“The unrealistic nature of these tales (which narrowminded rationalists object to) is an important device, because it makes obvious that the fairy tales’ concern is not useful information about the external world, but the inner process taking place in an individual.”
Bruno Bettelheim“Punishment may make us obey the orders we are given, but at best it will only teach an obedience to authority, not a self-control which enhances our self-respect.”
Bruno Bettelheim“Raising children is a creative endeavor, an art rather than a science.”
Bruno Bettelheim“The last if not the greatest of the human freedoms: to choose their own attitude in any given circumstance.”
Bruno Bettelheim“The ability to read becomes devalued when what one has learned to read adds nothing of importance to one's life.”
Bruno Bettelheim“But had Minkowski and Einstein not recognized it long before us, our schizophrenic children would have taught us that space-time is a unity that precedes any separate understanding of either category; just as grasping this unity is a precondition for understanding causality.”
Bruno Bettelheim, Empty Fortress“Since there are thousands of fairy tales, one may safely guess that there are probably equal numbers where the courage and determination of females rescue males, and vice versa.”
Bruno Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales“The unrealistic nature of these tales (which narrowminded rationalists object to) is an important device, because it makes obvious that the fairy tales’ concern is not useful information about the external world, but the inner process taking place in an individual.”
Bruno Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales