5 G. I. Gurdjieff Quotes on Identity

G. I. Gurdjieff quotes on identity

21. One of man's important mistakes, one which must be remembered, is his illusion in regard to his I. Man such as we know him, the 'man-machine,' the man who cannot 'do,' and with whom and through whom everything 'happens,' cannot have a permanent and single I. His I changes as quickly as his thoughts, feelings and moods, and he makes a profound mistake in considering himself always one and the same person; in reality he is always a different person, not the one he was a moment ago.

22. Man has no permanent and unchangeable I. Every thought, every mood, every desire, every sensation, says 'I'.

24. The being of two people can differ from one another more than the being of a mineral and of an animal. This is exactly what people do not understand. And they do not understand that knowledge depends on being. Not only do they not understand this latter but they definitely do not wish to understand it

32. It is the greatest mistake to think that man is always one and the same. A man is never the same for long. He is continually changing. He seldom remains the same even for half an hour.

48. Here there are neither Russians nor English, Jews nor Christians, but only those who pursue one aim - to be able to be.