Freud Quote by Eric Weiner
““Worst of all was Freud. While not technically a brooding philosopher, Freud did much to shape our views on happiness. He once said: “The intention that Man should be happy is not in the plan of Creation.” That is a remarkable statement, especially coming from a man whose ideas forged the foundation of our mental-health system. Imagine if some doctor in turn-of-the-century Vienna had declared: “The intention that Man should have a healthy body is not in the plan of Creation.” We’d probably lock him up, or at least strip him of his medical license. We certainly wouldn’t base our entire medical system on his ideas. Yet that is exactly what we did with Freud.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The World of the Married, Eric Weiner, 2020
Critiques Freud’s influence on modern mental health, suggesting his ideas are taken as dogma despite their origins.
In simple terms: Freud’s ideas dominate mental health despite questionable basis.
Key Takeaway
Question foundational assumptions.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
skepticism
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- clinical practice
- therapy training
- public policy
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
dogma
foundational myths
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions underlie current mental health models?
- How can we balance critique with appreciation?
A Different Perspective
Freud’s contributions also advanced understanding of the mind.
![“By what psychoanalyst friends tell me, in the field of the emotional subconscious, the emotional resistances to be overcome are no longer the ones most people felt in Freud's [..] day. The moralizing respectability and the fear of sex evidenced in Freud's day no longer exist. I am told that…” quote by Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3bc/massimo-piattelli-palmarini-26_friendship_by-what-psychoanalyst-friends-tell-me-in_70209.jpg)
