Top 80 Milton Erickson Quotes

Milton H. Erickson was a psychiatrist and a pioneer in the field of clinical hypnosis and psychotherapy.

He is best known for his innovative and groundbreaking work on the unconscious mind and its role in therapy.

Erickson was a firm believer in the power of the unconscious mind and its ability to facilitate change and healing.

His work emphasized the individuality of each person, the power of the unconscious mind, and the importance of a non-pathological approach to therapy.

Today, we have compiled a list of 80 quotes by Milton Erickson on therapy, human behavior, change, and insight.

Milton Erickson Quotes

On the Unconscious Mind

“The unconscious mind works without your knowledge, and that is the way it prefers.”
“The unconscious mind is decidedly simple, unaffected, straightforward, and honest. It hasn’t got all of this facade, this veneer of what we call adult culture. It’s rather simple, rather childish. It is direct and free.”
“You use hypnosis not as a cure but as a means of establishing a favorable climate in which to learn.”
“Most people walk through the world in a trance of disempowerment. Our work is to transform that into a trance of empowerment.”
“Allow yourself to see what you don’t allow yourself to see.”
“You can teach a child the importance of pain by your behavior. You can also teach a child the importance of no pain by your behavior.”
“People do not come into therapy to change their past but their future.”
“Trance is a natural everyday experience.”
“Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.”
“There are so many things in human living that we should regard not as traumatic learning but as incomplete learning, unfinished learning.”

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On Change and Insight

“Change will lead to insight more often than insight will lead to change.”
“Enlightenment is always preceded by confusion.”
“Life isn’t something you can give an answer to today. You should enjoy the process of waiting, the process of becoming what you are.”
“You can pretend anything and master it.”
“A goal without a date is just a dream.”
“What is easiest to see is often overlooked.”
“Life will bring you pain all by itself. Your responsibility is to create joy.”
“I have no intention of dying. In fact, that will be the last thing I do!”
“You can’t affect the cards that you are dealt, but you can determine how you play them.”
“People who accomplish a great many things are people who have freed themselves from biases. These are the creative people.”

On Therapy and Human Behavior

“The most important thing in changing human behavior is the person’s motivation.”
“Life is lived in the present and directed toward a future.”
“Each person is a unique individual. Hence, psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual’s needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit the Procrustean bed of a hypothetical theory of human behavior.”
“You see, we don’t know what our goals are. We learn our goals only in the process of getting there.”
“People who accomplish a great many things are people who have freed themselves from biases. These are the creative people.”
“You already know something you don’t even know that you know.”
“Patients are patients because they are out of rapport with their own unconscious… Patients are people who have had too much programming – so much outside programming that they have lost touch with their inner selves.”
“You can trust the unconscious.”
“I am very confident. I look confident. I act confident. I speak in a confident way…”
“You see, we don’t know what our goals are. We learn our goals only in the process of getting there.”

On Life and Learning

“Life’s difficulties are merely necessary roughage.”
“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”
“Life isn’t something you can give an answer to today. You should enjoy the process of waiting, the process of becoming what you are.”
“You can teach a child the importance of pain by your behavior. You can also teach a child the importance of no pain by your behavior.”
“Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.”
“Life will bring you pain all by itself. Your responsibility is to create joy.”
“You can pretend anything and master it.”
“A goal without a date is just a dream.”
“What is easiest to see is often overlooked.”
“Life isn’t something you can give an answer to today. You should enjoy the process of waiting, the process of becoming what you are.”

On Therapy Techniques

“You use hypnosis not as a cure but as a means of establishing a favorable climate in which to learn.”
“Trance is a natural everyday experience.”
“The unconscious mind works without your knowledge, and that is the way it prefers.”
“The unconscious mind is decidedly simple, unaffected, straightforward, and honest. It hasn’t got all of this facade, this veneer of what we call adult culture. It’s rather simple, rather childish. It is direct and free.”
“You can teach a child the importance of pain by your behavior. You can also teach a child the importance of no pain by your behavior.”
“People do not come into therapy to change their past but their future.”
“Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.”
“There are so many things in human living that we should regard not as traumatic learning but as incomplete learning, unfinished learning.”
“Life’s difficulties are merely necessary roughage.”
“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”

On Personal Growth

“Life isn’t something you can give an answer to today. You should enjoy the process of waiting, the process of becoming what you are.”
“You can teach a child the importance of pain by your behavior. You can also teach a child the importance of no pain by your behavior.”
“Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.”
“Life will bring you pain all by itself. Your responsibility is to create joy.”
“You can pretend anything and master it.”
“A goal without a date is just a dream.”
“What is easiest to see is often overlooked.”
“Life isn’t something you can give an answer to today. You should enjoy the process of waiting, the process of becoming what you are.”
“You can teach a child the importance of pain by your behavior. You can also teach a child the importance of no pain by your behavior.”
“Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.”

On Human Connection and Relationships

“The most important thing in changing human behavior is the person’s motivation.”
“Life is lived in the present and directed toward a future.”
“Each person is a unique individual. Hence, psychotherapy should be formulated to meet the uniqueness of the individual’s needs, rather than tailoring the person to fit the Procrustean bed of a hypothetical theory of human behavior.”
“You see, we don’t know what our goals are. We learn our goals only in the process of getting there.”
“People who accomplish a great many things are people who have freed themselves from biases. These are the creative people.”
“You already know something you don’t even know that you know.”
“Patients are patients because they are out of rapport with their own unconscious… Patients are people who have had too much programming – so much outside programming that they have lost touch with their inner selves.”
“You can trust the unconscious.”
“I am very confident. I look confident. I act confident. I speak in a confident way…”
“You see, we don’t know what our goals are. We learn our goals only in the process of getting there.”

On Personal Empowerment

“It is not the environment, but the way in which you respond to the environment that is the true key to change.”
“Empowerment is not something we can give to someone; it is something they must learn to give themselves.”
“The only limitations we have are the ones we put upon ourselves.”
“The individual is a source of strength and wisdom, and the right therapist knows how to tap into that reservoir.”
“As long as you are willing to grow, you can achieve anything.”
“You are always learning, and change is an ongoing process.”
“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.”
“It is the process of change that allows us to discover our true selves.”
“You are always capable of learning, evolving, and developing.”
“Every challenge is an opportunity for growth. Never forget that.”

This list of Milton Erickson quotes is a compilation of his thoughts on therapy, human behavior, change, and insight. Erickson was a pioneer in the field of psychotherapy and is well-known for his unique and innovative approach to therapy.

His work has inspired and influenced countless therapists and practitioners, and his insights into the power of the unconscious mind continue to be relevant today.

Whether you are a therapist, a practitioner, or simply someone looking for personal empowerment, these quotes by Milton Erickson can help to inspire and guide you.

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ONWE DAMIAN

Onwe Damian Chukwuemeka is a relationship and self-improvement coach, as well as a final-year law student at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. He has distinguished himself in leadership and service, and has held key positions such as Deputy Director of Public Prosecution in the Students’ Union Government and Justice of the Malabor High Court, University of Calabar, Nigeria. Learn more about him

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