Silvano Arieti Quotes

Those who want to forget, to hide, or not to have their peace disturbed by what seems inconceivable must face the fact that the inconceivable was conceived and largely implemented. The destiny of mankind may to a large extent depend on the understanding that future generations have of the Holocaust and on the way they respond to this new awareness of the full potentiality of evil. If oblivion or undue permissiveness are allowed to hide the knowledge that what was called the Final Solution was to a considerable extent accomplished, man may move toward another and greater and realistically possible Final Solution for which there will be no chosen people, but for which all people will be chosen. Will this be man's last choice?

The creative person finds himself in a state of turmoil, restlessness, emptiness, and unbearable frustration unless he expresses his inner life in some creative way.

Creativity is not simply originality and unlimited freedom. There is much more to it than that. Creativity also imposes restrictions. While it uses methods other than those of ordinary thinking, it must not be in disagreement with ordinary thinking-or rather, it must be something that, sooner or later, ordinary thinking will understand, accept, and appreciate. Otherwise the result would be bizarre, not creative.

The person who appreciates a great work of art has the feeling that the work grows in him as he becomes involved in a prolonged capturing of emerging marginal meanings. He feels that he, too, is creative, that he himself is adding to his experience and understanding. Moreover, he wants to confront the work of art many times. He is not easily tired of it, as he would be had he read a purely logical statement. He realizes that the work of art does not merely transmit information; it produces pleasure.

Creativity does not depend on inherited talent or on environment or upbringing; it is the function of the ego of every human being.