About yourself Quote by Adam Phillips
“People change, but there really are limits. One thing you discover in psychoanalytic treatment is the limits of what you can change about yourself or your life. We are children for a very long time.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Psychoanalysis, Adam Phillips, 1995
People can change, but deep psychological structures have limits; therapy reveals what aspects of self are immutable.
In simple terms: Change is possible, yet some core traits stay the same.
Key Takeaway
Accept limits while working on achievable growth.
Themes
change
limits
psychotherapy
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
psychological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- counseling
- life transitions
- parenting
- career shifts
Key Concepts
psychodynamic
developmental psychology
self-awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- Which personal limits feel unchangeable?
- How can you work within those limits?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on immutable traits may lead to resignation rather than effort.
![“The child..will try to make himself..independent of other people. .. Excesses of appetite are self-cures for feelings of hopelessness. ..The child [uses] ‘doubt about food to hide doubt about love.’” quote by Adam Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/154/adam-phillips-18270_appetite_the-child-will-try-to-make-himself-indep_1066864.jpg)
