A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them?

Question

“A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them. They then dwell in the house next door, and at any moment a flame may dart out and set fire to his own house. Whenever we give up, leave behind, and forget too much, there is always the danger that the things we have neglected will return with the added force.”

Carl Jung

What do you understand by this?

Answer 1

It means that if you chose to ignore things or issues in your life, beware because they can and will come back, and with a force much stronger than before. He is saying that we need to deal with our issues and problems as soon as possible. In the words of Barney Fife and Fred Sandford "nip it in the bud"!

Answer 2

Your true desires come from within (not ego), and until you fulfill them, you will see them in your external reality through someone else. The longer you ignore them the greater in strength the Universe will show you.

Answer 3

My interpretation:

Never, NEVER, deny love of oneself despite the faults one may find. Live your life in full view of others, including the dark side of yourself you may wish to hide. For it is the dark side that makes us one.