Brad Cookson

“This is how we understand depressive psychosis today: as a bogging down in the demands of others—family, job, the narrow horizon of daily duties. In such a bogging down the individual does not feel or see that he has alternatives, cannot imagine any choices or alternate ways of life, cannot release himself from the network of obligations even though these obligations no longer give him a sense of self-esteem, of primary value, of being a heroic contributor to world life even”
― Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death

“You will observe with concern how long a useful truth may be known, and exist, before it is generally received and practiced on.”
― Benjamin Franklin

“The sadist doesn't create a masochist; he finds him already made.”
― Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death

“This is the terror: to have emerged from nothing, to have a name, consciousness of self, deep inner feelings, an excruciating inner yearning for life and self-expression - and with all this yet to die.”
― Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death