Paul TillichMan is free, in so far as he has the power of contradicting himself and his essential nature. Man is free even from his freedom; that is, he can surrender his humanity
About This Quote
The sentence above has been attributed to a number of thinkers. One of the most popular attributions is to Johann von Goethe. In it, he is stating that man is free as long as he has the power of contradicting himself and his essential nature. Another way to look at this quote is that he is saying that man is free as long as he has the power of contradicting himself and his essential nature.
Man is not free from the things that make him human, but he does have a certain amount of control over those parts of himself. This quote applies a bit differently to different people depending on how they define their own humanity. If you define yourself as a human being, then you can be quite sure that you will fall at some point during your life.
That’s just the nature of things.
Source: Systematic Theology, Vol 2: Existence And The Christ
Some Similar Quotes
- It’s probably not just by chance that I’m alone. It would be very hard for a man to live with me, unless he’s terribly strong. And if he’s stronger than I, I’m the one who can’t live with him. … I’m neither smart nor stupid,...
- I am not an angel, ' I asserted; 'and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself. Mr. Rochester, you must neither expect nor exact anything celestial of me - for you will not get it, any more than I shall...
- The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.
- They say a good love is one that sits you down, gives you a drink of water, and pats you on top of the head. But I say a good love is one that casts you into the wind, sets you ablaze, makes you burn...
- Keep your best wishes, close to your heart and watch what happens
More Quotes By Paul Tillich
- Astonishment is the root of philosophy.
- Man is able to decide for or against reason, he is able to create beyond reason or to destroy below reason
- Sometimes I think it is my mission to bring faith to the faithless, and doubt to the faithful.
- Faith as the state of being ultimately concerned implies love, namely, the desire and urge toward the reunion of the seperated.
- Faith includes both an immediate awareness of something unconditional and the courage to take the risk of uncertainty upon itself. Faith says "Yes" in spite of the anxiety of "No."Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality