Erich Fromm

The average American has separated his private life from his existence as a member of his society, and leaves that to the specialists in the government to take care of.

Erich Fromm

The deepest need of the human being is to overcome our separateness, to leave the prison of our loneliness.

Erich Fromm

The individual citizen has very little possibility of having any influence – of making his opinion felt in the decision-making.

Erich Fromm

The lust for power is not rooted in strength but in weakness.

Erich Fromm

The most important influence on a child is the character of its parents, rather than this or that single event.

Erich Fromm

The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most.

Erich Fromm

The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal.

Erich Fromm

The value judgments we make determine our actions, and upon their validity rests our mental health and happiness.

Erich Fromm

To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.

Erich Fromm

To spare oneself from grief at all cost can be achieved only at the price of total detachment, which excludes the ability to experience happiness.

Erich Fromm