Identity Quote by Renata Salecl
““The ego (one’s self-perception) is a very shaky structure, easily undermined by unconscious drives and desires. It is possible to repress those drives for a while and feel like a capable, rational subject, but eventually they will reveal themselves in the form of idiosyncratic behaviour, slips of the tongue, even illnesses. The perception that one can craft an identity by copying that of someone else has created particular problems in today’s society.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Ego and the Id, Renata Salecl, 2015
Our self-image is fragile, easily disturbed by hidden impulses; pretending to be rational masks underlying drives that eventually surface in behavior or health.
In simple terms: Ego is unstable and hidden desires surface.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and integrate unconscious motives.
Themes
psychology
identity
self-awareness
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal therapy
- workplace dynamics
- social media behavior
- health monitoring
Key Concepts
Freudian theory
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you notice hidden motives influencing you?
- What steps can you take to align self-perception with inner drives?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring unconscious drives can worsen mental and physical health.
![“repression, which “proceeds from the self-respect of the ego … [the person] has set up an ideal in himself by which he measures his actual ego [self]…. For the ego the formation of an ideal would be the conditioning factor of repression” (1914c, pp. 93-94).” quote by Joseph Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/feb/joseph-sandler-102577_identity_repression-which-proceeds-from-the-self_7627.jpg)
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![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
