As with Hobbes, we see again, the power of fiction…
“As with Hobbes, we see again, the power of fiction. Rousseau's acount of natural man was no more real than Hobbes's, but following the same pattern, once it became the accepted story of human origins, it thereby exercised the power of a self-fulfilling prophecy. In imagining Rousseau to be right, we have become what Rousseau imagined.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Stories shape our beliefs about humanity, creating self‑fulfilling prophecies.
In simple terms: Narratives influence reality.
Question the stories you accept.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- political rhetoric
- media consumption
- family narratives
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Which narratives shape your view of human nature?
- How can you recognize and challenge limiting myths?
Stories can be manipulated to control societies.