Butterflies Quote by Alan Ross
““Heroes in fact die with one's youth. They are pinned like butterflies to the setting board of early memories—the time when skies were always blue, the sun shone and the air was filled with the sounds and scents of grass being cut. I find myself still as desperate to read the Sussex score in the stop-press as ever I was; but I no longer worship heroes, beings for whom the ordinary scales of human values are inadequate. One learns that as one grows up, so do the gods grow down. It is in many ways a pity: for one had thought that heroes had no problems of their own. Now one knows different!””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Black Book of the Modern Age, Alan Ross, 1971
The quote reflects on the loss of youthful idealism, realizing that heroes are ordinary people with flaws, and that growing up diminishes their mythic stature.
In simple terms: Heroes are just people; youth idealizes them.
Key Takeaway
Accept that heroes are human and adjust expectations.
Themes
disillusionment
growth
heroism
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- coming of age
- career reflection
- personal development
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
mythic idealization
human frailty
comingality
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing heroes' humanity change your aspirations?
- What qualities still inspire you beyond myth?
A Different Perspective
The nostalgic tone may overlook the value of role models.
