Share & Save
Meaning
The quote argues that myth can reveal deeper truth than recorded history. It also suggests that history should be treated cautiously because reports of events may be incomplete or unreliable. The final line uses journalism as a comparison to make that skepticism sharper.
When It Was Said
Not documented yet.
Who It Was Said To
Not documented yet.
Historical Context
Not documented yet.
Source
Widely attributed to Campbell, though with no known source from Campbell's works
Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
Listed as a disputed quote on Wikiquote and widely attributed to Joseph Campbell, with no known source from his works.
Did You Know?
Not documented yet.
About Joseph Campbell
American writer and professor of literature
Joseph Campbell was an American writer and professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College. He worked in comparative mythology and comparative religion, and his life dates are not given here. He is best known for exploring myth, story, and the human condition. His best-known book is The Hero with a Thousand Faces, published in 1949. In it, he sets out his idea of the archetypal hero’s journey across world mythologies, a pattern he called the monomyth. His writing ranges across broad questions of meaning, symbolism, and experience.
More from Joseph Campbell (114 quotes) →Other sayings from Joseph Campbell
- “The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.”Joseph Campbell
- “Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. B…”Joseph Campbell
- “in America we have people from all kinds of backgrounds, all in a cluster, together, and consequently law has…”Joseph Campbell
- “Mythology is composed by poets out of their insights and realizations. Mythologies are not invented they are…”Joseph Campbell
History: more sayings
- “I believe this generation should know their history and they should know that the struggle's not over yet.”Mary J. Blige
- “History has shown that challenging an incumbent president in the primary almost inevitably leads to defeat in…”Mercedes Schlapp
- “I got expelled from high school, and then did my exams from home. I decided, through that experience, that I…”Charlie Hunnam
Motivation: more sayings
- “I'm very optimistic about the future, because... Okay, with Audra McDonald, even just on Broadway, they cast…”Shanice Williams
- “Only those who live for others become immortal, and the rest simply perish within a few weeks , or alas days,…”Abhijit Naskar
- “My mind gets stronger everyday,my heart gets weaker with time.”Anjum Choudhary
READ THE SOURCE
Books by Joseph Campbell
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
2004
The Power of Myth
1988