Commandments Quote by Sigmund Freud
““It would be an undoubted advantage if we were to leave God out altogether and honestly admit the purely human origin of all the regulations and precepts of civilization. Along with their pretended sanctity, these commandments and laws would lose their rigidity and unchangeableness as well. People could understand that they are made, not so much to rule them as, on the contrary, to serve their interests; and they would adopt a more friendly attitude to them, and instead of aiming at their abolition, would aim only at their improvement.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Future of an Illusion, Sigmund Freud, 1927
Human-made laws and customs are often treated as divine, but recognizing their human origin makes them flexible and improvable.
In simple terms: Seeing rules as human creations lets us improve them.
Key Takeaway
Treat laws as tools, not commandments.
Themes
humanism
law
society
flexibility
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- education
- community building
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
psychology
social construct
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How might recognizing human origins of laws affect your obedience?
- Can flexibility improve societal rules?
A Different Perspective
Human traditions may resist change despite rational arguments.
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