The pleasure in complete domination over another person (or other animate creature) is the very essence of the sadistic drive. Another way of formulating the same thought is to say that the aim of sadism is to transform man into a thing, something animate into something inanimate, since by complete and absolute control the living loses one essential quality of life - freedom.
Erich FrommModern man lives under the illusion that he knows what he wants, while he actually wants what he is supposed to want.
Erich FrommThe revolutionary and critical thinker is in a certain way always outside of his society while of course he is at the same time also in it.
Erich FrommIn the 19th century inhumanity meant cruelty; in the 20th century it means schizoid self-alienation.
Erich Fromm