“Every individual acts and suffers in accordance with his peculiar teleology, which has all the inevitability of fate, so long as he does not understand it.”
- February 7, 1870 – May 28, 1937
- Austrian
- Psychotherapist, Medical Doctor, Founder of Individual Psychology
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Quote
“Every individual acts and suffers in accordance with his peculiar teleology, which has all the inevitability of fate, so long as he does not understand it.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Alfred Adler’s central belief in teleology—the idea that human behavior is driven by purpose or goals, rather than merely by past causes. Each individual lives according to a unique inner direction or life plan—what Adler called a “fictional final goal”—which shapes their perceptions, decisions, and emotional responses. Until a person becomes aware of this internal guiding narrative, it determines their actions and reactions as if it were fate, leaving them feeling powerless to change their circumstances.
Adler’s approach diverged from Freud’s focus on unconscious drives rooted in childhood trauma. Instead, Adler saw people as inherently goal-oriented beings, even if those goals are unconscious and maladaptive. The suffering that results from repeated failures or relational conflict is not random—it arises because the person is unconsciously pursuing a rigid or unrealistic goal, such as never being wrong, always being admired, or avoiding all vulnerability. This unexamined goal makes their behavior seem predictable and compulsive, like destiny.
In modern psychological terms, this idea aligns with therapies that help people identify core beliefs and life patterns, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or narrative therapy. When individuals gain insight into their own “peculiar teleology,” they can begin to reframe their goals, make different choices, and escape the illusion of fate. Adler’s quote thus reminds us that self-understanding is the gateway to freedom, and that recognizing the purpose behind our suffering is the first step toward healing and personal growth.
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