Logotherapy Quotes

Can you tell me in one sentence what is meant by logotherapy?" he asked. "At least, what is the difference between psychoanalysis and logotherapy?" "Yes," I said, "but in the first place, can you tell me in one sentence what you think the essence of psychoanalysis is?" This was his answer: "During psychoanalysis, the patient must lie down on a couch and tell you things which sometimes are very disagreeable to tell." Whereupon I immediately retorted with the following improvisation: "Now, in logotherapy the patient may remain sitting erect but he must hear things which sometimes are very disagreeable to hear. ~ Viktor E. Frankl

[U]ntil his last breath no one can wrest from a man his freedom to take one or another attitude toward his destiny. ~ Viktor E. Frankl

If we were immortal, we could legitimately postpone every action forever. [...] But in the face of death as absolute finis to our future and boundary to our possibilities, we are under the imperative of utilizing our lifetimes to the utmost, not letting the singular opportunities - whose "finite" sum constitutes the whole of life - pass by unused. ~ Viktor E. Frankl

Logotherapy focuses rather on the future, that is to say, on the meanings to be fulfilled by the patient in his future. (Logotherapy, indeed, is a meaning-centered psychotherapy.) At the same time, logotherapy defocuses all the vicious-circle formations and feedback mechanisms which play such a great role in the development of neuroses. Thus, the typical self-centeredness of the neurotic is broken up instead of being continually fostered and reinforced. To be sure, this kind of statement is an oversimplification; yet in logotherapy the patient is actually confronted with and reoriented toward the meaning of his life. And to make him aware of this meaning can contribute much to his ability to overcome his neurosis. ~ Anonymous

We are very much at the mercy of circumstance, but it is how you choose to respond to circumstance that determines the quality of your life. ~ Chris Matakas

Every therapy must in some way, no matter how restricted, also be logotherapy. ~ Viktor E. Frankl

Along with unemployment neurosis, which is triggered
by an individual's socioeconomic situation,
there are other types of depression which are traceable
back to psychodynamic or biochemical conditions,
whichever the case may be. Accordingly, psychotherapy
and pharmacotherapy are indicated respectively.
Insofar as the feeling of meaninglessness is concerned,
however, we should not overlook and forget that, per se,
it is not a matter of pathology; rather than being the sign and symptom of a neurosis, it is, I would say, the proof
of one's humanness. But although it is not caused by
anything pathological, it may well cause a pathological
reaction; in other words, it is potentially pathogenic. Just
consider the mass neurotic syndrome so pervasive in the
young generation: there is ample empirical evidence that
the three facets of this syndrome - depression, aggression,
addiction - are due to what is called in logotherapy
"the existential vacuum," a feeling of emptiness and
meaninglessness. ~ Viktor E. Frankl

On the other hand, a neurotic fear, such as agoraphobia, cannot be cured by philosophical understanding. However, logotherapy has developed a special technique to handle such cases, too. To understand what is going on whenever this technique is used, we take as a starting point a condition which is frequently observed in neurotic individuals, namely, anticipatory anxiety. It is characteristic of this fear that it produces precisely that of which the patient is afraid. An individual, for example, who is afraid of blushing when he enters a large room and faces many ~ Viktor E. Frankl

For in every case man retains the freedom and the possibility of deciding for or against the influence of his surroundings. ~ Viktor E. Frankl

Logotherapy sees the human patient in all his humanness. I step up to the core of the patient's being. And that is a being in search of meaning, a being that is transcending himself, a being capable of acting in love for others. ~ Viktor E. Frankl