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When we talk about settling the world’s problems, we’re barking up the wrong tree. The world is perfect. It’s a mess. It has always been a mess. We’re not going to change it. Our job is to straighten out our own lives.

Joseph Campbell

When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Consciousness Spiritual Thinking Transformation True
You’ve got to find the force inside you.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Force Yourself
The problem of making the inner meet the outer of today is, of course, the function of the artist.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Artist Function Problem Spiritual
The ultimate aim of the quest must be neither release nor ecstasy for oneself, but the wisdom and the power to serve others.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Power Service Wisdom Yourself
Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Feeling Moments Negative Positive Strength Yourself
Life is like arriving late for a movie, having to figure out what was going on without bothering everybody with a lot of questions, and then being unexpectedly called away before you find out how it ends.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

End Expectation Figure Life Movie Question
It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Life Lying Recovery Treasure Yourself
Myths are public dreams, dreams are private myths.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Dreams Myth Privacy Public
Gods suppressed become devils, and often it is these devils whom we first encounter when we turn inward.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Devil Encounter God Transformation
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Clear Path Yourself
Where you stumble and fall, there you will find gold.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Fall Gold Inspirational Perspective Yourself
The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Ability Adventure Heart Inspirational Yourself
Respect your curses, for they are the instruments of your destiny.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Curse Inspirational Instrument Perspective Respect
Myth is much more important and true than history. History is just journalism and you know how reliable that is.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

History Important True Yourself
If you want the whole thing, the gods will give it to you. But you must be ready for it.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

God Inspirational Patience Yourself
And so Galahad decided that it would be a disgrace to set off on a quest with the other knights. Alone he would enter the dark forest where there was no path. This is the myth of The Hero’s Journey.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Alone Darkness Decision Grace Journey

When we talk about settling the world’s problems, we’re barking up the wrong tree. The world is perfect. It’s a mess. It has always been a mess. We’re not going to change it. Our job is to straighten out our own lives.

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Popular Authors

When we talk about settling the world’s problems, we’re barking up the wrong tree. The world is perfect. It’s a mess. It has always been a mess. We’re not going to change it. Our job is to straighten out our own lives.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Joseph Campbell Quotes