Books Quote by Gary Valentine Lachman
““As he argued in The Undiscovered Self, Jung told the “average” reader that any possibility of avoiding disaster “must begin with an individual.” “It might be any one of us. Nobody can afford to look around and wait for someone else to do what he is loath to do himself.” And what must the individual do, given that all our conscious, rational, scientific efforts seem to only land us deeper in the mire? He must “ask himself whether by chance his or her unconscious may know something that will help us.”24 The basic message of Jung’s last work is the one that cost him his friendship with Freud: that the unconscious is not some dark basement full of unwanted, disreputable things, but a living, creative, and often wise partner with consciousness in the business of a becoming fully actualized human being, a partner who frequently knows more than we—our conscious egos—do, and who speaks to us in symbols, those remarkable products of the transcendent function.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Undiscovered Self by Carl Jung, 1957
Individual responsibility is essential; personal insight from the unconscious can guide actions when rational efforts fail.
In simple terms: You must act and listen to your inner wisdom.
Key Takeaway
Trust your intuition and act alone.
Themes
responsibility
self-awareness
inner wisdom
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- decision making
- creative problem solving
- leadership challenges
Key Concepts
unconscious
transcendent function
symbolic communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you differentiate true inner guidance from fear?
- When should you seek external counsel?
A Different Perspective
The unconscious may mislead if not integrated with conscious critique.
