Wilhelm Reich Quotes

A collection of quotes by Wilhelm Reich.

Wilhelm Reich (1897-1957) was an Austrian psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He is best known for his controversial theories on psychoanalysis and his development of the concept of orgone energy. Reich believed that repressed sexual and emotional energy, which he referred to as "orgone energy," was the source of psychological and physical disturbances. His work focused on the connection between emotional well-being and sexual satisfaction, and he developed a form of therapy known as orgone therapy. Despite his early success, Reich's theories were considered unorthodox by the psychoanalytic community, leading to his expulsion from multiple professional organizations. He died while serving a prison sentence for contempt of court.

I am well aware of the fact that the human race has known ab

I am well aware of the fact that the human race has known about the existence of a universal energy related to life for many ages. However, the basic task of natural science consisted of making this energy usable. This is the sole difference between my work and all preceding knowledge.

People should be _very_ careful when choosing the future fat

People should be _very_ careful when choosing the future fathers and mothers of their children. For that reason alone, it is extremely mean to demand a marriage certificate for life, just for one night of embracement.

Love Marriage Children Lovers Sexuality Love Making

Because you have no memory for things that happened ten or t

Because you have no memory for things that happened ten or twenty years ago, you're still mouthing the same nonsense as two thousand years ago. Worse, you cling with might and main to such absurdities as 'race,' 'class,' 'nation,' and the obligation to observe a religion and repress your love.

Love Religion Memory History Class Race Nationalism Repression

Unless we proceed cautiously, there might well arise a few g

Unless we proceed cautiously, there might well arise a few generations of mystics who conceive of the orgone metaphysically, divorced from non-living nature and who do not comprehend it from the standpoint of natural science. And it seems to me that we have more than enough mysticism as it is.

Nature Science Mysticism

How, then,' I hear you ask, 'shall I attain my end, whether

How, then,' I hear you ask, 'shall I attain my end, whether it be Christian love, socialism, or American democracy?' Your Christian love and your socialism and your American democracy are what you do each day, your manner of thinking each hour, of embracing your life companion and loving your child; they are your attitude of social responsibility towards your work, and your determination not to become like the crushers of life you so hate.

Life Responsibility Work Love Democracy Christianity Socialism

We live in a community of people not so that we can suppress

We live in a community of people not so that we can suppress and dominate eachother or make each other miserable but so that we can better and more reliably satisfy all life's healthy needs.

Life Happiness Love Inspirational Community

And the truth must finally lie in that which every oppressed

And the truth must finally lie in that which every oppressed individual feels within himself but hasn't the courage to express

Life Truth Oppression Suppression

The fact that political ideologies are tangible realities is

The fact that political ideologies are tangible realities is not a proof of their vitally necessary character. The bubonic plague was an extraordinarily powerful social reality, but no one would have regarded it as vitally necessary.

Scientific theory is a contrived foothold in the chaos of li

Scientific theory is a contrived foothold in the chaos of living phenomena.

The pleasure of living and the pleasure of the orgasm are id

The pleasure of living and the pleasure of the orgasm are identical. Extreme orgasm anxiety forms the basis of the general fear of life.

Love, work, and knowledge are the wellsprings of our lives,

Love, work, and knowledge are the wellsprings of our lives, they should also govern it.

Honest pioneer work in the field of science has always been,

Honest pioneer work in the field of science has always been, and will continue to be, life's pilot. On all sides, life is surrounded by hostility. This puts us under an obligation.