20 Quotes by Slavoj Žižek That Will Make You Think

Slavoj Zizek (Ljubljana, 1949) is one of the most well-known and commented philosophers of today.

His reflections and essays not only cover an analysis of the political movements and social problems that are emerging today, but also talk about the ideologies, belief systems and symbols that we use to interpret what is happening and set objectives.

A selection of Žižek’s phrases to reflect on

Below you can see a selection of phrases Žizek to reflect and initiate you into its philosophy.

1. If you have reasons to love a person, you don’t love them

Žizek refers here to the irrational and private nature of love something that cannot be explained with words.

2. Political correctness is modern totalitarianism

The idea behind this reflection is that Political correctness forces us to adhere to certain rules of protocol regardless of what we think being that these norms, at the same time, can be interpreted as an expression of what we sincerely believe when in the end that is not the case.

3. I secretly think that reality exists so we can speculate about it

Žizek He is greatly influenced by the idealist philosophy of Hegel and therefore relativizes the importance of believing that reality exists independently of the ideas that may arise about it.

4. Formal freedom precedes real freedom

Freedom based on the use of laws that do not distinguish between groups is not the definitive form of freedom according to Žižek, whose Marxist ideas lead him to think that our quality of life is highly determined by the historical context in which we live.

5. You can’t change people, but you can change the system so that people aren’t pushed to do certain things.

Another example of Marxist thought more focused on changing the environment in which people live than on modifying ways of thinking directly.

6. Nobody takes democracy or justice seriously

This is one of Žižek’s phrases in which his critical stance with contemporary ideals is clear

7. True power does not need arrogance, a long beard or an aggressive voice, but rather it wraps you in silk ribbons, charm and intelligence

For Žizek, The most powerful form of power does not work through force but through seduction

8. We don’t really want to get what we think we want.

For this philosopher the true motives for our actions are beyond our direct and individual understanding

9. We live in strange times in which we are induced to act as if we were free

This phrase by Žižek can be interpreted thinking that freedom is more of a mirage that a situation in which we can choose between a multitude of options

10. Experts are, by definition, the servants of those in power: they don’t really think, they just apply their knowledge to problems defined by the powerful.

The authorities on certain matters are, for this Slovenian philosopher, simple technicians who execute orders from superiors

11. I know it’s a lie, but I still allow myself to be emotionally affected by it.

One of Žižek’s phrases focused on the importance of the way in which what is perceived is interpreted

12. The experience we have of our lives from within is basically a lie: the truth lies on the outside, in what we do

Another of Žižek’s phrases in which implies that the subjective account of our lives is biased either.

13. The fact of doing nothing is not empty, it has a meaning: saying yes to existing relations of domination

One of Slavoj Žižek’s famous quotes with the most social and political content.

14. The ultimate source of evil is compassion itself

For Žizek, compassion limits our freedom, even when it comes to loving

15. Eating organic apples doesn’t solve anything

Žizek believes that Collective problems, such as environmental degradation, require collective action In this sense, changing our consumption habits cannot be the solution, because it is a response focused on what each person does individually and at the same time it serves to purge feelings of guilt.

16. To understand today’s world, we need cinema

For this philosopher, cinema reproduces the way of thinking of the society in which it has been made

17. Words are never just words: they matter because they define the contours of what we can do

Žižek points out that the way things are explained predispose us to perform certain actions and ignore the possibility of doing others.

18. What if the way we perceive a problem is part of the problem?

A way to remember the importance of examining the discourses and ideologies behind our actions.

19. Love is experienced as a great misfortune, a monstrous parasite, a permanent state of emergency that ruins small pleasures

One of Žižek’s phrases in which is more critical of the concept of love

20. We feel free because we lack the language necessary to articulate our lack of freedom

The Slovenian philosopher refers here to the difficulties in explaining the mechanisms by which freedom is deprived of us