Karen Horney

Psychologist

1885-09-16

Books by Karen Horney

Feminine Psychology
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Self-analysis
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Neurosis and human growth
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Quotes by Karen Horney

The declining of responsibility for the self can also be hidden behind a pseudo-objectivity. A patient may make astute observations about himself and give a fairly accurate report of what he dislikes in himself. On the surface it seems as though he is perceptive and honest about himself. But he may be merely the intelligent observer of a fellow who is inhibited, fearful, or arrogantly demanding. Hence, since he is not responsible for the fellow he observes, the hurt to his pride is cushioned— all the moreso because the flashlight of his pride is focused on his faculty for keen observations.
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There is no good reason why we should not develop and change until the last day we live.
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A perfectly normal person is rare in our civilization.
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To find a mountain path all by oneself gives a greater feeling of strength than to take a path that is shown.
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Also the natural sexual functions of establishing an intimate human contact frequently assume greater proportions. This is a well known fact about detached people for whom sexuality may be the only bridge to others, but it is not restricted to being an obvious substitute for human closeness. It shows also in the haste with which people may rush into sexual relations, without giving themselves a chance to find out whether they have anything in common or a chance to develop a liking and understanding. It is possible of course that an emotional relatedness may evolve later on. But more often than not it does not do so because usually the initial rush itself is a sign of their being too inhibited to develop a good human relationship.
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The fact that compulsive drives for success will arise only in a competitive culture does not make them any less neurotic.
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If you want to be proud of yourself, then do things in which you can take pride
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To find a mountain path all by oneself gives a greater feeling of strength than to take a path that is shown.
Read quote
Also the natural sexual functions of establishing an intimate human contact frequently assume greater proportions. This is a well known fact about detached people for whom sexuality may be the only bridge to others, but it is not restricted to being an obvious substitute for human closeness. It shows also in the haste with which people may rush into sexual relations, without giving themselves a chance to find out whether they have anything in common or a chance to develop a liking and understanding. It is possible of course that an emotional relatedness may evolve later on. But more often than not it does not do so because usually the initial rush itself is a sign of their being too inhibited to develop a good human relationship.
Read quote
A perfectly normal person is rare in our civilization.
Read quote
There is no good reason why we should not develop and change until the last day we live.
Read quote
If you want to be proud of yourself, then do things in which you can take pride
Read quote
The declining of responsibility for the self can also be hidden behind a pseudo-objectivity. A patient may make astute observations about himself and give a fairly accurate report of what he dislikes in himself. On the surface it seems as though he is perceptive and honest about himself. But he may be merely the intelligent observer of a fellow who is inhibited, fearful, or arrogantly demanding. Hence, since he is not responsible for the fellow he observes, the hurt to his pride is cushioned— all the moreso because the flashlight of his pride is focused on his faculty for keen observations.
Read quote
The fact that compulsive drives for success will arise only in a competitive culture does not make them any less neurotic.
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The searching for our selves is the most agonizing, isn't it? - and yet the most stimulating - and one simply cannot escape it.
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Thou shalt free thyself from convention, from everyday morality.
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Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression.
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Basic anxiety can be roughly described as a feeling of being small, insignificant, helpless, deserted or endangered in a world that is out to abuse, cheat, humiliate, betray, envy... . And special in this is the child's feeling that the parents' love, their Christian charity, honesty, generosity ... may be only a pretense.
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That many-faceted thing called love succeeds in building bridges from the loneliness on this shore to the loneliness on the other one. These bridges can be of great beauty, but they are rarely built for eternity, and frequently they cannot tolerate too heavy a burden without collapsing.
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Fortunately (psycho)analysis is not the only way to resolve inner conflicts. Life itself still remains a very effective therapist.
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