Wilfred Bion Quotes & Sayings

The boys throw rocks at the frogs in jest. But the frogs die in earnest. — Wilfred Bion

Misers take care of property as if it belonged to them, but derive no more benefit from it than if it belonged to others. — Wilfred Bion

If a new result is to have any value, it must unite elements long since known, but till then scattered and seemingly foreign to each other, and suddenly introduce order where the appearance of disorder reigned. — Wilfred Bion

Old age is the harbor of all ills. — Wilfred Bion

Wealth is the sinews of affairs. — Wilfred Bion

Of all evil things the least quantity is to be borne, but of learning and knowledge, the more a man hath, the better he can bear it. — Wilfred Bion

The road to Hades is easy to travel. — Wilfred Bion

The end of a dissolute life is a desperate death. — Wilfred Bion

Arrogance is a great obstruction to wisdom. — Wilfred Bion

To be unable to bear an ill is itself a great ill. — Wilfred Bion

To dare to be aware of the facts of the universe in which we are existing calls for courage. — Wilfred Bion

Every session attended by the analyst must have no history and no future. What is 'known' about the patient is of no further consequence: it is either false or irrelevant. If it is 'known' by patient and analyst, it is obsolete ... The only point of importance in any session is the unknown. Nothing must be allowed to distract from intuiting that. In any session, evolution takes place. Out of the darkness and formlessness something evolves. — Wilfred Bion

It is too often forgotten that the gift of speech, so centrally employed, has been elaborated as much for the purpose of concealing thought by dissimulation and lying as for the purpose of elucidating and communicating thought. — Wilfred Bion

The purest form of listening is to listen without memory or desire. — Wilfred Bion

We ought not to heap reproaches on old age, seeing that we all hope to reach it. — Wilfred Bion

A good leader makes a good follower. — Wilfred Bion