Brock Chisholm

Psychiatrist

Brock Chisholm was a Canadian psychiatrist and the first Director-General of the World Health Organization, known for his advocacy of mental health.

Born
December 18, 1896
Died
February 4, 1997
Quotes
11
Rank
#1129

About Brock Chisholm

Brock Chisholm — Life and Legacy

Brock Chisholm was a pioneering Canadian psychiatrist and the inaugural Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), recognized for his groundbreaking work in mental health advocacy. His contributions to public health were marked by a profound understanding of the interplay between mental and physical well-being, encapsulated in his assertion that 'without mental health, there is no health.' This perspective challenged the traditional views of health, urging a more holistic approach that included mental wellness as a fundamental component. Chisholm's core philosophy revolved around the idea that understanding human behavior is essential for effective health care. He believed that communication and empathy are vital in addressing mental health challenges, famously stating that 'the greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.' This insight reflects his commitment to fostering environments where mental health can be openly discussed and prioritized. Today, Chisholm's quotes and ideas remain relevant as they continue to inspire discussions about the importance of mental health in society. His work laid the groundwork for modern mental health initiatives, emphasizing that the health of individuals directly impacts the health of communities. By advocating for a comprehensive view of health, Chisholm not only shaped public health policies but also left a lasting legacy that encourages ongoing dialogue about mental wellness.

Quote collection

Brock Chisholm quotes

11 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"To achieve world government, it is necessary to remove from the minds of men, their individualism, loyalty to family traditions, national patriotism and religious dogmas."

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"What basic psychological distortion can be found in every civilization of which we know anything? The only psychological force capable of producing these perversions is morality - the concept of right and wrong. The re-interpretation and eventual eradication of the concept of right and wrong are the belated objectives of nearly all of psychotherapy."

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"The world was sick, and the ills from which it was suffering were mainly due to the perversion of man, his inability to live at peace with himself. The microbe was no longer the main enemy; science was sufficiently advanced to be able to cope with it admirably. If it were not for such barriers as superstition, ignorance, religious intolerance, misery and poverty."

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"Conscience is what your mother told you before you were six years old."

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"If the race is to be freed from its crippling burden of good and evil it must be psychiatrists who take the original responsibility"

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"Children must be free to think in all directions irrespective of the peculiar ideas of parents who often seal their children's minds with preconceived prejudices and false concepts of past generations. Unless we are very careful, very careful indeed, and very conscientious, there is still great danger that our children may turn out to be the same kind of people we are."

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"The re-interpretation and eventually (sic) eradication of the concept of right and wrong which has been the basis of child training, the substitution of intelligent and rational thinking for faith... are the belated objectives of practically all effective psychotherapy. The fact is, that most psychiatrists and psychologists and other respectable people have escaped from these moral chains and are able to observe and think freely."

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"No one wins a war. It is true, there are degrees of loss, but no one wins."

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"The reinterpretation and eventual eradication of the concept of right and wrong are that belated objectives of nearly all Psychotherapy"

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Brock Chisholm Psychiatrist
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"...the pretense is made, as it has been made in relation to the finding of any extension of truth, that to do away with right and wrong would produce uncivilized people, immorality, lawlessness and social chaos. The fact is that most psychiatrists and psychologists and other respected people have escaped from moral chains and are able to think freely."

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