Anthony Storr

faith delusion

“One man's faith is another man's delusion”

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

inner outer world behaviour creativity

“Some split between the inner world and outer world is common to all behaviour, and the need to bridge the gap is the source of creative behaviour.”

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

human spirit indestructible hell glimpse heaven

“The human spirit is not indestructible; but a courageous few discover that, when in hell, they are granted a glimpse of heaven.”

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

interpersonal relationship happiness solitude creativity

“It is widely believed that interpersonal relationships of an intimate kind are the chief, if not the only, source of human happiness. Yet the lives of creative individuals often seem to run counter to this assumption.”

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

belief delusion intensity defend

“Whether a belief is considered to be a delusion or not depends partly upon the intensity with which it is defended, and partly upon the numbers of people subscribing to it.”

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

conversation understanding solitude genius

“Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius; and the uniformity of a work denotes the hand of a single artist.’ Edward Gibbon”

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

interpersonal relationship marriage

“It may be our idealization of interpersonal relationships in the West that causes marriage, supposedly the most intimate tie, to be so unstable. If we did not look to marriage as the principal source of happiness, fewer marriages would end in tears.”

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

compulsively need relationship

"It is only when we no longer compulsively need someone that we can have a real relationship with them."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

originality boldness accepted norms

"Originality implies being bold enough to go beyond accepted norms."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

marriage happiness tears solitude

"If we did not look to marriage as the principal source of happiness, fewer marriages would end in tears."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

creativity identity meaning

"The creative person is constantly seeking to discover himself, to remodel his own identity, and to find meaning in what he creates."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

sane mad

"The sane are madder than we think, the mad saner."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

imagination solitude

"Imagination flourishes best in solitude."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

homo sapiens rodent destroy member species war

"With the exception of certain rodents, no other vertebrate except Homo sapiens habitually destroys members of his own species."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

paradox quality success destroy destruction

"It is a tragic paradox that the very qualities that have led to man's extraordinary capacity for success are also those most likely to destroy him."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

inspiratin will woo

"Inspiration cannot be willed, though it can be wooed."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)

man delusion mad million religion

"When a man suffers from delusions he is described as mad but when a million do so they belong to a world religion."

— Anthony Storr (1920-2001)