This quote explains why humans cling to comforting beliefs, even if they're not entirely true. Illusions offer an escape from suffering and provide immediate gratification. It highlights a fundamental psychological mechanism where we choose solace over harsh reality.
Quote by Sigmund Freud: “Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead.”
Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead.
Insight
Historical Context
In the interwar period, marked by societal anxieties and the rise of new ideologies, Freud published 'The Future of an Illusion,' analyzing the psychological roots of religious beliefs and their role in providing comfort and control in human civilization.
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Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. He developed therapeutic techniques such as the use of free association and discovered transference.
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