The pleasure of satisfying a savage instinct, undomesticated by the ego, is incomparably much more intense than the one of satisfying a tamed instinct. The reason is becoming the enemy that prevents us from a lot of possibilities of pleasure.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Uncontrolled primal desires bring more pleasure than restrained ones because restraint limits potential enjoyment.
- In plain terms
- Letting go of control feels better than holding back.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize how self-control might limit intense experiences.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What limits do you place on your desires?
- Is restraint necessary for long-term happiness?
Another view
Unchecked instincts can lead to harm despite the temporary pleasure they offer.
More from Sigmund Freud
The paranoid is never entirely mistaken.
Permalink to quote #54 We are our desires. (appears at the end of the video of the Nu Virgos hit Stop! Stop! Stop!)
Permalink to quote #56 The only unnatural sexual behavior is none at all.
Permalink to quote #53
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