---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pathology has made us acquainted with a…"
description: "\"Pathology has made us acquainted with a great number of states in which the boundary lines between the ego and the external world become uncertain or i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/sigmund-freud-360_aliens_pathology-has-made-us-acquainted-with-a_1224877.jpg"
---

#  Pathology has made us acquainted with a great number of…

![“Pathology has made us acquainted with a great number of states in which the boundary lines between the ego and the external world become uncertain or in which they are actually drawn incorrectly. There are cases in which parts of a person's own body, even portions of his own mental life - his…” quote by Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/sigmund-freud-360_aliens_pathology-has-made-us-acquainted-with-a_1224877.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/sigmund-freud-360_aliens_pathology-has-made-us-acquainted-with-a_1224877.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/sigmund-freud-360_aliens_pathology-has-made-us-acquainted-with-a_1224877.jpg)

> “Pathology has made us acquainted with a great number of states in which the boundary lines between the ego and the external world become uncertain or in which they are actually drawn incorrectly. There are cases in which parts of a person's own body, even portions of his own mental life - his perceptions, thoughts and feelings -, appear alien to him and as not belonging to his ego; there are other cases in which he ascribes to the external world things that clearly originate in his own ego and that ought to be acknowledged by it.”

[Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote describes how mental disorders can blur or misplace the boundary between self and external reality, causing parts of one's body or mind to feel alien and external attributions to be misidentified as self.

**In simple terms:** Mental illness can distort self‑world boundaries, making internal experiences feel external and vice versa.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and correct misperceived boundaries.

Themes

psychology self reality identity mental health

Mood

insightful analytical

Type

clinical theoretical educational

When to use this quote

- clinical diagnosis
- therapy sessions
- patient self‑reflection
- psychoanalytic case studies
- mental health education

Key Concepts

ego boundary perception psychosis projection alienation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you differentiate internal thoughts from external influences?
- What strategies help restore accurate self‑world boundaries?

A Different Perspective

The concept of a clear ego boundary is debated; some argue boundaries are inherently fluid.

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[Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [External world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/external-world/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Not belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-belonging/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thoughts and feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-feelings/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

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