"True guilt is guilt at the obligation one owes to oneself to be oneself. False guilt is guilt felt at not being what other people feel one ought to be or assume that one is"
- R. D. Laing
About this Quote
This quote by R. D. Laing speaks to the concept of individual obligation and the value of being real to oneself. True regret is the guilt that a person feels when they are not measuring up to their own expectations or standards. It is the guilt that comes from not living up to the obligations that one needs to themselves. False guilt, on the other hand, is the regret that one feels when they are not measuring up to the expectations of others. It is the guilt that originates from not being what other individuals believe one must be or assume one is. This quote stresses the significance of being true to oneself and not enabling the expectations of others to dictate one's life. It is essential to acknowledge the distinction in between true and false guilt and to take obligation for one's own actions and decisions.