--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The psychic task which a person can and…" description: "\"The psychic task which a person can and must set for himself is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity.\" — Erich Fromm" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/erich-fromm-367_doubt_the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and_1835701.jpg" --- # The psychic task which a person can and must set for… ![“The psychic task which a person can and must set for himself is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity.” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/erich-fromm-367_doubt_the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and_1835701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/erich-fromm-367_doubt_the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and_1835701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/erich-fromm-367_doubt_the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and_1835701.jpg) > “The psychic task which a person can and must set for himself is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity.” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True growth comes from embracing uncertainty rather than seeking false security. **In simple terms:** Embrace insecurity for growth. Key Takeaway Practice tolerating uncertainty. Themes growth security psychology Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career change - creative projects - personal relationships - spiritual practice - null Key Concepts existentialism resilience selfdevelopment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance security and insecurity? - What risks are worth taking? A Different Perspective Too idealistic; some insecurity can be harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Insecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecurity/) [Psychic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychic/) ## Related quotes > [The task we must set for ourselves is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-task-we-must-set-for-ourselves-is-not-to-feel-secure-but-to-be/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Singaporeans generally feel more secure these days. 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But going forward, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharron-angle/what-we-need-is-to-make-our-senior-citizens-feel-secure-once-more/) [Sharron Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharron-angle/) > [To be a good enough parent one must be able to feel secure in one's parenthood, and one's relation to one's child...The security of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-bettelheim/to-be-a-good-enough-parent-one-must-be-able-to-feel-secure-in-one-s/) [Bruno Bettelheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-bettelheim/) > [We have to fight terror in one voice, rising above politics. That is when the common people will feel secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-have-to-fight-terror-in-one-voice-rising-above-politics-that-is/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [“I don't get why men feel insecure when they meet a confident woman! 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Lusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-t-lusk/) > [Guys make me feel secure and comfortable when I'm scared or need attention. They bring stability. And affection. And fun. And drama. You learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-duff/guys-make-me-feel-secure-and-comfortable-when-i-m-scared-or-need/) [Hilary Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-duff/) ## 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. 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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/) [Explore all 558 Erich Fromm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The psychic task which a person can and must set for himself is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erich Fromm" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and-must-set-for-himself-is-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and-must-set-for-himself-is-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/erich-fromm-367_doubt_the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and_1835701.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/erich-fromm-367_doubt_the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and_1835701.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/erich-fromm-367_doubt_the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and_1835701.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The psychic task which a person can and must set for himself is not to feel secure, but to be able to…” — Erich Fromm", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erich Fromm", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The psychic task which a person...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and-must-set-for-himself-is-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-psychic-task-which-a-person-can-and-must-set-for-himself-is-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```