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About this quote

What does it mean?
Most people live physically without realizing their creative potential. Creativeness is the process of fully actualizing oneself before death.
In plain terms
Living fully means creating and growing, not just existing.
What can you take from it?
Pursue creativity to realize your potential.

Where it applies

  • personal growth
  • midlife reflection
  • career fulfillment

Putting it to work

  • start a creative project
  • reflect on unused talents

Questions to consider

  • What creative potential have you not realized?
  • How do you define being fully born?

Another view

Some constraints like poverty or illness limit creative actualization.

More from Erich Fromm

  1. Modern man thinks he loses something - time - when he does not do things quickly; yet he does not know what to do with the time he gains - except kill it.

    Permalink to quote #86
  2. Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much.

    Permalink to quote #88
  3. Modern man lives under the illusion that he knows what he wants, while he actually wants what he is supposed to want.

    Permalink to quote #85

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