p. 21
A completely decisive entrance to the often buried and repressed need for love is the perception of one's own inner obstacles.
... this encounter is also always defined by distorted experiences in relationships. A way to inner life is to overcome those impediments that have been built not only by one's relationship to one's parents but are also caused by society.
A market economy that is based on competition and success has a totally different understanding of love. The ability to love depends here upon whether one makes the best out of oneself, whether one is able to assert oneself in the competition, and reach the level of partnership, tolerance, and fair play. Everyone should be "okay" and be able to perform successfully.
The person orientated toward a market economy would like to make a good impression, to succeed - and to find love through his success.
In reality, however, he has no need to love, but rather another need, that prevents him from feeling his need for love and to express his need.
To acknowledge or recognise such obstacles to the awareness of needs requires a critical distance from everything that is expected and practiced in such a society.
p. 27
... the idea of a human being whose goal is vital self-expression and not the acquisition and accumulation of dead, material things.
from The Art of Loving [1956]
by Erich Fromm
published Harper Perennial 2006
