Accounts Quote by Francois Arago
“The ancients had a taste, let us say rather a passion, for the marvellous, which caused ... grouping together the lofty deeds of a great number of heroes, whose names they have not even deigned to preserve, and investing the single personage of Hercules with them. ... In our own time the public delight in blending fable with history. In every career of life, in the pursuit of science especially, they enjoy a pleasure in creating Herculeses.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on the Age of Enlightenment, 19th century
The quote critiques how modern society mythologizes ordinary individuals, turning them into larger‑than‑life heroes, similar to ancient myths.
In simple terms: People turn everyday deeds into legends.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and value genuine achievements without exaggeration.
Themes
mythmaking
hero worship
history
culture
humility
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- media reporting
- personal branding
- political rhetoric
Key Concepts
narrative construction
collective memory
identity formation
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we elevate everyday people to mythic status?
- How does this affect our perception of history?
A Different Perspective
The tendency to mythologize can obscure truth and create unrealistic expectations.
![“It was about that time [415 BCE] that the poet Diagoras of Melos was proscribed for atheism, he having declared that the non-punishment of a certain act of iniquity proved that there were no gods. It has been surmised, with some reason, that the iniquity in question was the slaughter of the…” quote by J. M. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/21f/j-m-robertson-95682_alcibiades_it-was-about-that-time-415-bce-that-the_812164.jpg)
