“Human freedom involves our capacity to pause, to choose the one response toward which we wish to throw our weight.”

— Rollo May, The Courage to Create, 1975

About Rollo May

1909 – 1994

American existential psychologist, author of "Love and Will" and "The Courage to Create".

“Courage is the capacity to meet the anxiety which arises as one achieves freedom.”

“One cannot fight what one does not know.”

“We are more apt to feel depressed by the perpetually smiling individual than the one who is honestly sad.”

“Where we find a difficulty we may always expect that a discovery awaits us. Where there is cover we hope for game.”

“A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority.”

“He who would not be frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things ought himself to be a true poem.”

“Yet I argue not against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate one jot of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer right onward.”

“I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power, the greater it will be.”

“Happy the man whose wish and care a few paternal acres bound, content to breathe his native air in his own ground.”