I studiously avoided all so-called holy men. I did so because I had to make do with my own truth, not accept from others what I could not attain on my own. I would have felt it as a theft had I attempted to learn from the holy men and to accept their truth for myself. Neither in Europe can I make any borrowings from the East, but must shape my life out of myself—out of what my inner being tells me, or what nature brings to me.

About Carl Jung

Carl Gustav Jung ( YUUNG; Swiss Standard German: [ˈkarl ˈjʊŋ]; 26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychologist who founded the school of analytical psychology. He was a prolific author of over twenty books, illustrator, correspondent, and academic, best known for his concept of...

More quotations from Carl Jung

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

—Carl Jung

understanding anger irritation

Instead of being at the mercy of wild beasts, earthquakes, landslides, and inundations, modern man is battered by the elemental forces of his own psyche.… The Age of Enlightenment, which stripped nature and human institutions of gods, overlooked the God of Terror who dwells in the human soul.

—Carl Jung

humanity life darkness brutality

I remember a medicine man in Africa who said to me almost with tears in his eyes: "We have no dreams anymore since the British are in the country." When I asked him why, he answered, "The District Commissioner knows everything."

—Carl Jung

wonder power knowledge dreams

The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.

—Carl Jung

fear acceptance oneself completely

Learn your theories well but put them aside when you confront the mystery of the living soul.

—Carl Jung

people soul theories mystery

More quotations tagged with “theft”

The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it.

—Joseph Conrad

war history theft conquest

Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal.

—Igor Stravinsky

art theft

It's universally wrong to steal from your neighbor, but once you get beyond this one-to-one level and pit the individual against the multinational conglomerate, the federal bureaucracy,… or the utility company, it becomes strictly a value judgment to decide who exactly is stealing from whom. One person's crime is another person's profit.

—Abbie Hoffman

ownership morality crime theft

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and asked for forgiveness.

—Emo Philips

forgiveness prayer theft stealing

Immature artists imitate. Mature artists steal.

—Lionel Trilling

art theft imitation stealing

History

23 Nov 2014 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

I studiously avoided all so-called holy men. I did so because I had to make do with my own truth, not accept from others what I could not attain on my own. I would have felt it as a theft had I attempted to learn from the holy men and to accept their truth for myself. Neither in Europe can I make any borrowings from the East, but must shape my life out of myself — out of what my inner being tells me, or what nature brings to me.