An ounce of clear thinking is worth a pound of research
into the mysteries of the obvious.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
Psychiatrists classify a person as neurotic if he suffers from
his problems in living, and as psychotic if he makes others suffer.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
It seems to me that--at least in our scientific theories of behavior
we have failed to accept the simple fact that human relations are
inherently fraught with difficulties and that to make them even
relatively harmonious requires much patience and hard work.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
The greatest analgesic, soporific, stimulant, tranquilizer,
narcotic, and to some extent even antibiotic--in short,
the closest thing to a genuine panacea--known to medical science is work.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
The Nazis said they had a Jewish problem. We say we have a
drug abuse problem. Actually, 'Jewish problem' was the name
the Germans gave to their persecution of the Jews;
'drug abuse problem' is the name we give to our
persecution of people who use certain drugs.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
Policemen receive bribes; politicians receive campaign contributions.
Marijuana is sold by pushers; tobacco is sold by merchants.
When the Swiss are for non-intervention in war,
they are called 'neutral'; when Americans are for non-intervention,
they are called 'isolationists'.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
The stupid neither forgive nor forget;
the naive forgive and forget;
the wise forgive but do not forget.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
Sex is a body-contact sport. It is safe to watch but more fun to play.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
Knowledge is gained by learning; trust by doubt;
skill by practice; and love by love.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
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.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but they make a good excuse.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
Only idiots and infants `need' things. Adults `want' things.
The language of needs is the native tongue of socialists,
therapeutists, and paternalists of all sorts and is addressed
to needy dependents. The language of wants is spoken by
self-respecting adults and is addressed to other self-respecting adults.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
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; and why older persons, especially if
vain or important, cannot learn at all.
Pride and vanity can thus be greater obstacles to learning than stupidity.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
Men and women 'in love' share the mistaken belief that
they live in the same world. They come to 'love' one another
when they acknowledge that they live in different worlds,
but are prepared, once in a while, to cross the chasm that separates them.
--Thomas Szasz, M.D.
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