Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Paul Watzlawick

Quote by Paul Watzlawick

“The ideological premise, however, "can" not be defective; it is sacrosanct. ... Whatever does not seem right, whatever does not fit, must be explained by something wrong outside of the ideology; for its perfection is beyond all doubt. In (t)his way the ideology immunizes itself by offering more and more hair-splitting accusations. Betrayal and the dark powers of inner and outer enemies lie in wait everywhere. Theories about conspiracies develop and conveniently hide the absurdity of the premise, necessitating and justifying bloody purges.”

Quote by Paul Watzlawick

Book:Münchhausen's Pigtail, or Psychotherapy & "Reality"
Create image

Work

Münchhausen's Pigtail, or Psychotherapy & "Reality"

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Paul Watzlawick
Paul Watzlawick

Paul Watzlawick was a renowned psychologist, born on July 25, 1921, and passed away on March 31, 2007. He made significant contributions to the fields of communication theory and systems theory, particularly in the areas of psychotherapy and interpersonal communication. more

You May Also Like

“So fight, Harvey. Because maybe Two-Face is right. Maybe he IS stronger. Maybe we're ALL uglier inside than I want to admit. Maybe it's our natural state. But if that's true...we just have to fight harder. I was wrong to try to win that fight for you. Because the hard truth is that there is no winning it. Not for you or me, or anyone, ever. That's what your trip showed me. All I can do is tell you that when I look at you, I still see someone I believe in, and as long as you fight, I will fight beside you. Always.”

BatmanBruce WayneTwo FaceHarvey Dent
Book:All-Star Batman, Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy
Create image

“Don’t dash off a six-thousand-word story before breakfast. Don’t write too much. Concentrate your sweat on one story, rather than dissipate it over a dozen. Don’t loaf and invite inspiration; light out after it with a club, and if you don’t get it you will none the less get something that looks remarkably like it. Set yourself a “stint,” [London wrote 1,000 words nearly every day of his adult life] and see that you do that “stint” each day; you will have more words to your credit at the end of the year. Study the tricks of the writers who have arrived. They have mastered the tools with which you are cutting your fingers. They are doing things, and their work bears the internal evidence of how it is done. Don’t wait for some good Samaritan to tell you, but dig it out for yourself. See that your pores are open and your digestion is good. That is, I am confident, the most important rule of all. Keep a notebook. Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it. Slap into it every stray thought that flutters up into your brain. Cheap paper is less perishable than gray matter, and lead pencil markings endure longer than memory. And work. Spell it in capital letters. WORK. WORK all the time. Find out about this earth, this universe; this force and matter, and the spirit that glimmers up through force and matter from the maggot to Godhead. And by all this I mean WORK for a philosophy of life. It does not hurt how wrong your philosophy of life may be, so long as you have one and have it well. The three great things are: GOOD HEALTH; WORK; and a PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE. I may add, nay, must add, a fourth—SINCERITY. Without this, the other three are without avail; with it you may cleave to greatness and sit among the giants." [Getting Into Print (The Editor magazine, March 1903)]”

WritingCreative Process
Author:Jack London
Create image

“The prophecy seemed to indicate that we should stay together in order to succeed.” “The prophecy has many meanings,” Kiernan said, “and none of them are clear.” “Then why have a prophecy at all?” Brant demanded, a hint of his old irritation breaking into his voice. “Has it really changed anything?” Kiernan asked. “It has changed everything!” “Interesting.” Kiernan looked thoughtful.“You really think so?”

FantasyProphecyMinstrel S Call
Book:Minstrel's Call
Create image

“Fury is like a monster inside me, the one thing in my life I've been unable to master. I sent up a quick prayer of apology. "I know you don't listen to me the way you listen to my sister. But I'm sorry just the same." And then, because I am me and not my sister, I add: "Of course if you would help me see the strength in her, or nudge her to be a little more useful, then I wouldn't have to be sorry." Very likely this is why my prayers are seldom answered. (Alodia speaking of her sister Elisa)”

ElisaRae CarsonFire And ThornsAlodiaThe Shadow Cats
Book:The Shadow Cats
Create image