Adam Phillips
Full Name and Common Aliases
Adam Phillips is a British psychoanalyst, author, and journalist known for his insightful writings on the human psyche.
Birth and Death Dates
He was born in 1945 and continues to be active in his profession.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Phillips is a British citizen and has worked as a psychoanalyst, writer, and broadcaster throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Adam Phillips grew up in England, surrounded by a family of intellectuals who encouraged his love for learning. His father was an engineer, while his mother was a painter, instilling in him a deep appreciation for art and creativity. Phillips' interest in psychoanalysis began at a young age, influenced by his parents' discussions on the subject.
Major Accomplishments
Phillips is renowned for his work as a psychoanalyst and writer. He has written extensively on topics such as love, desire, and relationships, offering readers a unique perspective on the human experience. His writing style is characterized by its accessibility and clarity, making complex ideas understandable to a broad audience.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Phillips' notable works include:
On Kissing, Tickling, and Being Bored: Psychoanalytic Essays on the Unexamined (1996)
Terrors and Experts (1995)
Monopolies of Loss: Situations in British Psychoanalysis 1981-2017 (2013)
Phillips has also written for various publications, including The London Review of Books, where he is a frequent contributor.
Impact and Legacy
Adam Phillips' impact on the field of psychoanalysis cannot be overstated. His writings have helped to make complex ideas more accessible to readers worldwide, fostering a deeper understanding of human behavior and emotions. Through his work, Phillips has shown that psychoanalysis can be both intellectually stimulating and profoundly personal.
Phillips' legacy extends beyond his written works, as he continues to inspire new generations of writers, analysts, and thinkers.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Adam Phillips is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
His unique perspective on human relationships and emotions has resonated with readers worldwide.
His ability to make complex ideas accessible to a broad audience has earned him a reputation as a gifted writer.
His commitment to exploring the human experience through psychoanalysis has made him a leading figure in his field.
Quotes by Adam Phillips
Kindness consistently preoccupies us, and yet most of us are unable to live a life guided by it.
A story is told of Alfred Adler, one of Freud’s early followers, who once interviewed a prospective patient at great length, taking a detailed family history, and getting as elaborate an account as possible of what the man was suffering from. At the end of this three-hour consultation Adler apparently said to the man, ‘What would you do if you were cured?’ The man answered him, and Adler said, ‘Well, go and do it then.’ That was the treatment.
When God is dead, kindness is permitted. When God is dead, kindness is all that people have.
So there are three consecutive frustrations: the frustration of need, the frustration of fantasized satisfaction not working, and the frustration of satisfaction in the real world being at odds with the wished-for, fantasized satisfaction. Three frustrations, three disturbances, and two disillusionments. It is, what has been called in a different context, a cumulative trauma; the cumulative trauma of desire. And this is when it works.
Satisfaction is no more the solution to frustration than certainty is the solution to skepticism.
