R. D. Laing: a Homage

"There is a great deal of pain in life and perhaps the only pain that can be avoided is the pain that comes from trying to avoid pain."



"We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing."



"We are effectively destroying ourselves by violence masquerading as love."



"Whether life is worth living depends on whether there is love in life."

R. D. Laing





R.D. Laing was born in 1927 in Glasgow, Scotland. At university he become fascinated with hypnosis. In the Btitish Army, as a psychiatrist and Lieutenant, he began to have severe doubts about psychiatry as it was then being practised and the relationship between psychiatrist and patient. These doubts led to the publication of "The divided self". Other books include "The self and others", "The politics of experience" and "The painted bird".




Image: "Knots", by Claire Edwards based on the play by Laing of same name.

"I can remember seeing a play by RD Laing called knots. It was hilarious."

Claire Edwards.