Quotes by Fritz Perls

Friedrich (Frederick) Salomon Perl
(July 8 1893 – March 14, 1970), better known as Fritz Perls
noted German-born psychiatrist and psychotherapist. He coined the term 'Gestalt Therapy' for the approach to therapy he developed with his wife Laura Perls from the 1940s. At Gestalt Therapy's core is the promotion of awareness, the awareness of the unity of all present feelings and behaviors, and the contact between the self and its environment.

Gestalt Prayer

I do my thing and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,
And you are not in this world to live up to mine.
You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.
If not, it can't be helped.

— Fritz Perls

dependency makes slaves

Our dependency makes slaves out of us, especially if this dependency is a dependency of our self esteem. If you need encouragement, pats on the back from everybody, then you make everybody your judge.

— Fritz Perls

other people's expectations

I am not in this world to live up to other people's expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.

— Fritz Perls