Perception is less of a recording system and more of a protection system against external stimuli.

The Irish are the one race for which psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever... because they already live in a dream world.

The aim of psychoanalysis is to relieve people of their neurotic unhappiness so that they can be normally unhappy.

The madman is a dreamer awake

I do not doubt that it would be easier for fate to take away your suffering than it would for me. But you will see for yourself that much has been gained if we succeed in turning your hysterical misery into common unhappiness.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

I am not aware, however, that patients suffering from traumatic neurosis are much occupied in their waking lives with memories of their accident. Perhaps they are more concerned with not thinking of it.