"We have long observed that every neurosis has the result, and therefore probably the purpose, of forcing the patient out of real life, of alienating him from actuality"
- Sigmund Freud
About this Quote
Sigmund Freud's quote recommends that neurosis, or mental illness, is a way for a person to get away from truth. He thinks that the purpose of neurosis is to distance the patient from the reality of life. This might be viewed as a coping mechanism, as the person is trying to protect themselves from the difficulties of life. Freud's quote suggests that neurosis is a way for an individual to avoid dealing with the harsh realities of life. It is a method for them to leave from the pain and suffering that life can bring. Neurosis can be viewed as a form of self-protection, as it permits the individual to distance themselves from the difficulties of life. Freud's quote suggests that neurosis is a method for a person to manage the problems of life, and to secure themselves from the extreme truths of life.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"