Who said “The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety, and thus the source and prototype…”?

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Sigmund Freud. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Interpretation of Dreams (1900), in a footnote Freud added to the Second Edition in 1909 (see Psychoanalytic Pioneers, p. 46.)

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“The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety.”
VerifiedThe Interpretation of Dreams (1900), in a footnote Freud added to the Second Edition in 1909 (see Psychoanalytic Pioneers, p. 46.) · evidenceBirth
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Interpretation of Dreams (1900), in a footnote Freud added to the Second Edition in 1909 (see Psychoanalytic Pioneers, p. 46.).

APA

Freud, S. (n.d.). The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8341-the-act-of-birth-is-the-first-experience/

MLA

Freud, Sigmund. “The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8341-the-act-of-birth-is-the-first-experience/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Freud, Sigmund. “The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the affect of anxiety.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8341-the-act-of-birth-is-the-first-experience/.