Karen Horney - Neurosis and Human Growth (1950)

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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.

Karen Horney
It is amazing how obtuse otherwise intelligent patients can become when it is a matter of seeing the inevitability of cause and effect in psychic matters. I am thinking of rather self-evident connections such as these: if we want to achieve something, we must put in work; if we want to become independent, we must strive toward assuming responsibility for ourselves. Or: so long as we are arrogant, we will be vulnerable. Or: so long as we do not love ourselves, we cannot possibly believe that others love us, and must by necessity be suspicious toward any assertion of love. Patients presented with such sequences of cause and effect may start to argue, to become befogged or evasive.

Karen Horney
The idea of a finished human product not only appears presumptuous but even, in my opinion, lacks any strong appeal. Life is struggle and striving, development and growth - and analysis is one of the means that can help in this process. Certainly its positive accomplishments are important, but also the striving itself is of intrinsic value.

Karen Horney
We may feel genuinely concerned about world conditions, though such a concern should drive us into action and not into a depression.

Karen Horney
To search for truth about self is as valuable as to search for truth in other areas of life.

Karen Horney