Ronald David Laing was a Scottish psychiatrist, who rose to prominence in the 20th century for his groundbreaking work in the field of mental illnesses. He is especially well-known for his work on psychosis. Laing studied at Hutcheson’s Grammar School and then went on to study at University of Glasgow, from where he attained his degree in medicine. Laing started off his career in the Psychiatric Unit of the British Army and it was during this stint that he took an interest in people suffering from different forms of mental distress. Later, he joined the Tavistock Institute in London in 1956 and during his time at the institute for the next eight years, he studied and practiced different forms of psychotherapy. Laing ushered in a new era as far as treatment of mental illnesses are concerned and challenged several aspects of traditional psychiatric treatments. As a result, his views had also been referred to as being anti-psychiatry. Some of his noted books include ‘The Politics of Experience and the Bird of Paradise’, ‘The Facts of Life’, ‘The Voice of Experience’, ‘Sanity, Madness and the Family’ and ‘The Self and Others’ among many others. Here is a collection of some of his most important and famous quotes and thoughts that have been excerpted from the vast sea of his work, writings, books and papers. Read on the inspiring quotations and sayings by R. D. Laing.
We are all murderers and prostitutes – no matter to what culture, society, class, nation one belongs, no matter how normal, moral, or mature, one takes oneself to be.
They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game
You don't love me.. Believe me! You don't love anyone. How could you? And no one loves you. How could they? Except me, it's only because I love you that I'm telling you all this. I Love you.. R. D. Laing.
Creative people who can't help but explore other mental territories are at greater risk, just as someone who climbs a mountain is more at risk than someone who just walks along a village lane.
