sigmund FreudCh. 3, as translated by James Strachey, p.81
Use itGS2: rule of law—laws not bent for individuals is civilisation's first requisite.
Justice & Rule of LawEquality & Social JusticeEssayGS2GS4
It goes without saying that a civilization which leaves so large a number of its participants unsatisfied and drives them into revolt neither has nor deserves the prospect of a lasting existence.
— Sigmund Freud
Use itEssay on inclusive growth: a civilisation leaving many dissatisfied cannot endure.
Equality & Social JusticeEconomy, Development & PovertyEssayGS2GS3
It is always possible to bind together a considerable number of people in love, so long as there are other people left over to receive manifestations of their aggressiveness.
— Sigmund FreudCh. 5, as translated by James Strachey and Anna Freud (1961)
Use itEssay on communalism: group cohesion often built by targeting outsiders.
Peace, Non-violence & ConflictNation, Unity & DiversityEssayGS1
The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing. Ultimately, after endlessly repeated rebuffs, it succeeds. This is one of the few points in which it may be optimistic about the future of mankind, but in itself it signifies not a little.
— Sigmund FreudThe Future of an Illusion (1927)
Use itEssay on reason: the intellect's voice is soft but persistent and prevails.
Truth & WisdomResilience & PerseveranceEssay
What progress we are making. In the Middle Ages they would have burned me. Now they are content with burning my books.
— Sigmund FreudLetter to Ernest Jones (1933), as quoted in The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations (1993) by Robert Andrews, p. 779
Use itEssay on censorship: book burning as persecution of ideas.
Media, Speech & Public OpinionDemocracy & FreedomEssayGS2
Beauty has no obvious use; nor is there any clear cultural necessity for it. Yet civilization could not do without it.
— Sigmund FreudCh. 2, as translated by James Strachey, p.62
Use itEssay on art: beauty has no use yet civilisation cannot do without it.
Culture, Art & LiteratureEssay
Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.
— Sigmund FreudLetter to Wilhelm Fliess (15 October 1897), as quoted in Origins of Psychoanalysis
Use itLife/GS4: self-honesty as a practice of emotional intelligence.
Mind & Self-awarenessIntegrity & HonestyGS4Life

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