Quotes by Rollo May

About Rollo May:

Rollo Reece May is often associated with humanistic psychology, existentialist philosophy and, alongside Viktor Frankl, was a major proponent of existential psychotherapy. The philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich was a close friend who had a significant influence on his work.
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

Dogmatism of all kinds--scientific, economic, moral, as well as political--are threatened by the creative freedom of the artist. This is necessarily and inevitably so. We cannot escape our anxiety over the fact that the artists together with creative...

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)

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." (p. 16-17)

Rollo May

Consciousness is the awareness that emerges out of the dialectical tension between possibilities and limitations.

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)

Rollo May

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

Rollo May

Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we wish to throw our weight. The capacity to create ourselves, based upon this freedom, is inseparable from con...

Rollo May

Intimacy requires courage because risk is inescapable. We cannot know at the outset how the relationship will affect us. Like a chemical mixture, if one of us is changed, both of us will be. Will we grow in self-actualization, or will it destroy us? ...

Rollo May

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

Rollo May

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

Rollo May

You’re the one thing I want the most in the world yet the one thing I cannot have. Because to have you completely would be impossible. You can’t go where I walk.

Rollo May

... science demands a terrible price - that we accept what experiments tell us about the universe, whether we like it or not.

Rollo May

Nothing is wrong with her that is dangerous or harmful. She just feels deeper than others

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.

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.

Rollo May

He may have stolen my heart or had he taken my soul? I couldn’t be sure but I refused to let him have my pride too.

Rollo May

Sometimes I get so sad that it jest sounds good.

Rollo May

Life is not a matter for simple optimism--for there is evil; nor for mere pessimism--for there is good. The possibility for good in the face of evil is what gives life tragic meaning.

Rollo May

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

Rollo May

Finding the center of strength within ourselves is in the long run the best contribution we can make to our fellow men. ... One person with indigenous inner strength exercises a great calming effect on panic among people around him. This is what our ...

Rollo May

Author Bio

  • NameRollo May
  • DescriptionUS psychiatrist
  • BornApril 21, 1909
  • DiedOctober 22, 1994
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionPsychologist; Psychotherapist