Quote

Modern capitalism needs men who cooperate smoothly and in large numbers who want to consume more and more and whose tastes are standardized and can be easily influenced and anticipated ... what is the outcome? Modern man is alienated from himself, from his fellow man and from nature.

Erich Fromm

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Erich Fromm
Age: 79 †
Born: 1900
Born: March 23
Died: 1980
Died: March 18
Philosopher
Psychoanalyst
Psychologist
Sociologist
University Teacher
Writer
Frankfurt/Main
Whose
Outcome
Taste
Influenced
Standardized
Numbers
Outcomes
Smoothly
Modern
Fellow
Anticipated
Nature
Fellows
Alienated
Needs
Capitalism
Cooperate
Men
Easily
Consume
Large
Tastes

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I would say our social relationships are relatively shallow. We are actually afraid to be intimate, with people - many people even with their wives and husbands.
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Love is the active concern for the life and the growth of that which we love.
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The average American has separated his private life from his existence as a member of his society, and leaves that to the specialists in the government to take care of.
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Most people see the problem of love primarily as that of being loved, rather than that of loving, of one's capacity to love. Hence the problem to them is how to be loved, how to be lovable.
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Human history began as an act of disobedience, and it is not unlikely that it will be terminated by an act of obedience. At this point in history the capacity to doubt, to criticize and to disobey may be all that stands between a future for mankind and the end of civilization.
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Human history begins with man's act of disobedience which is at the same time the beginning of his freedom and the development of his reason.
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We have faith in the potentialities of others, of ourselves, and of mankind because, and only to the degree to which, we have experienced the growth of our own potentialities, the reality of growth in ourselves, the strength of our own power of reason and love.
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The affirmation of one's own life, happiness, growth and freedom, is rooted in one's capacity to love.
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If I am what I have and if I lose what I have who then am I?
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