Consciousness Quote by Rollo May
“Tools and techniques ought to be an extension of consciousness, but they can just as easily be a protection from consciousness. Then the tools become defence mechanisms... against the unconscious.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Meaning of Anxiety, Rollo May, 1950
Tools can expand consciousness but also become defenses against it, limiting self-awareness.
In simple terms: Tools can protect or block consciousness.
Use tools to enhance, not hide, inner life.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- therapy
- creative work
- digital media usage
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your tools affect your self‑knowledge?
- Can you practice periods of tool‑free reflection?
Overreliance on tools may numb personal growth.