---
title: "5 Critical Quotes By Erich Fromm"
description: "5 Critical quotes by Erich Fromm. Plus more from Erich Fromm and more Critical sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/erich-fromm-367_critical_optimism-is-an-alienated-form-of-faith-p_173642.jpg"
---

> [Optimism is an alienated form of faith, pessimism an alienated form of despair. If one truly responds to man and his future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/optimism-is-an-alienated-form-of-faith-pessimism-an-alienated-form-of/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/erich-fromm-367_critical_optimism-is-an-alienated-form-of-faith-p_173642.jpg)

> [The revolutionary and critical thinker is in a certain way always outside of his society while of course he is at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-revolutionary-and-critical-thinker-is-in-a-certain-way-always/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/erich-fromm-367_certain_the-revolutionary-and-critical-thinker-i_974117.jpg)

> [Critical and radical thought will only bear fruit when it is blended with the most precious quality man is endowed with -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/critical-and-radical-thought-will-only-bear-fruit-when-it-is-blended/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/erich-fromm-367_bears_critical-and-radical-thought-will-only-b_1016945.jpg)

> [The two most far-reaching critical theories at the beginning of the latest phase of industrial society were those of Marx and Freud.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-two-most-far-reaching-critical-theories-at-the-beginning-of-the/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/erich-fromm-367_bounds_the-two-most-far-reaching-critical-theor_3142443.jpg)

> [I have a tremendous faith in the possibilities of man, which have shown in his past, and I believe if we avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-have-a-tremendous-faith-in-the-possibilities-of-man-which-have/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/erich-fromm-367_able_i-have-a-tremendous-faith-in-the-possibi_3156306.jpg)

## Other authors on Critical

## More by Erich Fromm

> [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“The wealth of data to be found in social and political life. The belief that people do not want to make sacrifices is notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-wealth-of-data-to-be-found-in-social-and-political-life-the/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [By equality, one once understood equality in the very same sense in which the Bible speaks of equality: that we are all equal, inasmuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/by-equality-one-once-understood-equality-in-the-very-same-sense-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“Human beings had two basic orientations: HAVING and BEING HAVING: seeks to acquire, posses things even people BEING: focuses on the experience; exchanging, engaging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/human-beings-had-two-basic-orientations-having-and-being-having-seeks/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-are-not-even-aware-of-their-need-to-conform-they-live/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/just-as-modern-mass-production-requires-the-standardization-of/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-respect-a-person-is-not-possible-without-knowing-him-care-and/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“Perhaps most trivial talk is a need to talk about oneself; hence, the never-ending subject of health and sickness, children, travel, successes, what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/perhaps-most-trivial-talk-is-a-need-to-talk-about-oneself-hence-the/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

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