Freud Quote by Ernest Becker
““Understanding this, Rank could take a great step beyond Freud. Freud thought that modern man’s moral dependence on another was a result of the Oedipus complex. But Rank could see that it was the result of a continuation of the causa-sui project of denying creatureliness.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Denial of Death” by Ernest Becker, 1973
Rank extends Freud by seeing moral dependence as a denial of our creaturely nature.
In simple terms: Rank sees moral dependence as denying our humanity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and accept our human limits.
Themes
psychology
philosophy
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- ethical debates
- personal growth
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Freudian theory
existentialism
self‑concept
Questions to Reflect On
- How does denying our creatureliness affect behavior?
- What alternatives exist to Freud’s view?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex moral motivations.
![“If the partner becomes God he can just as easily become the Devil; the reason is not far to seek. For one thing, one becomes bound to the object in dependency. One needs it for self-justification. . . . [O]ne's self-development is restricted by the object, absorbed by it. It is too narrow a…” quote by Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bca/ernest-becker-7036_lose-yourself_if-the-partner-becomes-god-he-can-just-a_336762.jpg)
![“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)
