“Reason works better when emotions are present; the person sees sharper and more accurately when his emotions are engaged.”

— Rollo May, The Courage to Create (1975), Ch. 2: The Nature of Creativity, p. 49

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.”

“The electron is a theory we use; it is so useful in understanding the way nature works that we can almost call it real.”

“God hides nothing. His very work from the beginning is revelation, — a casting aside of veil after veil, a showing unto men of truth after truth.”

“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”

“He is the greatest artist who has embodied, in the sum of his works, the greatest number of the greatest ideas.”

“Work first and then rest. Work first, and then gaze, but do not use golden ploughshares, nor bind ledgers in enamel.”

“We shall make mistakes; and if we let these mistakes frighten us from our work we shall show ourselves weaklings.”