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About this quote

What does it mean?
Reich criticizes that for promoting self‑mastery without teaching how to achieve it or pointing out personal mistakes.
In plain terms
People are told to become masters of themselves but aren’t given guidance.
What can you take from it?
Seek concrete guidance when pursuing self‑mastery.

Where it applies

  • personal development
  • coaching

Putting it to work

  • ask for specific advice
  • identify personal errors

Questions to consider

  • What steps do you need to master yourself?
  • Who can responsibly guide you?

Another view

Not all self‑mastery requires external instruction; some may find it internally.

More from Wilhelm Reich

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  2. Every physician, shoemaker, mechanic or educator must know his shortcomings if he is to do his work and make his living. For some decades, you have begun to pl…

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  3. For a decade, the politics of the European dictators was unrivalled. In order to comprehend the essence of politics, one only has to remember that it was a Hit…

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