A child, left to play alone, says of quite an easy thing…
““A child, left to play alone, says of quite an easy thing, 'Now I am going to to do something very difficult'. Soon, out of vanity, fear and emptiness, he builds up a world of custom, convention and myth in which everything must be just so; certain doors are one-way streets, certain trees sacred, certain paths taboo. Then along comes a grown-up or a more robust child; they kick over the imaginary wall, climb the forbidden tree, regard the difficult as easy and the private world is destroyed. The instinct to create myth, to colonize reality with the emotions, remains. The myths become tyrannies until they are swept away, when we invent new tyrannies to hide our suddenly perceived nakedness. Like caddis-worms or like those crabs which dress themselves with seaweed, we wear belief and custom.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Children create personal myths and rules, which adults later dismantle, yet the drive to construct belief systems persists, often becoming new tyrannies.
In simple terms: Children build myths; adults break them, but belief systems stay.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question personal myths.
Themes
myths
growth
rebellion
identity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- childhood imagination
- adolescent rebellion
- adult self‑construction
Key Concepts
psychology
cultural narratives
personal development
Questions to Reflect On
- Which personal beliefs feel like self‑imposed rules?
- How can you transform limiting myths?
A Different Perspective
Myths can become oppressive if left unexamined.