James Hillman Quotes

A collection of quotes by James Hillman.

James Hillman (1926-2011) was an influential American psychologist and author known for his pioneering work in the field of archetypal psychology. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Hillman developed a deep interest in psychology from a young age. He studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and eventually earned his doctorate in psychology from the University of Zurich, where he became a close associate of renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung.

Hillman's approach to psychology diverged from the mainstream, as he emphasized the importance of the soul and imagination in understanding human psychology. He believed that psychological issues should be seen not as individual pathologies to be treated, but as expressions of the soul's quest for meaning and purpose.

Throughout his career, Hillman held various academic and teaching positions, including serving as the first Director of Studies at the Jung Institute in Zurich. He authored numerous influential books that explored the realms of mythology, philosophy, and psychology, such as "Re-Visioning Psychology" and "The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and Calling."

Hillman's works had a profound impact on the field of psychology, inspiring many subsequent scholars, therapists, and artists. He challenged the reductionist approach to psychology prevalent in contemporary society and advocated for a deeper, more soulful understanding of the human experience. James Hillman passed away in 2011, leaving behind a rich legacy of thought and creativity in the field of psychology.

You don't attack the grunts of Vietnam you blame the theory

You don't attack the grunts of Vietnam you blame the theory behind the war. Nobody who fought in that war was at fault. It was the war itself that was at fault. It's the same thing with psychotherapy.

It's very hard to know what wisdom is.

It's very hard to know what wisdom is.

Everything that everyone is afraid of has already happened:

Everything that everyone is afraid of has already happened: The fragility of capitalism, which we don't want to admit the loss of the empire of the United States and American exceptionalism. In fact, American exceptionalism is that we are exceptionally backward in about fifteen different categories, from education to infrastructure.

In the history of the treatment of depression, there was the

In the history of the treatment of depression, there was the dunking stool, purging of the bowels of black bile, hoses, attempts to shock the patient. All of these represent hatred or aggression towards what depression represents in the patient.

Loss means losing what was We want to change but we don't wa

Loss means losing what was We want to change but we don't want to lose. Without time for loss, we don't have time for soul.

Just stop for a minute and you'll realize you're happy just

Just stop for a minute and you'll realize you're happy just being. I think it's the pursuit that screws up happiness. If we drop the pursuit, it's right here.

Psychotherapy theory turns it all on you: you are the one wh

Psychotherapy theory turns it all on you: you are the one who is wrong. If a kid is having trouble or is discouraged, the problem is not just inside the kid it's also in the system, the society.

The older people that one admires seem to be fearless. They

The older people that one admires seem to be fearless. They go right out into the world. It's astounding. Maybe they can't see or they can't hear, but they walk out into the street and take life as it comes. They're models of courage, in a strange way.

I see happiness as a by-product. I don't think you can pursu

I see happiness as a by-product. I don't think you can pursue happiness. I think that phrase is one of the very few mistakes the Founding Fathers made.

We're an air bag society that wants guarantees on everything

We're an air bag society that wants guarantees on everything that we buy. We want to be able to take everything back and get another one. We want a 401-k plan and Social Security.

All we can do when we think of kids today is think of more h

All we can do when we think of kids today is think of more hours of school, earlier age at the computer, and curfews. Who would want to grow up in that world?

Fear is a huge thing for older people.

Fear is a huge thing for older people.

We can't change anything until we get some fresh ideas, unti

We can't change anything until we get some fresh ideas, until we begin to see things differently.

We approach people the same way we approach our cars. We tak

We approach people the same way we approach our cars. We take the poor kid to a doctor and ask, What's wrong with him, how much will it cost, and when can I pick him up?

Depression opens the door to beauty of some kind.

Depression opens the door to beauty of some kind.

The word power has such a generally negative implication in

The word power has such a generally negative implication in our society. What are people talking about? Are they talking about muscles, or control?

I don't think anything changes until ideas change. The usual

I don't think anything changes until ideas change. The usual American viewpoint is to believe that something is wrong with the person.

The culture is going into a psychological depression. We are

The culture is going into a psychological depression. We are concerned about our place in the world, about being competitive: Will my children have as much as I have? Will I ever own my own home? How can I pay for a new car? Are immigrants taking away my white world?