“Although there are certain needs, such as hunger, thirst, sex, which are common to man, those drives which make for the differences in men's characters, like love and hatred, the lust for power and the yearning for submission, the enjoyment of sensuous pleasure and the fear of it, are all products of the social process. The most beautiful as well as the most ugly inclinations of man are not part of a fixed and biologically given human nature, but result from the social process which creates man. In other words, society has not only a suppressing function - although it has that too - but it has also a creative function.”

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Originally said in English.

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About Erich Fromm

German psychoanalyst and social philosopher of the mid-20th century, Erich Fromm was a leading figure in humanistic psychology. His work bridges psychology and sociology, exploring themes of love, freedom, and the human condition through concepts like "escape from freedom" and "the art of loving." He remains influential for his critiques of capitalism and his humanistic approach to mental health.

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"Although there are certain needs, such as hunger, thirst, sex, which…" — Erich Fromm | Daily Quotes