23 Motivational Quotes By R. D. Laing, The Renowned Scottish Psychiatrist

Famous As: Psychiatrist

Born On: 1927

Died On: 1989

Born In: Govanhill

Founder / Co Founder: UK charity the Philadelphia Association

Died At Age: 61

Ronald David Laing was a Scottish psychiatrist, who rose to prominence in the 20th century for his groundbreaking work in the field of mental illnesses. He is especially well-known for his work on psychosis. Laing studied at Hutcheson’s Grammar School and then went on to study at University of Glasgow, from where he attained his degree in medicine. Laing started off his career in the Psychiatric Unit of the British Army and it was during this stint that he took an interest in people suffering from different forms of mental distress. Later, he joined the Tavistock Institute in London in 1956 and during his time at the institute for the next eight years, he studied and practiced different forms of psychotherapy. Laing ushered in a new era as far as treatment of mental illnesses are concerned and challenged several aspects of traditional psychiatric treatments. As a result, his views had also been referred to as being anti-psychiatry. Some of his noted books include ‘The Politics of Experience and the Bird of Paradise’, ‘The Facts of Life’, ‘The Voice of Experience’, ‘Sanity, Madness and the Family’ and ‘The Self and Others’ among many others. Here is a collection of some of his most important and famous quotes and thoughts that have been excerpted from the vast sea of his work, writings, books and papers. Read on the inspiring quotations and sayings by R. D. Laing.

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Physicians

Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent.

Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent.
Life
R. D. Laing

Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal as well as enslavement and existential death.

Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal as well as enslavement and existential death.
Death Need
R. D. Laing

Whether life is worth living depends on whether there is love in life.

Whether life is worth living depends on whether there is love in life.
Life Love Living
R. D. Laing

Insanity -- a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.

Insanity -- a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.
R. D. Laing

There is a great deal of pain in life and perhaps the only pain that can be avoided is the pain that comes from trying to avoid pain.

There is a great deal of pain in life and perhaps the only pain that can be avoided is the pain that comes from trying to avoid pain.
Life Trying
R. D. Laing

Schizophrenia cannot be understood without understanding despair.

Schizophrenia cannot be understood without understanding despair.
R. D. Laing

We are effectively destroying ourselves by violence masquerading as love.

We are effectively destroying ourselves by violence masquerading as love.
Love
R. D. Laing

Pain in this life is not avoidable, but the pain we create avoiding pain is avoidable.

Pain in this life is not avoidable, but the pain we create avoiding pain is avoidable.
Life
R. D. Laing

We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing.

We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing.
Change History
R. D. Laing

We are all murderers and prostitutes – no matter to what culture, society, class, nation one belongs, no matter how normal, moral, or mature, one takes oneself to be.

We are all murderers and prostitutes – no matter to what culture, society, class, nation one belongs, no matter how normal, moral, or mature, one takes oneself to be.
Culture
R. D. Laing

They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game

They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game
Me Will I
R. D. Laing

Human beings seem to have an almost unlimited capacity to deceive themselves, and to deceive themselves into taking their own lies for truth.

Human beings seem to have an almost unlimited capacity to deceive themselves, and to deceive themselves into taking their own lies for truth.
R. D. Laing

Truth is literally that which is without secrecy, what discloses itself without a veil.

Truth is literally that which is without secrecy, what discloses itself without a veil.
R. D. Laing

Our 'normal' 'adjusted' state is too often the abdication of ecstasy, the betrayal of our true potentialities.

Our 'normal' 'adjusted' state is too often the abdication of ecstasy, the betrayal of our true potentialities.
R. D. Laing

There are good reasons for being obedient, but being unable to be disobedient is not one of the best reasons.

There are good reasons for being obedient, but being unable to be disobedient is not one of the best reasons.
R. D. Laing

Life is a sexually transmitted disease.
Life
R. D. Laing

Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is 100%

Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is 100%
Life
R. D. Laing

The condition of alienation, of being asleep, of being unconscious, of being out of one's mind, is the condition of the normal man.

The condition of alienation, of being asleep, of being unconscious, of being out of one's mind, is the condition of the normal man.
R. D. Laing

What an interesting finger
let me suck it.

It's not an interesting finger
take it away.

What an interesting finger let me suck it. It's not an interesting finger take it away.
Me
R. D. Laing

You don't love me.. Believe me! You don't love anyone. How could you? And no one loves you. How could they? Except me, it's only because I love you that I'm telling you all this. I Love you.. R. D. Laing.

You don't love me.. Believe me! You don't love anyone. How could you? And no one loves you. How could they? Except me, it's only because I love you that I'm telling you all this. I Love you.. R. D. Laing.
You Me Love Believe I
R. D. Laing

Creative people who can't help but explore other mental territories are at greater risk, just as someone who climbs a mountain is more at risk than someone who just walks along a village lane.

Creative people who can't help but explore other mental territories are at greater risk, just as someone who climbs a mountain is more at risk than someone who just walks along a village lane.
R. D. Laing