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Consciousness Quote by Sigmund Freud

“Properly speaking, the unconscious is the real psychic; its inner nature is just as unknown to us as the reality of the external world, and it is just as imperfectly reported to us through the data of consciousness as is the external world through the indications of our sensory organs.” quote by Sigmund Freud
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“Properly speaking, the unconscious is the real psychic; its inner nature is just as unknown to us as the reality of the external world, and it is just as imperfectly reported to us through the data of consciousness as is the external world through the indications of our sensory organs.”

Sigmund Freud

About This Quote

Source Lecture: The Unconscious Mind, Sigmund Freud, 1915

The unconscious is a hidden reality as unknown as the external world, and both are imperfectly known through our senses.

In simple terms: Our mind’s hidden part is as mysterious as the world.

Key Takeaway

Question what lies beneath conscious thought.

Themes

psychology philosophy knowledge

Mood

analytical inquisitive

Type

theoretical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • therapy
  • self‑analysis
  • research
  • education

Key Concepts

unconscious perception epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can we ever truly know the unconscious?
  • How reliable are our senses?
A Different Perspective

The claim may overstate the unknowability of the unconscious.

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