I've seen frequent references in many textbooks (also in popular media) to a statement by Sigmund Freud, in the lines of 'The mind is an iceberg, with 6/7th floating under water' (or variations). I have looked through a lot of Freud's writings, but have never found this particular statement. Does anyone know of a reference?

-- Casper Hulshof (c.d.hulshof@utwente.nl), October 08, 2002

Answers

I suspect Freud never used that particular image, which is a nice way to summarize Freud's topographical model. Freud does say "the unconscious must be assumed to be the general basis of psychical life. The unconscious is the larger sphere, which includes within it the smaller sphere of the conscious." (Interpretation of Dreams, VII.F.)

-- Hendrika Vande Kemp (hendrika@earthlink.net), October 08, 2002.

if you need any info about Freud please contact me because i have all the ancers about Freud and i will be happy to help

-- sister (alpa_sweeti@hotmail.com), September 29, 2004.

Well, I am (at the moment) just interested in the source for the well-known quotation. I have searched in many places (even the Collected Works) but haven't found something that even resembles it.

-- Casper Hulshof (no@nono.com), September 29, 2004.