Sigmund Freud is one of the most remarkable figures in the history of psychology , thanks to his psychosexual theory. The father of psychoanalysis has influenced many psychologists and, despite being criticized by others, his ideas about psychotherapy or personality are still being studied in the psychology career. He may be loved or hated, but Freud is undoubtedly the most famous psychologist.

  • To learn more about this famous psychologist, just read his biography.

Freud’s best quotes

Since this well-known theorist has been so important for the development of the science of behavior, in today’s article we have collected 90 of his best phrases . Enjoy them!

1. The freedom of the individual is not a gift of civilization. It was greater before there was any civilization

Freud lived the Victorian era and, therefore, lived a period of repression . Individual freedom is conditioned by society

2. As no one can be forced to believe, no one can be forced not to believe

Forcing someone to do something they don’t want to do jeopardizes their happiness.

3. A man who has been his mother’s undisputed favorite maintains during his life the feeling of a conqueror

In his theory of psychosexual development, the mother plays a very important role. Just think of the Oedipus complex.

4. Crazy man is a daydreamer

Freud began his contact with neurotic patients through hypnosis.

5. If you want to live, prepare to die

The fear of death may not let us live.

6. Unexpressed emotions never die. They are buried alive and come out later in worse ways

A phrase in clear reference to the repression of emotions.

7. Dreams are often deeper when they seem more crazy

Freud was also interested in the relationship between dreams and mental health.

8. Sleep is the liberation of the spirit from the pressure of external nature, a detachment of the soul from the chains of matter

In sleep we can manifest these repressed desires

9. Illusions are entrusted to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure. We must, therefore, accept them without complaint when they collide with reality in which they are shattered

Living in illusions is not positive and can clash with reality

10. The ego does not own its own house

The ego was one of the aspects that his theory talks about.

11. Love and work are the pillars of our humanity

Good mental health requires work and love.

12. The voice of the intellect is soft, but does not rest until it has gained an ear

A quote that invites deep reflection.

13. Each of us has everyone as a mortal except himself

A meaningful quote by Sigmund Freud.

14. The price we pay for our advanced civilization is a loss of happiness through the intensification of guilt

Society aims to shape us . If we don’t connect with ourselves we will never be free.

15. Fear of guns is a sign of sexual retardation and emotional maturity

A phrase by Freud for free interpretation.

16. I have been a lucky man in life: nothing came easy for me

Adversity makes us grow.

17. Smoking is indispensable if you have nothing to kiss

Freud, speaking of how anxiety can overpower us.

18. Anyone who woke up behaving as he did in his dream would be taken for a madman

Dreams can be our refuge.

19. He who knows how to wait does not need to make concessions

Patience is one of the best virtues of the human being.

20. If two individuals always agree on everything, I can assure you that one of them thinks for both of you

Another reflection on individual freedom and collective thought.

21. When someone abuses me, I can defend myself, but against flattery I am helpless

There is little we can do about self-serving praise.

22. Anatomy is destiny

Freud, in reference to social distinction and its social character.

23. We are never as helpless against suffering as when we love

Love can make us vulnerable people.

24. Neurosis is the inability to tolerate ambiguity

Neurosis is characteristic of those who do not know how to live in uncertainty.

25. Psychiatry is the art of teaching people how to stay on their own feet while resting on couches

The greatest exponent of psychoanalysis talking about psychiatry.

26. Whoever thinks of failing has already failed before trying; whoever thinks of winning has already taken a step forward

Self-fulfilling prophecy is evident in those who are negative.

27. It is characteristic of the philosopher to be able to speculate on all things

The philosopher is constantly philosophizing.

28. Immortality means being loved by many anonymous people

Being immortal means that you are recognized and still in the minds of many people.

29. The interpretation of dreams is the real path to knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind

Freud was always interested in the interpretation of dreams as this sentence shows.

30. Men are more moral than they think and much more immoral than they can imagine

An ironic quote about the immorality of some people.

31. He who has eyes to see and ears to hear can convince himself that no mortal can keep a secret. If their lips are silent, they chatter with their fingers; betrayal oozes from them through all their pores

False or misleading people always give themselves away in some visible way.

32. Where does a thought go when it is forgotten?

Freud asked this question in clear reference to the unconscious.

33. The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety and therefore the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety

Freud says that the stress of childbirth is the first time we feel anxiety and suggests that it is normal.

34. The virtuous man is content to dream what the wicked one does in real life

The wicked have no qualms and act regardless of the moral consequences.

35. Analogies, it is true, do not decide anything, but they can make one feel more at home

The comfort zone is a place where we feel comfortable.

36. I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a parent’s protection

If the figure of the mother was important in his theory, so was the figure of the father.

37. Not everything depends on wishes, but I have decided to try to carry out my wishes

Fighting for our wishes is one of our greatest motivations.

38. From error to error the whole truth is discovered

The mistakes we make are one of the best ways to learn.

39. The goal of life is death

A quote with a certain tone of irony that refers to death.

40. Just as no one can be forced to believe, no one can be forced to disbelieve

Freud, talking about hypnosis . Suggestion depends on whether the person allows himself to be suggested.

41. The best is the enemy of the good

The bad things make us mobilize, fight to be in the good things and value them.

42. For the first time the child must exchange pleasure for social dignity

There is a moment in life when one begins to balance between what one wants and what society allows one to want.

43. It could be said of psychoanalysis that if you give the little finger you will soon have the whole hand

Psychoanalysis is a theory that became very popular and that, with certain modifications, is still alive.

44. In mourning the world has become poor and empty; in melancholy the ego itself

Melancholy is a decision we make, the ego is something we live with.

45. Fear is a suffering that produces the expectation of evil

Fear is both an emotion and a feeling. After cognitive assessment, we anticipate something bad.

46. Civilization began the first time an angry man threw a word instead of a rock

Language has had a great influence on the development of humanity

47. A woman should soften but not weaken a man

Relationships between a man and a woman should always be positive.

48. The more accessible are the fruits of knowledge, the more widespread is the decline of religious beliefs

Religious beliefs feed on ignorance

49. In matters of sexuality, we are all currently, sick or healthy, nothing more than hypocrites

Freud lived in the Victorian era, characterized by a great social repression . This is why it is one of the main themes of his theory.

50. You are very crazy when you are in love

Love makes us crazy, but it’s a unique feeling.

51. Children are completely selfish; they feel their needs intensely and struggle hard to satisfy them

Children do not think about social consequences, only about what satisfies them on an individual level.

52. Religious doctrines are illusions that do not admit evidence and no one can be forced to consider them as true or to believe in them

There is no way to prove a religion, and therefore no one can prove or disprove it.

53. What progress we’ve made. In the Middle Ages I would have been burned. Now they are happy to burn my books

Another quote with a great sense of humor . Freud talks about the criticism he received.

54.

33.
The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety and therefore the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety

Freud says that the stress of childbirth is the first time we feel anxiety and suggests that it is normal.

34. The virtuous man is content to dream what the wicked one does in real life

The wicked have no qualms and act regardless of the moral consequences.

35.
Analogies, it is true, do not decide anything, but they can make one feel more at home

The comfort zone is a place where we feel comfortable.

36. I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a parent’s protection

If the figure of the mother was important in his theory, so was the figure of the father.

37. Not everything depends on wishes, but I have decided to try to carry out my wishes

Fighting for our wishes is one of our greatest motivations.

38. From error to error the whole truth is discovered

The mistakes we make are one of the best ways to learn.

39. The goal of life is death

A quote with a certain tone of irony that refers to death.

The United States did not seem to like Sigmund Freud

61. It would be very nice if there were a god, who created the world and was a benevolent providence; if there were a moral order in the universe and a future life; but it is a very surprising fact that all this is exactly what we feel obliged to wish for

As can be seen in this quote, Freud was not exactly religious .

62. Every joke, deep down, hides a truth

A similar quote behind every lie there is always a truth kept.

63. The mind is like an iceberg, it floats with 70% of its volume above the water

70% would refer to the unconscious, according to Freud.

64. Plato said that the good ones are those who are content to dream what the bad ones make real

The bad guys don’t stop to think about whether what they’re doing is right or wrong.

65. Religion is comparable to a childhood neurosis

Another Freudian reflection on religion

66. The first requirement of civilization is justice

Without justice, a civilization cannot advance.

67. The intention that man should be happy is not in the plan of creation

The idea of happiness is a social construction

68. One hundred percent truth is as rare as one hundred percent alcohol

A curious comparison between alcohol and truth.

69. Since I started studying the unconscious, I found myself very interesting

In studying the unconscious, Freud surely carried out a deep introspection.

70. Being completely honest with yourself is good exercise

Honesty is one of the best virtues of the human being.

71. We shall all die, but our deeds shall remain

If we are successful, we will be remembered after death.

72. A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes, but to enter into agreement with them: they are legitimately the ones who direct his behavior in the world

Acceptance is one of the best ways to overcome emotional problems.

73. It is a good exercise to be completely honest with yourself

Sincerity with oneself is another of the great virtues of the human being

74. The sexual life of adult women is a dark continent for psychology

Obviously, in Freud’s time, women’s sexuality was a taboo subject.

75. Time spent with cats is never wasted

A curious quote from Freud that mentions cats.

76. One is master of what one keeps quiet and slave of what one talks about

Free association was a technique used by Freud , and it consists in verbalizing our unconscious thoughts.

77. I have found few good things about humans in general. In my experience, most of them are trash, whether they publicly subscribe to an ethical doctrine or not. It’s something you can’t say too loudly or even think about

An ironclad criticism of how some human beings behave.

78. Civilization is permanently threatened by disintegration due to man’s primary hostility

One of the impulses Freud spoke of was the death drive, a destructive impulse.

79. Humanity is progressing. Today it only burns my books; centuries ago they would have burned me

Human beings and the culture we build is progressing and evolving.

80. Immorality, no less than morality, has always found support in religion

Freud was very critical of religion, as can be seen in his phrases.

81. The first notions of sexuality appear in the infant

His theory talks about the different stages of the child’s psychosexual development.

82. Just by fearing mediocrity, you are already safe

Fearing mediocrity can be very stimulating and motivating.

83. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar

It is not necessary to interpret as a phallic element everything that evokes that symbol. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

84. No critic is more capable than I am of clearly perceiving the disproportion between the problems and the solution I bring to them

Freud always defended his ideas despite being criticized.

85. There are two ways to be happy in this life, one is to be an idiot and the other is to be an idiot

Ignorance can make us immensely happy.

86. The great question that has never been answered and which I have not been able to answer, despite my thirty years of research into the human soul, is what does a woman want?

The complexity of women, according to Freud, is captured in this phrase.

87. The first human who insulted his enemy instead of throwing a stone at him was the founder of civilization

A quote that can be interpreted in different ways.

88. One can defend oneself from attacks; against praise one is defenseless

When someone praises you, it’s hard not to thank them.

89. The unconscious of one human being can react to that of another without passing through the conscious

Although we are rational beings, on many occasions, our instincts come out.

90. If inspiration does not come to me, I go out to meet it, halfway

Inspiration must be sought many times.

91. Like the physical, the psychic is not necessarily what it seems

A way of implying the existence of the unconscious mind.

92. Sadism is fine where it is, but it must correct its ends

Freud became very interested in the study of sexual inclinations that went against the morals of the time.

93. Where does a thought go when it is forgotten?

A poetic reflection on the unconscious.

94. Religion is an illusion whose strength derives from the way it fits our instinctive desires

Freud links the existence of religious cults with drives.

95. Where the It is, there the Self must be

The role of the ‘I’ is partly to counteract the forces of the irrational part of the human being.

96. You wanted to kill your father to be him. Now you are a father, but a dead one

Another of Freud’s phrases related to the Oedipus complex.

97. It is a human predisposition to regard unpleasant ideas as false

This idea seems to fit with the concept of cognitive dissonance.

98. Civilization is constantly threatened by hostility between people

Freud had a similar perspective on society as Thomas Hobbes.

99. A religion, even if it calls itself a religion of peace, must be harsh and ruthless with those who do not belong to it

Another of Freud’s criticisms of religion.

100. Man has become a prosthetic god

The father of psychoanalysis reflects on the self-imposition of dogmas.

101. When you don’t have what you want, you must want what you have

A phrase from Freud about expectation management.