Adler Quote by Robertson Davies
““But one must remember that they were all men with systems. Freud, monumentally hipped on sex (for which he personally had little use) and almost ignorant of Nature: Adler, reducing almost everything to the will to power: and Jung, certainly the most humane and gentlest of them, and possibly the greatest, but nevertheless the descendant of parsons and professors, and himself a super-parson and a super-professor. all men of extraordinary character, and they devised systems that are forever stamped with that character.… Davey, did you ever think that these three men who were so splendid at understanding others had first to understand themselves? It was from their self-knowledge they spoke. They did not go trustingly to some doctor and follow his lead because they were too lazy or too scared to make the inward journey alone. They dared heroically. And it should never be forgotten that they made the inward journey while they were working like galley-slaves at their daily tasks, considering other people's troubles, raising families, living full lives. They were heroes, in a sense that no space-explorer can be a hero, because they went into the unknown absolutely alone. Was their heroism simply meant to raise a whole new crop of invalids? Why don't you go home and shoulder your yoke, and be a hero too?””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, 1970s, Canadian author Robertson Davies
The quote highlights that great thinkers like Freud, Adler, and Jung were complex individuals who created influential systems while confronting personal challenges, emphasizing self‑knowledge and heroic effort despite everyday burdens.
In simple terms: Great thinkers are human, self‑aware, and heroic despite daily duties.
Seek self‑knowledge and act heroically in daily life.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- academic research
- personal development
- balancing work and family
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal struggle shape intellectual breakthroughs?
- Can we emulate their heroism today?
Their heroism may be idealized, overlooking personal flaws and societal influences.