Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

44 Notable Quotes By Rollo May, The Father Of American Existential Psychotherapy

Famous As: Psychologist
Born On: April 21, 1909
Died On: October 22, 1994
Born In: Ada, Ohio, United States
Founder / Co Founder: Saybrook Graduate School
Died At Age: 85
The legendary American psychologist Rollo May was also known as the Father of American Existential Psychotherapy’. In the early days of his career, he worked as an English teacher in Greece and attended seminars conducted by the famous psychoanalyst Alfred Adler during his holidays. These seminars encouraged him to study theology and he completed his Bachelors in Divinity. On his return to the U.S he was offered the position of a Congregationalist minister. He resigned from his position in a couple of years to study psychology and was the first student to be awarded a Ph.D. in clinical psychology by the University of Columbia. He further went on to teach in various top schools of the country and wrote many books on psychology. He was awarded for some books like ‘Love and Will’ which brought him the ‘Ralph Waldo Emerson Award’ for humane scholarship. His most acclaimed book was ‘Existence’ which introduced the concept of existential psychology. He was awarded the ‘American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award’ for ‘Lifetime Contributions to Professional Psychology’. These quotes by Rollo May on psychology, theology and philosophy will definitely answer some of your riddles about life.
It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when they have lost their way.

It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when they have lost their way.

Rollo May
Many people suffer from the fear of finding oneself alone, and so they don't find themselves at all.

Many people suffer from the fear of finding oneself alone, and so they don't find themselves at all.

Rollo May
In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone.

In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone.

Rollo May
The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it's conformity.

The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it's conformity.

Rollo May
Every human being must have a point at which he stands against the culture, where he says, this is me and the damned world can go to hell.

Every human being must have a point at which he stands against the culture, where he says, this is me and the damned world can go to hell.

Rollo May
The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it is not without doubt, but in spite of doubt. (p. 21)

The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it is not without doubt, but in spite of doubt. (p. 21)

Rollo May
Hate is not the opposite of love; apathy is.

Hate is not the opposite of love; apathy is.

Rollo May
A myth is a way of making sense in a senseless world. Myths are narrative patterns that give significance to our existence.

A myth is a way of making sense in a senseless world. Myths are narrative patterns that give significance to our existence.

Rollo May
Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we do not experience it.

Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we do not experience it.

Rollo May
Recall how often in human history the saint and the rebel have be the same person. (p. 35)

Recall how often in human history the saint and the rebel have be the same person. (p. 35)

Rollo May
One must have at least a readiness to love the other person, broadly speaking, if one is to be able to understand him.

One must have at least a readiness to love the other person, broadly speaking, if one is to be able to understand him.

Rollo May
What if imagination and art are not frosting at all, but the fountainhead of human experience?

What if imagination and art are not frosting at all, but the fountainhead of human experience?

Rollo May
The poet, like the lover, is a menace on the assembly line.

The poet, like the lover, is a menace on the assembly line.

Rollo May
It is interesting to note how many of the great scientific discoveries begin as myths.

It is interesting to note how many of the great scientific discoveries begin as myths.

Rollo May
One of the few blessings of living in an age of anxiety is that we are forced to become aware of ourselves.

One of the few blessings of living in an age of anxiety is that we are forced to become aware of ourselves.

Rollo May
It is highly significant and indeed almost a rule, that moral courage has its source in such identification through one's own sensitivity with suffering of one's fellow human beings.

It is highly significant and indeed almost a rule, that moral courage has its source in such identification through one's own sensitivity with suffering of one's fellow human beings." (p. 16-17)

Rollo May
When we are dealing with human beings, no truth has reality by itself; it is always dependent upon the reality of the immediate relationship.

When we are dealing with human beings, no truth has reality by itself; it is always dependent upon the reality of the immediate relationship.

Rollo May
Courage is not a virtue or value among other personal values like love o fidelity. It is the foundations that underlies and gives reality to all other virtue and personal values. (p. 13)

Courage is not a virtue or value among other personal values like love o fidelity. It is the foundations that underlies and gives reality to all other virtue and personal values. (p. 13)

Rollo May
Artistic symbols and myths speak out of the primordial, preconscious realm of the mind which is powerful and chaotic. Both symbol and myth are ways of bringing order and form into this chaos.

Artistic symbols and myths speak out of the primordial, preconscious realm of the mind which is powerful and chaotic. Both symbol and myth are ways of bringing order and form into this chaos.

Rollo May
It is dangerous to know, but it is more dangerous not to know.

It is dangerous to know, but it is more dangerous not to know.

Rollo May
Poets may be delightful creatures in the meadow or the garret, but they are menaces on the assembly line.

Poets may be delightful creatures in the meadow or the garret, but they are menaces on the assembly line.

Rollo May
If you do not express your own original ideas, if you do not listen to your own being, you will have betrayed yourself.

If you do not express your own original ideas, if you do not listen to your own being, you will have betrayed yourself." -Rollo May

Rollo May
There can be no stronger proof of the impoverishment of our contemporary culture than the popular - though profoundly mistaken - definition of myth as falsehood.

There can be no stronger proof of the impoverishment of our contemporary culture than the popular - though profoundly mistaken - definition of myth as falsehood.

Rollo May
Depression is the inability to construct a future.

Depression is the inability to construct a future.

Rollo May
There is no meaningful

There is no meaningful "yes" unless the individual could also have said "no.

Rollo May
Our powerful hunger for myth is a hunger for community. The person without a myth is a person without a home...To be a member of one's community is to share in its myths...

Our powerful hunger for myth is a hunger for community. The person without a myth is a person without a home...To be a member of one's community is to share in its myths...

Rollo May
I became a psychotherapist because that's where people will unburden themselves, where they will show what is in their hearts.

I became a psychotherapist because that's where people will unburden themselves, where they will show what is in their hearts.

Rollo May
One central need in life is to fulfill its own potential.

One central need in life is to fulfill its own potential.

Rollo May
Finding the center of strenghth within ourselves is in the long run best contribution we can do to our fellow man

Finding the center of strenghth within ourselves is in the long run best contribution we can do to our fellow man

Rollo May
They showed considerable anxiety because they were in the process of loving beauty.

They showed considerable anxiety because they were in the process of loving beauty.

Rollo May