The word Freud is most often associated with Sigmund, the famous psychologist who created psychoanalysis. However, his youngest daughter, Anna Freud, was also an influential psychologist who had a major impact on psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and child psychology.
In this article we will see small fragments of this author’s thinking based on a selection of phrases by Anna Freud
The best famous phrases of Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund Freud
Throughout her life, Anna Freud uttered or wrote many reflections that have remained for history. In this article you can find a compilation of her best phrases.
9. If something doesn’t satisfy you, don’t be surprised. That’s what we call life
People are nonconformists by nature.
10. That one lives without being able to judge oneself, criticize what one has achieved, and still enjoy what one does, is unimaginable to me.
There are people who deceive themselves to avoid having to face reality.
11. Sometimes the most beautiful thing is precisely the one that comes unexpectedly and undeserved, therefore, something truly given as a present
Too high expectations can lead to frustration. On the other hand, when something comes to us by surprise it can make us very happy.
12. Not loving each other brings with it many problems
Loving yourself is very beneficial for our well-being and for our self-esteem
13. Everyone says in a surprised way that I have grown up…they are so stupid and don’t realize that I am only standing
A quote from Anna Freud with a touch of humor.
14. A collective failure does not have the same dimensions as an individual failure
When many people make mistakes, the mistake seems less bad.
15. What I have always wanted for myself is much more primitive. It’s probably nothing more than the affection of the people I’m in contact with, and their good opinion of me.
A phrase from Anna Freud that invites deep reflection.
16. In our dreams we can cook eggs exactly the way we want them, but we can’t eat them
Dreams are not real and therefore we cannot live from them.
17. I am lucky not to have children
Anna Freud had no sons. He married Ely Bernays the brother of Sigmund Freud’s wife, Martha Bernays, and had four daughters.
People cannot know everything in this life. There is always room to learn.
20. Things are not as we would like them to be. There’s only one way to deal with it: try to be okay with yourself.
Acceptance is key to emotional well-being, so we must learn to accept disappointments.
21. Sigmund Freud continually emphasized how much remains unexplained. With other psychoanalytic writers, everything is always fixed and known.
Anna Freud praising her father and highlighting how he was humble when it came to recognizing that he still had a lot to learn.
22. Sigmund Freud always made it clear that he would like to know that I am much more rational and lucid than the girls and women he meets during his hours as a psychoanalyst.
A reference to the expectations Anna’s father had of her.
23. The experience has made me learn a lot about this life
Experience is one of the best ways to learn. It is what It is known as experiential learning
24. I have been looking outside of myself to find strength and confidence but these come from within. They have always been there.
A way of saying that self-confidence comes from oneself.
25. We are only aware of the empty space in the forest, which yesterday was full of trees
Many times it is difficult for us to look inside ourselves, but it is easy to look outside.
26. If I have a stupid day, everything seems bad to me
Everything goes wrong when we have a negative mindset It makes us see the world in a pessimistic way.
27. I do not see the misery that exists, but the beauty that still remains
A way of saying that it is better to see the glass half full than half empty.
28. Children usually don’t blame themselves for being lost. They are the adults
Even as adults, there are things we can still learn from the little ones.
29. Everything becomes so problematic because of basic failures: because of discontent with myself
When you are not okay with who you are, problems may arise in your life.
30. My different personalities leave me alone right now
A quote with a certain touch of irony. It means that people can behave in different ways depending on the situation.
31. Why do we act like everything is friendship and trustworthiness when basically everything everywhere is filled with sudden hatred and ugliness?
It’s okay to see the bright side of things, but you also have to keep your feet on the ground and be realistic.
32. I was lucky enough to be abruptly thrown into reality
We have to look at reality head-on, because if we don’t we run the risk of suffer more than necessary because of frustration
33. Sometimes I think I’m a great actress
In relation to how people can adapt to the different environments that are presented to us,
34. Who promised you that there was only pleasure and enjoyment in this life?
Life is full of good and bad moments. Thinking that it will always be a bed of roses is a mistake.
35. The person I have learned the most from is my father
A phrase that makes clear reference to Sigmund Freud, his father and teacher.
36. Many things become a problem because of how we are
Our way of being and interpreting events can make life a problem.
37. A person can feel alone, even when many people love them.
A person with low self-esteem may feel truly alone.
38. Creative minds are known to be able to survive any kind of bad training.
There are lies that have been so worked out that they seem like truths.
39. Sometimes the most beautiful thing is precisely what comes unexpectedly and does not derive from work
Working can be nice when we are passionate about our work But a lot of good things happen outside of work too.
40. He who is happy makes others happy too
When someone feels good about themselves, they are likely to make others feel good.
