Compelling Quote by Ernest Becker
“What is the ideal for mental health, then? A lived, compelling illusion that does not lie about life, death, and reality; one honest enough to follow its own commandments: I mean, not to kill, not to take the lives of others to justify itself.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker, 1973
The quote suggests mental health is an honest illusion that acknowledges life, death, and reality without justifying harm.
In simple terms: Mental health is a truthful illusion about life and death.
Key Takeaway
Embrace honest self‑guidance.
Themes
self-awareness
ethics
psychology
existentialism
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
existential
motivational
When to use this quote
- therapy
- personal growth
- ethical decision‑making
- grief counseling
Key Concepts
illusion
commandments
honesty
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance honesty with emotional safety?
- What limits exist for an illusion that is too truthful?
A Different Perspective
It may be impossible to maintain such honesty without psychological distress.
![“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)
