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Nobody can become king except the one who is supposed to…

“Nobody can become king except the one who is supposed to be king, the one who contains the idea of the Self. That is Christ according to the still generally prevailing Christian idea, and from such a standpoint any attempt at getting at individuation would be heretic, as it has always been; it has…” quote by C.G. Jung
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““Nobody can become king except the one who is supposed to be king, the one who contains the idea of the Self. That is Christ according to the still generally prevailing Christian idea, and from such a standpoint any attempt at getting at individuation would be heretic, as it has always been; it has always been the party of the left hand and a crime. Christ himself was accused of heresy, and quite justifiably. John the Baptist and his school called Jeshu ben Miriam-the son of Miriam the deceiver, the traitor, because he had betrayed the mysteries; he became an individual, the son of God, and received immediate revelation, and that was an awful sin and the real cause of his death. It is an old Jewish tradition also that he betrayed the mysteries and so had to suffer the death of a traitor. In the literature of the Manichaeans, the disciples of John, there is a text containing a discussion between Christ and John the Baptist upon that question. They both presented very good arguments. Christ's very practical argument was: 'Do I not make the lame walk? Do I not restore sight to the blind?' But John would not hear of that, he said that Christ betrayed the mysteries, he gave them out to the world, and that they would be destroyed by the world. And the world did destroy them. The projection of the Self belonged to the psychology of ancient times, when the chief or the king represented the whole people and had to suffer and to die for the people. Then another old rite played a certain role in the history of Christ; it is to a great extent legend, but legends are so true that they repeat themselves literally in reality, real events are like legends.””

C.G. Jung

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote explores how the concept of the Self and Christ intertwines with notions of heresy, sacrifice, and individuation.

In simple terms: It links Christ, self‑identity, and the tension between tradition and personal revelation.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the conflict between societal roles and personal truth.

Themes

spirituality identity tradition

Mood

analytical contemplative

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

  • religious study
  • personal therapy
  • cultural analysis

Key Concepts

self‑realization hermeneutics mythology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you reconcile personal truth with communal expectations?
  • What role does sacrifice play in self‑discovery?
A Different Perspective

Interpretations may vary across cultures and eras.

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