"A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them"

Carl Jung’s assertion points to the profound relationship between self-knowledge and inner turmoil. The “inferno of his passions” refers to the intense and often destructive emotions, desires, or instincts that dwell within each individual. Jung suggests that true mastery over these inner forces cannot arise from avoidance or repression. Instead, genuine integration of the self necessitates facing these passions directly, experiencing them fully, and understanding their depths.

Jung’s approach aligns with his broader philosophy of individuation, the process of becoming whole by integrating all parts of the psyche, including those deemed undesirable or ‘shadow’ aspects. Attempting to suppress or ignore powerful emotions only leads to them festering in the unconscious. When left unexamined, such energies manifest in unconstructive ways: compulsions, projections, or even psychological distress. The “inferno” metaphor evokes the necessity of descending into discomfort, much like Dante’s journey through the underworld, to confront the source of one’s inner unrest.

Overcoming passions, then, is not a matter of suppressing or destroying them; it is the fruition of wrestling with them, understanding their origin, and transforming their energy. This engagement is often painful, it can feel like passing through hell, but it is also a rite of passage that leads to wisdom, resilience, and authentic self-mastery. The process is arduous and bracing but ultimately liberating: insight is the reward for courageously facing what is most difficult within oneself.

Ultimately, Jung conveys that maturity and balance come from integration, not denial. One becomes master of oneself not by remaining untouched by inner conflict but by reckoning with it. The passions, once confronted and understood, lose their power to dominate from the shadows, becoming instead a source of insight and creative energy. True conquest of one’s nature is not achieved by avoidance, but by the willingness to journey deep within and return transformed.