Quotes from Erich Fromm

In this sense all cultures are religious and every neurosis is a private form of religion, provided we mean by religion an attempt to answer the problem of human existence.

Progress in social psychology is necessary to counteract the dangers which arise from the progress in physics and medicine.

once torn away from nature, he cannot return to it; once thrown out of paradise—a state of original oneness with nature—cherubim with flaming swords block his way, if he should try to return. Man can only go forward by developing his reason, by finding a new harmony, a human one

Es preciso pasar por toda una serie de experiencias de amor fallidas para no buscar inconscientemente en la pareja un eco del amor materno y paterno. Este tardío proceso de desvinculación del amor materno y paterno suele ir acompañado de dolorosas experiencias de renuncia y pérdida. Quien decide resolver un problema mediante el amor ha de tener valor suficiente para superar los desengaños y permanecer paciente a pesar de los reveses.

sane society is that which corresponds to the needs of man—

Si el amor es una capacidad del carácter maduro

a dificuldade da tarefa não deve ser razão para que nos abstenhamos de tentar conhecer-lhe os óbices, assim como as condições de sua realização

R?zní v?dcové používali až pÃ…â"¢íliÅ¡ ?asto heslo, že vedou sv?j lid do boje za svobodu, zatímco ve skute?nosti ho chtÄ›li zotro?it. Že žádný slib neoslovuje ?lovÄ›ka mocnÄ›ji, dokazuje i to, že i v?dci, kteÃ…â"¢í chtÄ›jí svobodu potla?it, považují za nutné ji slibovat.

Anyone who imagines that all fruits ripen at the same time as the strawberries knows nothing about grapes.

But even without theoretical analysis the observable data show most clearly that our kind of "pursuit of happiness" does not produce well-being. We are a society of notoriously unhappy people: lonely, anxious, depressed, destructive, dependent—people who are glad when we have killed the time we are trying so hard to save.

Man's happiness today consists of 'having fun'. Having fun lies In the satisfaction of consuming and 'taking in' commodities, sights, food, drinks. cigarettes, people, lectures, books, movies — all are consumed, swallowed.

man's spontaneous activity. It is the security acquired each moment by man's spontaneous activity. It is the security that only freedom can give, that needs no illusions because it has eliminated those conditions that necessitate illusions.

the structure of modern society affects man in two ways simultaneously: he becomes more independent, self-reliant, and critical, and he becomes more isolated, alone, and afraid. The understanding of the whole problem of freedom depends on the very ability to see both sides of the process and not to lose track of one side while following the other.

Those who have suffered and started the revolution cannot go beyond the limits their past sets for them. Only those who have not been born in slavery may succeed in achieving the promised land.

Society must be organized in such a way that mans social, loving nature is not separated from his social existence, but becomes one with it.

I would say democracy once meant an organizational society and a state, in which the individual citizen is - feels - responsible, and acts responsibly, and participates in decision-making.

When an individual is awake, almost all he does and says is inspired by the model of behavior that the society imposes,even without his being aware of it.

Our society is run by a managerial bureaucracy, by professional politicians; people are motivated by mass suggestion, their aim is producing more and consuming more, as purposes in themselves.

Every society by its own practice of living and by the mode of relatedness, of feelings, and perceiving, develops a system of categories which determines the forms of awareness.

I would say, compared with the 19th century, compared with most previous history, this is as good or better a society than any which man has ever made. But that doesn't mean it is such a good one.

In the sleeping state, instead, one is much more oneself, even if society never ceases to intervene.

The average American has separated his private life from his existence as a member of his society, and leaves that to the specialists in the government to take care of.

For [Karl] Marx it is socialist society which realizes "concretely" the religious principles of equality, brotherly love, and freedom.

The average American is not concerned with his society. He talks about it, but you know if one speaks of being concerned, I mean something about which one loses one's sleep, sometimes.