Love is generally confused with dependence; but in point of fact, you can love only in proportion to your capacity for independence.
Rollo MayRead
Myths give us our sense of personal identity, answering the question, 'Who am I?'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Myths shape our understanding of ourselves and our identity.
Rollo May's quote emphasizes the role of myths in forming our personal identity by answering the fundamental question of 'Who am I?'. These narratives and symbols offer frameworks through which individuals interpret their existence, values, and place in the world, suggesting that our understanding of self is deeply intertwined with the stories we tell and believe in.
Themes
IdentityMythsSelfPhilosophyNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on personal growth, one might reference this quote to illustrate how our histories shape our personality.
More from Rollo May
All quotes βTo 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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