Top 31 Quotes by Thomas Szasz

It is easier to do one's duty to others than to one's self. If you do your duty to others, you are considered reliable. If you do your duty to yourself, you are considered selfish.

Permissiveness is the principle of treating children as if they were adults; and the tactic of making sure they never reach that stage.

In the past, men created witches: now they create mental patients.

The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates.

A teacher should have maximal authority, and minimal power.

Formerly, when religion was strong and science weak, men mistook magic for medicine; now, when science is strong and religion weak, men mistake medicine for magic.

Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily.

He who does not accept and respect those who want to reject life does not truly accept and respect life itself.

Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.