Carl Jung on "Books' - Anthology

Carl Jung on “Books” – Anthology

Experience, not books, is what leads to understanding. ~Carl Jung, CW 12, Para 564

Sometimes a tree tells you more than can be read in books. ~ C.G. Jung; Letters Volume 1; Page 179.

The art of interpreting dreams cannot be learnt from books. Methods and rules are good only when we can get along without them. Only the man who can do it anyway has real skill, only the man of understanding really understands. ~Carl Jung; The Meaning of Psychology for Modern Man; CW 10: Civilization in Transition. pg. 327

History is not contained in thick books but lives in our very blood. ~Carl Jung; Woman in Europe.

You can learn a great deal of psychology through studying books, but you will find that this psychology is not very helpful in practical life. ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. 1, Pages 236-237.

Your books are not books, Herr Professor. They are bread. ~A poor uneducated woman, ~C.G. Jung Speaking, Page 402.

And the little travelling salesman of women’s things who stopped me in the street and looked at me with immense eyes, saying "Are you really the man who writes those books? Are you truly the one who writes about these things no one knows? ~C.G. Jung Speaking, Page 402.

Yes. People have to read the books, by golly, in spite of the fact that they [His Books] are thick. I'm sorry. ~Carl Jung, Evans Conversations, Page 37.

Some of the main islands [of peace] are: my garden, the view of distant mountains, my country place where I withdraw from the noise of city life, my library. Also small things like books, pictures, and stones. ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Page 40.

But fortunately enough, to judge from the satisfactory sale of my books, the public does not heed such inadequate criticism. ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Pages 230-232.

It has happened to me more than once that educated East Asians rediscovered the meaning of their philosophy or religion only through reading my books. ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Pages 438-439

I have often asked myself where my books go and how they are received. The only thing I know definitely is that they have a tolerable sale, if compared to others treating similarly difficult subjects. ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Pages 497-498

I cannot complain, though, about academic honours bestowed upon me in Europe, America and even in remote India, but I am more than doubtful about the effect my books had upon those who were responsible for the bestowal of such honours. ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Pages 497-498

I suppose that my books expect a human understanding of which the intellectual world or the world of intellect is afraid, although I can easily understand why that is so. ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Pages 497-498

You can easily find out from my books what I think about religion (e.g., "Psychology and Religion''). I profess no "belief." I know that there are experiences one must pay "religious" attention to. ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Pages 517-518

My books have been read largely by intellectuals, who have, of course, not been able to see feeling from this aspect, because feeling in themselves is thoroughly irrational by reason of its contamination by elements from the unconscious. ~Carl Jung, 1925 Seminar, Page 134

The soul demands your folly; not your wisdom. ~Carl Jung, The Red Book, Page 264.