“There is no such "condition" as "schizophrenia," but the label is a social fact and the social fact a political event.”

—  Ronald David Laing , book The Politics of Experience

Source: The Politics of Experience (1967), p. 121

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "There is no such "condition" as "schizophrenia," but the label is a social fact and the social fact a political event." by Ronald David Laing?
Ronald David Laing photo
Ronald David Laing 30
Scottish psychiatrist and author 1927–1989

Related quotes

E.L. Doctorow photo

“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.”

E.L. Doctorow (1931–2015) novelist, editor, professor

Interview in Writers at Work (1988)

Irving Kristol photo

“The major political event of the twentieth century is the death of socialism.”

Irving Kristol (1920–2009) American columnist, journalist, and writer

Neo-Conservatism: The Autobiography of an Idea (1995)
1990s

Bell Hooks photo

“The process begins with the individual woman’s acceptance that American women, without exception, are socialized to be racist, classist and sexist, in varying degrees, and that labeling ourselves feminists does not change the fact that we must consciously work to rid ourselves of the legacy of negative socialization.”

Bell Hooks (1952) American author, feminist, and social activist

Ain't I a Woman (1981)

Oscar Wilde photo

“The chief advantage that would result from the establishment of Socialism is, undoubtedly, the fact that Socialism would relieve us from that sordid necessity of living for others which, in the present condition of things, presses so hardly upon almost everybody. In fact, scarcely any one at all escapes.”

Oscar Wilde book The Soul of Man under Socialism

The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891)

Rudolf Rocker photo

“The deeper we trace the political influences in history, the more are we convinced that the "will to power" has up to now been one of the strongest motives in the development of human social forms. The idea that all political and social events are but the result of given economic conditions and can be explained by them cannot endure careful consideration.”

Rudolf Rocker book Nationalism and Culture

Source: Nationalism and Culture (1937), Ch. 1 "The Insufficiency of Economic Materialism"
Context: The deeper we trace the political influences in history, the more are we convinced that the "will to power" has up to now been one of the strongest motives in the development of human social forms. The idea that all political and social events are but the result of given economic conditions and can be explained by them cannot endure careful consideration. That economic conditions and the special forms of social production have played a part in the evolution of humanity everyone knows who has been seriously trying to reach the foundations of social phenomena. This fact was well known before Marx set out to explain it in his manner. A whole line of eminent French socialists like Saint–Simon, Considerant, Louis Blanc, Proudhon and many others had pointed to it in their writings, and it is known that Marx reached socialism by the study of these very writings.

Melanie Joy photo

“Often, vegan advocates assume that a person's defensiveness is the result of selfishness or apathy, when in fact it is much more likely the result of systematic and intensive social conditioning.”

Melanie Joy (1966) American psychologist

Source: Strategic Action for Animals (2008), p. 118

Laura Esquivel photo

“The most elementary of good manners… at a social gathering one does not bring up the subject of personalities, sad topics or unfortunate facts, religion, or politics.”

Laura Esquivel book Like Water for Chocolate

Source: Like Water for Chocolate

Daniel Buren photo

“When we say architecture, we include the social, political and économie context. Architecture of any sort is in fact the inévitable background, support and frame of any work.”

Daniel Buren (1938) sculptor from France

Daniel Buren (1979), cited in: A. A. Bronson, ‎Peggy Gale, ‎Art Metropole (1983). Museums by artists. p. 73
1970s

Douglas Murray photo

“… we have begun trying to reorder our societies not in line with facts we know from science but based on political falsehoods pushed by activists in the social sciences.”

Douglas Murray (1979) British political commentator and far-right activist

Source: The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity (2019)

Upton Sinclair photo

“The American People will take Socialism, but they won't take the label.”

Upton Sinclair (1878–1968) American novelist, writer, journalist, political activist

Letter to Norman Thomas (25 September 1951) http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAsocialismP.htm
Context: The American People will take Socialism, but they won't take the label. I certainly proved it in the case of EPIC. Running on the Socialist ticket I got 60,000 votes, and running on the slogan to "End Poverty in California" I got 879,000. I think we simply have to recognize the fact that our enemies have succeeded in spreading the Big Lie. There is no use attacking it by a front attack, it is much better to out-flank them.

Related topics