Carl Gustav Jung, the great Swiss psychologist, who died in 1961 in his
eighty-sixth year, was a profound thinker of extraordinary creativity.
In the course of his medical practice he reflected deeply on human
nature and human problems, and his prolific writings bear witness to his
great wisdom and insight.
For this completely revised edition, selections from publications of the
years 1945-1961, the last fruitful years of Jung's life, have been
added, and the book has been reset in a new compact format. The
selections are arranged thematically under four main headings: The
Nature and Activity of the Psyche, Man in His Relation to Others, The
World of Values, and On Ultimate Things.
Jung's reflections frequently have a penetrating relevance to today's
(and tomorrow's) problems. On prejudice: "Our unwillingness to see our
own faults and the projection of them is the beginning of most quarrels,
and is the strongest guarantee that injustice, animosity, and
persecution are not ready to die out." On sex: "We are not yet far
enough advanced to distinguish between moral and immoral behavior in the
realm of free sexual activity." On religion: "No one can know what the
ultimate things are. We must therefore take them as we experience them.
And if such experience helps to make life healthier, more beautiful,
more complete, and more satisfactory to yourself and to those you love,
you may safely say: 'This was the grace of God.'"