Latent vs. Manifest

I think Freud has introduced important concepts to our vocabulary. I really enjoy how we analyzed Dora, understanding that we can agree or disagree if Freud has gone to far; but that there are common grounds of knowledge we can learn from him and other works and authors. One of Freud's concepts is latent vs. manifest. This suggests that one's unconscious (that which is latent) will eventually manifest itself in the conscious. I think learning these terms makes a person more aware of what they do and why they may do something. A certain characteristic we have now, we may be able to trace back to a childhood circumstance; not even in a far fetched way by more awareness of ourselves.