Being there Quote by Laurens van der Post
“In a profound sense every man has two halves to his being; he is not one person so much as two persons trying to act in unison. I believe that in the heart of each human being there is something which I can only describe as a child of darkness who is equal and complementary to the more obvious child of light.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Seed and the Sower, 1965
Human nature is composed of opposing forces that must be reconciled to act as a unified self.
In simple terms: We contain light and dark sides that need balance.
Key Takeaway
Embrace both aspects to achieve inner harmony.
Themes
identity
duality
psychology
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- conflict resolution
- creative collaboration
Key Concepts
Jungian shadow
integrative self
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize your shadow side?
- What practices help you integrate opposing impulses?
A Different Perspective
Balancing opposites can be emotionally taxing and may cause inner conflict.
