Like the physical, the psychical is not necessarily in reality what it appears to us to be.

Children are completely egoistic; they feel their needs intensely and strive ruthlessly to satisfy them.

Every normal person, in fact, is only normal on the average. His ego approximates to that of the psychotic in some part or other and to a greater or lesser extent.

The pleasure of satisfying a savage instinct, undomesticated by the ego, is uncomparably much more intense than the one of satisfying a tamed instinct. The reason is becoming the enemy that prevents us from a lot of possibilities of pleasure.

To be completely honest with oneself is the very best effort a human being can make.

The defense against childish helplessness is what lends its characteristic features to the adult's reaction to the helplessness which he has to acknowledge - a reaction which is precisely the formation of religion.

Time spent with cats is never wasted.