Out of evil, much good has come to me. By keeping quiet…
““Out of evil, much good has come to me. By keeping quiet, repressing nothing, remaining attentive, and by accepting reality - taking things as they are, and not as I wanted them to be - by doing all this, unusual knowledge has come to me, and unusual powers as well, such as I could never have imagined before. I always thought that when we accepted things they overpowered us in some way or other. This turns out not to be true at all, and it is only by accepting them that one can assume and attitude towards them. So now I intend to play the game of life, being receptive to whatever comes to me, good and bad, sun and shadow forever alternating, and, in this way, also accepting my own nature with its positive and negative sides. Thus everything becomes more alive to me. What a fool I was! How I tried to force everything to go according to way I thought it ought to. an ex patient of C. G. Jung (Alchemical Studies, pg 47)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Accepting reality without resistance opens a path to unexpected insight and inner strength.
In simple terms: Acceptance brings hidden knowledge and power.
Key Takeaway
Embrace what is, not what you wish.
Themes
acceptance
inner growth
alchemy
psychology
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- personal crises
- spiritual practice
- creative work
Key Concepts
Jungian individuation
shadow integration
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does resisting reality limit you?
- What new insights arise when you stop forcing outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Acceptance may be uncomfortable and can feel like surrender.