--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I wanted to express very clearly and…" description: "\"“What I wanted to express very clearly and intensely was that the reason these people had to invent or imagine heroes and gods is pure fear. Fear of li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/frida-kahlo-7157_death_what-i-wanted-to-express-very-clearly-an_2400785.jpg" --- # What I wanted to express very clearly and intensely was… ![“What I wanted to express very clearly and intensely was that the reason these people had to invent or imagine heroes and gods is pure fear. Fear of life and fear of death.” quote by Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/frida-kahlo-7157_death_what-i-wanted-to-express-very-clearly-an_2400785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/frida-kahlo-7157_death_what-i-wanted-to-express-very-clearly-an_2400785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/frida-kahlo-7157_death_what-i-wanted-to-express-very-clearly-an_2400785.jpg) > ““What I wanted to express very clearly and intensely was that the reason these people had to invent or imagine heroes and gods is pure fear. Fear of life and fear of death.”” [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear drives humans to create deities and heroic figures as a way to manage existential dread. **In simple terms:** Fear makes us imagine heroes and gods. Key Takeaway Recognize fear as a catalyst for mythmaking. Themes psychology mythology existentialism Mood introspective thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - artistic expression - cultural analysis - religious studies Key Concepts anthropology cognitive coping Questions to Reflect On - How does fear shape your creative narratives? - What myths do you rely on in times of anxiety? A Different Perspective Heroes may also obscure confronting real issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-death/) [Fear Of Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-life/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Make believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-believe/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“There are two types of fear: There is a fear of something that is presently before you, be it a monster under your bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-hershkovich/there-are-two-types-of-fear-there-is-a-fear-of-something-that-is/) [Leigh Hershkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-hershkovich/) > [“Biggest fear of life is, fear of change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukant-ratnakar/biggest-fear-of-life-is-fear-of-change/) [Sukant Ratnakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukant-ratnakar/) > [Mortality applies to every aspect of life. The fear of death is the driving fear of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-tosches/mortality-applies-to-every-aspect-of-life-the-fear-of-death-is-the/) [Nick Tosches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-tosches/) > [What is the reason, I'm still alive, I'm begging you please, Tell me why, The fear of life, The fear of death, Fear in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-2/what-is-the-reason-i-m-still-alive-i-m-begging-you-please-tell-me-why/) [Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-2/) > [The fear of life, the fear of burdens and of duties, of annoyances and of catastrophes! The fear of life, which makes us, through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mile-zola/the-fear-of-life-the-fear-of-burdens-and-of-duties-of-annoyances-and/) [Emile Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mile-zola/) > [“Mum shoots him a hard stare that could kill the happiest unicorn in the world stone dead with pure fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dalton/mum-shoots-him-a-hard-stare-that-could-kill-the-happiest-unicorn-in/) [Sarah Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dalton/) > [The fear of God illumines the soul, annihilates evil, weakens the passions, drives darkness from the soul and makes it pure. The fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/the-fear-of-god-illumines-the-soul-annihilates-evil-weakens-the/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [“The box isn’t all that different from life. If you go in with fear, fear is what you’ll find.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-crouch/the-box-isn-t-all-that-different-from-life-if-you-go-in-with-fear/) [Blake Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-crouch/) > [I fear growing up. I fear disappointing those I love. I fear failing my life. I fear losing those I love. I fear not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-escobar/i-fear-growing-up-i-fear-disappointing-those-i-love-i-fear-failing-my/) [Karina Escobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-escobar/) > [See the encounters of Jesus life as windows into possibilities for yours. Accept the invitation to go or strive to go through the narrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-jefferts-schori/see-the-encounters-of-jesus-life-as-windows-into-possibilities-for/) Katharine Jefferts Schori > [It is EASy to Stay the Same But is Not Easy to CHANge. Most people choose To Stay The Same All their Lives cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/by-me/it-is-easy-to-stay-the-same-but-is-not-easy-to-change-most-people/) By ME > [Whenever I visit a market and see the chickens crowded together in tiny cages that give them no room to move around and spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/whenever-i-visit-a-market-and-see-the-chickens-crowded-together-in/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Laughing at those that contradict the majority is the last defense barrier of those that know nothing about life and fear knowing that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/laughing-at-those-that-contradict-the-majority-is-the-last-defense/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“Quietism, Buddhism, and other religions, everything which denies the flesh—is the great inferiority to God in ourselves, an escapism seeking sanctuary through fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-osman-spare/quietism-buddhism-and-other-religions-everything-which-denies-the/) [Austin Osman Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-osman-spare/) > [Britannia's shame! There took her gloomy flight, On wing impetuous, a black sullen soul . Less base the fear of death than fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/britannia-s-shame-there-took-her-gloomy-flight-on-wing-impetuous-a/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## More by Frida Kahlo > [Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-absolute-everything-changes-everything-moves-everything/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [“Que todo termina en un instante Planatera doloroso”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/que-todo-termina-en-un-instante-planatera-doloroso/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/tragedy-is-the-most-ridiculous-thing/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Surrealism is the magical surprise of finding a lion in a wardrobe, where you were 'sure' of finding shirts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/surrealism-is-the-magical-surprise-of-finding-a-lion-in-a-wardrobe/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [To trap one's self-suffering is to risk being devoured from the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/to-trap-one-s-self-suffering-is-to-risk-being-devoured-from-the-inside/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I love you more than my own skin and even though you don’t love me the same way, you love me anyways, don’t you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-love-you-more-than-my-own-skin-and-even-though-you-don-t-love-me/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-worth-more-than-laughter-it-is-strength-to-laugh-and-to/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [People in general are scared to death of the war and all the exhibition have been a failure, because the rich - don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/people-in-general-are-scared-to-death-of-the-war-and-all-the/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-tried-to-drown-my-sorrows-but-the-bastards-learned-how-to-swim-and/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [“I have not forgotten you — the nights are long and difficult. You too know that all my eyes see, all touch with myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-have-not-forgotten-you-the-nights-are-long-and-difficult-you-too/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Mankind owns its destiny, and its destiny is the earth. We are destroying it until we have no destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/mankind-owns-its-destiny-and-its-destiny-is-the-earth-we-are/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are a bourbon biscuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/take-a-lover-who-looks-at-you-like-maybe-you-are-a-bourbon-biscuit/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I paint flowers so they will not die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-paint-flowers-so-they-will-not-die/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/feet-what-do-i-need-you-for-when-i-have-wings-to-fly/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I leave you my portrait so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-leave-you-my-portrait-so-that-you-will-have-my-presence-all-the/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) [Explore all 83 Frida Kahlo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. 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