---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The psyche is highly flammable material…"
description: "\"The psyche is highly flammable material. So we are always wrapping things in asbestos, keeping our images and fantasies at arm's length because they ar..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/james-hillman-2336_arms_the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material_578617.png"
---

#  The psyche is highly flammable material. So we are always…

![“The psyche is highly flammable material. So we are always wrapping things in asbestos, keeping our images and fantasies at arm's length because they are so full of love” quote by James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/james-hillman-2336_arms_the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material_578617.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/james-hillman-2336_arms_the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material_578617.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/james-hillman-2336_arms_the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material_578617.png)

> “The psyche is highly flammable material. So we are always wrapping things in asbestos, keeping our images and fantasies at arm's length because they are so full of love”

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human imagination and emotions are volatile, so we protect ourselves by keeping deep feelings at a distance, using defenses like metaphorical asbestos.

**In simple terms:** Our minds are fragile, so we shield them.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and gently explore suppressed feelings.

Themes

psychology defense vulnerability

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

therapeutic philosophical

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- personal growth
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

archetype shadow work

Questions to Reflect On

- What emotions are you keeping at arm's length?
- How can we safely engage with intense inner material?

A Different Perspective

Overprotection can prevent authentic connection and healing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Asbestos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asbestos/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Flammable Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flammable-material-4760471/) [Length](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/length/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Psyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psyche/) [Psyche Highly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psyche-highly-4760469/) [Things Asbestos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-asbestos-4760470/) [Wrapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrapping/)

## Related quotes

> [I can no longer be sure whether the psyche is in me or whether I'm in the psyche...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/i-can-no-longer-be-sure-whether-the-psyche-is-in-me-or-whether-i-m-in/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [In the late '50s, homes had a lot of asbestos in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-baeumler/in-the-late-50s-homes-had-a-lot-of-asbestos-in-them/)

[Bryan Baeumler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-baeumler/)

> [God deliver me from the dread asbestos of “other things.” Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be aflame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/god-deliver-me-from-the-dread-asbestos-of-other-things-saturate-me/)

[Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/)

> [Warm-hearted! I should think he has to wear asbestos vests!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/warm-hearted-i-should-think-he-has-to-wear-asbestos-vests/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Despite my asbestos gloves, the cough is filling me with black, and a red powder seeps through my veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/despite-my-asbestos-gloves-the-cough-is-filling-me-with-black-and-a/)

[Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/)

> [...The asbestos industry...has for decades successfully suppressed and manipulated information on the carcinogenicity and other hazards of asbestos. Involved in this conspiracy network were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-epstein/the-asbestos-industry-has-for-decades-successfully-suppressed-and/)

[Samuel Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-epstein/)

> [“You have built a human relationship on the foundation of asbestos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-sestero/you-have-built-a-human-relationship-on-the-foundation-of-asbestos/)

[Greg Sestero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-sestero/)

> [We are very encouraged that the results from our monitoring of air quality and drinking water conditions in both New York and near the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-todd-whitman/we-are-very-encouraged-that-the-results-from-our-monitoring-of-air/)

[Christine Todd Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-todd-whitman/)

> [Im the bestest/on a bad day I spit asbestos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-sweatshirt/im-the-bestest-on-a-bad-day-i-spit-asbestos/)

[Earl Sweatshirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-sweatshirt/)

> [I'm the bestest/on a bad day I spit asbestos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-sweatshirt/i-m-the-bestest-on-a-bad-day-i-spit-asbestos/)

[Earl Sweatshirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-sweatshirt/)

> [As a career, the business of an orthodox preacher is about as successful as that of a celluloid dog chasing an asbestos cat through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/as-a-career-the-business-of-an-orthodox-preacher-is-about-as/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

> [When thou diest, thy soul will be tormented alone; that will be a hell for it, but at the day of judgment they body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/when-thou-diest-thy-soul-will-be-tormented-alone-that-will-be-a-hell/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [The asbestos problem impacts everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-engler/the-asbestos-problem-impacts-everyone/)

[John Engler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-engler/)

> [Asbestos, EMFs, and CFCs have given us a degree of humility. When yesterday's "triumph of modern chemistry" turns out instead to be today's deadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/asbestos-emfs-and-cfcs-have-given-us-a-degree-of-humility-when/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [He makes His ministers a flame of fire. Am I ignitible? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of 'other things.' Saturate me with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/he-makes-his-ministers-a-flame-of-fire-am-i-ignitible-god-deliver-me/)

[Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/)

## More by James Hillman

> [“Each life is formed by its unique image, an image that is the essence of that life and calls it to a destiny. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/each-life-is-formed-by-its-unique-image-an-image-that-is-the-essence/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Fear is a huge thing for older people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/fear-is-a-huge-thing-for-older-people/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [It's a terrible cruelty of predatory capitalism: both parents now have to work. A family has to have two incomes in order to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/it-s-a-terrible-cruelty-of-predatory-capitalism-both-parents-now-have/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [You know, people come to therapy really for a blessing. Not so much to fix what's broken, but to get what's broken blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/you-know-people-come-to-therapy-really-for-a-blessing-not-so-much-to/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Until the culture recognizes the legitimacy of growing down, each person in the culture struggles blindly to make sense of the darkness that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/until-the-culture-recognizes-the-legitimacy-of-growing-down-each/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [ “The first way has been excellently presented by David Holt in his lecture on “Jung and Marx.” \[1\] There Holt shows that Jung imagined his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-first-way-has-been-excellently-presented-by-david-holt-in-his/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [I'm the result of upbringing, class, race, gender, social prejudices, and economics. So I'm a victim again. A result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/i-m-the-result-of-upbringing-class-race-gender-social-prejudices-and/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [There is more in a human life than our theories of it allow. Sooner or later something seems to call us onto a particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/there-is-more-in-a-human-life-than-our-theories-of-it-allow-sooner-or/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Depression opens the door to beauty of some kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/depression-opens-the-door-to-beauty-of-some-kind/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [The idea of death robs inquiry of its passionate vitality and empties our efforts of their purpose by coming to one predestined conclusion, death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-idea-of-death-robs-inquiry-of-its-passionate-vitality-and-empties/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [I'm in favor of destruction, aggression, hating things. Not bearing things anymore. We think the breakdown comes because our life is in bad shape.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/i-m-in-favor-of-destruction-aggression-hating-things-not-bearing/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [In the past, friendship was a huge thing. But it's hard for us to think of friendship as a calling, because it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/in-the-past-friendship-was-a-huge-thing-but-it-s-hard-for-us-to-think/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Psychotherapy theory turns it all on you: you are the one who is wrong. If a kid is having trouble or is discouraged, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/psychotherapy-theory-turns-it-all-on-you-you-are-the-one-who-is-wrong/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [The self divided is precisely where the self is authentically located. . . We all have identity crises because a single identity is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-self-divided-is-precisely-where-the-self-is-authentically-located/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [Love alone is not enough. Without imagination, love stales into sentiment, duty, boredom. Relationships fail not because we have stopped loving but because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/love-alone-is-not-enough-without-imagination-love-stales-into/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

[Explore all 171 James Hillman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

## More Arms quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

[Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/)

[Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/)

[Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/)

[Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

[Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The psyche is highly flammable material. So we are always wrapping things in asbestos, keeping our images and fantasies at arm's length because they are so full of love",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Hillman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material-so-we-are-always-wrapping/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material-so-we-are-always-wrapping/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/james-hillman-2336_arms_the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material_578617.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/james-hillman-2336_arms_the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material_578617.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/james-hillman-2336_arms_the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material_578617.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The psyche is highly flammable material. So we are always wrapping things in asbestos, keeping our images…” — James Hillman",
                "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": "James Hillman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The psyche is highly flammable material....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material-so-we-are-always-wrapping/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/the-psyche-is-highly-flammable-material-so-we-are-always-wrapping/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
