Alienation Quote by R. D. Laing
“We are born into a world where alienation awaits us. We are potentially men, but are in an alienated state, and this state is not simply a natural system. Alienation as our present destiny is achieved only by outrageous violence perpetrated by human beings on human beings.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Divided Self, R. D. Laing, 1960
Human beings create alienation through systemic violence, making isolation a social construct rather than a natural state.
In simple terms: Violence creates alienation, not nature.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge structures that cause alienation.
Themes
alienation
violence
social constructs
human nature
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- workplace
- family dynamics
- political oppression
- community building
Key Concepts
existentialism
critical theory
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What systems in your life perpetuate alienation?
- How can you foster connection despite systemic barriers?
A Different Perspective
Alienation can also arise from personal choices, not only external violence.
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
