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A myth is a way of making sense in a senseless world. Myths are narrative patterns that give significance to our existence.
Rollo May
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Myths help us understand and find meaning in an otherwise chaotic world.

In this quote, Rollo May expresses the idea that myths serve as crucial narratives that provide order and meaning to human life. In a world filled with confusion and senselessness, these myths act as tools that help individuals and cultures derive significance from their experiences and existence, thereby giving a sense of purpose and understanding.

Themes

MythMeaningExistenceNarrativeSenseless

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion about literature, you might reference this quote to highlight the importance of storytelling.

More from Rollo May

Love is generally confused with dependence; but in point of fact, you can love only in proportion to your capacity for independence.
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To love means to open ourselves to the negative as well as the positive - to grief, sorrow, and disappointment as well as to joy, fulfillment, and an intensity of consciousness we did not know was possible before
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Terrorism and the whole drug scene are vivid examples of the fact that what persons abhor most of all in life is the possibility that they will not matter.
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Humor is the healthy way of feeling "distance" between one's self and the problem, a way of standing off and looking at one's problem with perspective.
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Beauty is the experience that gives us a sense of joy and a sense of peace simultaneously.
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The poet, like the lover, is a menace on the assembly line.
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