--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This book aims to capture, and explore…" description: "\"“This book aims to capture, and explore, the outrageousness, inventiveness, and sheer fun that characterize classical mythology. But it is also born of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/helen-morales-36054_ancient-greek_this-book-aims-to-capture-and-explore-th_1636250.jpg" --- # This book aims to capture, and explore, the… ![“This book aims to capture, and explore, the outrageousness, inventiveness, and sheer fun that characterize classical mythology. But it is also born of the conviction that myth matters. It mattered for the ancient Greeks and Romans, and it matters for us in understanding who we are: our selves, our…” quote by Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/helen-morales-36054_ancient-greek_this-book-aims-to-capture-and-explore-th_1636250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/helen-morales-36054_ancient-greek_this-book-aims-to-capture-and-explore-th_1636250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/helen-morales-36054_ancient-greek_this-book-aims-to-capture-and-explore-th_1636250.jpg) > ““This book aims to capture, and explore, the outrageousness, inventiveness, and sheer fun that characterize classical mythology. But it is also born of the conviction that myth matters. It mattered for the ancient Greeks and Romans, and it matters for us in understanding who we are: our selves, our liberties, and our lies.”” [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that mythology is both entertaining and essential for understanding human nature, freedoms, and deceptions. **In simple terms:** Myths are fun and reveal who we are. Key Takeaway Explore myths to learn about self and society. Themes mythology culture identity freedom deception Mood curious reflective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - education - creative writing - personal reflection - public speaking Key Concepts narrative psychology social critique Questions to Reflect On - How do myths shape personal values? - What modern issues mirror ancient myths? A Different Perspective Myths can be misinterpreted or oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient greek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-greek/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Classical Mythology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-mythology-528252/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myth Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth-matters-528251/) [Mythology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mythology/) [Mythology Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mythology-born-528253/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) ## Related quotes > [“Classical mythology has been so influential upon Western culture that everyone who is alive to the art,culture,politics, and languages of today encounters it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/classical-mythology-has-been-so-influential-upon-western-culture-that/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“Psychoanalysis and Greek mythology are two sides of the same medallion. To put it differently: without classical mythology, there would be no psychoanalysis. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/psychoanalysis-and-greek-mythology-are-two-sides-of-the-same/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“If ‘myth’ is a slippery term, so is ‘classical’. It is common shorthand for ‘ancient Greek and Roman’. But this shorthand has a history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/if-myth-is-a-slippery-term-so-is-classical-it-is-common-shorthand-for/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“I have a great interest in classical mythology and I need to make a sphinx or satyr every once in awhile to satisfy those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-froud/i-have-a-great-interest-in-classical-mythology-and-i-need-to-make-a/) [Wendy Froud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-froud/) > [“LOOK, I’M ONLY IN THIS FOR THE PIZZA. The publisher was like, “Oh, you did such a great job writing about the Greek gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/look-i-m-only-in-this-for-the-pizza-the-publisher-was-like-oh-you-did/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Do you know the difference between mythology and history?’ asked Brahmananda. The lady expressed herself in a shrug. ‘Mythology is a set of lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/do-you-know-the-difference-between-mythology-and-history-asked/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [You’re like a god from a Greek myth, Saiman. You have no empathy. You have no concept of the world beyond your ego. Wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/you-re-like-a-god-from-a-greek-myth-saiman-you-have-no-empathy-you/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Mythology is like gravity, inconvenient at times, but necessary for cohesion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/mythology-is-like-gravity-inconvenient-at-times-but-necessary-for/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [Rooted in the mythology of all primitive races is the belief in a land of peace and happiness, a sort of earthly paradise, once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-a-guerber/rooted-in-the-mythology-of-all-primitive-races-is-the-belief-in-a/) [H. A. Guerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-a-guerber/) > [Myths are, in fact...neither primitive nor untrue. They are, rather, a kind of poetry that helps us make sense of the world and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-h-furrer/myths-are-in-fact-neither-primitive-nor-untrue-they-are-rather-a-kind/) [Stephen H. Furrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-h-furrer/) > [“..and why the winter suns so rush to bathe themselves in the sea and what slows down the nights to a long lingering crawl...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/and-why-the-winter-suns-so-rush-to-bathe-themselves-in-the-sea-and/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Mythology is part of our heritage, part of our identity at times because anywhere in India you will find the name of Rama or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-murty/mythology-is-part-of-our-heritage-part-of-our-identity-at-times/) [Sudha Murty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-murty/) > [I think of mythology as the homeland of the muses, the inspirers of art, the inspirers of poetry. To see life as a poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/i-think-of-mythology-as-the-homeland-of-the-muses-the-inspirers-of/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“Believe reality is what you were taught was myth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-a-mcgirr/believe-reality-is-what-you-were-taught-was-myth/) [Nicholas A. McGirr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-a-mcgirr/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) ## More by Helen Morales > [“If ‘myth’ is a slippery term, so is ‘classical’. It is common shorthand for ‘ancient Greek and Roman’. But this shorthand has a history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/if-myth-is-a-slippery-term-so-is-classical-it-is-common-shorthand-for/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“However, I have also argued for allegory’s positive effects. It is a process that typically takes control away from the author of a narrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/however-i-have-also-argued-for-allegory-s-positive-effects-it-is-a/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“Reading myth as crystallizing historical fact was a common approach in the 19th and early 20th centuries. But it is an approach to myth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/reading-myth-as-crystallizing-historical-fact-was-a-common-approach/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“What makes someone mythic is not whether or not he lived, or lived well, but whether or not he was larger than life. Mythic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/what-makes-someone-mythic-is-not-whether-or-not-he-lived-or-lived/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“Classical mythology has been so influential upon Western culture that everyone who is alive to the art,culture,politics, and languages of today encounters it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/classical-mythology-has-been-so-influential-upon-western-culture-that/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“Scholars have produced as many definitions of myth as there are myths themselves. This book will discuss various definitions of myth as it goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/scholars-have-produced-as-many-definitions-of-myth-as-there-are-myths/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“Ancient astrology, and, to some degree, its modern descendant, are compelling mixtures of science (or pseudo-science) and classical myth. Jung interpreted astrology as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/ancient-astrology-and-to-some-degree-its-modern-descendant-are/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“Responding to myth often means wearing blinkers. Myth is a complex game of production and reception that involves selecting some parts of a narrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/responding-to-myth-often-means-wearing-blinkers-myth-is-a-complex/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“Ancient astrology was rather different from the modern horoscope. Its more learned practitioners enjoyed intellectual respectability, and there was a substantial overlap between astrology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/ancient-astrology-was-rather-different-from-the-modern-horoscope-its/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“It was important for a Roman of this period to get his Greek mythology right. Being able to identify who was who and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/it-was-important-for-a-roman-of-this-period-to-get-his-greek/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“New Age spirituality purports to promote change – its mantra is ‘transformation’ – but, in reality, it endorses the status quo. It preaches changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/new-age-spirituality-purports-to-promote-change-its-mantra-is/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) > [“Psychoanalysis and Greek mythology are two sides of the same medallion. To put it differently: without classical mythology, there would be no psychoanalysis. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-morales/psychoanalysis-and-greek-mythology-are-two-sides-of-the-same/) [Helen Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) [Explore all 13 Helen Morales quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-morales/) ## More Ancient greek quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In all of Western civilization, there have been societies that celebrating the homosexuality, the ancient Greeks. But they, in fact, protected the institution of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blackwell/in-all-of-western-civilization-there-have-been-societies-that/) [Ken Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blackwell/) > [The ancient Greek philosophers were all natural-born dialecticians and Aristotle, the most encyclopaedic intellect among them, had even already analysed the most essential forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-engels/the-ancient-greek-philosophers-were-all-natural-born-dialecticians/) [Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-engels/) > [“Greek women were not allowed to be: free and untamed. In fact, Artemis is a bit of a paradox. On the one hand, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/greek-women-were-not-allowed-to-be-free-and-untamed-in-fact-artemis/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [The ancient Greek oral poets all had this anxiety about the deficiencies of their memories and always began poems by praying to the Muse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-antin/the-ancient-greek-oral-poets-all-had-this-anxiety-about-the/) [David Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-antin/) > [“We will have have the dead at our councils. The ancient Greeks voted by stones; these shall vote by tombstones. It is all quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/we-will-have-have-the-dead-at-our-councils-the-ancient-greeks-voted/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Again, if there are really no fairies, why do people believe in them, all over the world? The ancient Greeks believed, so did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/again-if-there-are-really-no-fairies-why-do-people-believe-in-them/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I believe in logic, the sequence of cause and effect, and in science its only begotten son our law, which was conceived by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-in-logic-the-sequence-of-cause-and-effect-and-in-science/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom. ‘All men make mistakes,’ said the ancient Greek Sophocles. ‘But a good man yields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/tragedy-is-a-tool-for-the-living-to-gain-wisdom-all-men-make-mistakes/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-ancient-greek-definition-of-happiness-was-the-full-use-of-your/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [In some ways, Lotus Eaters is a journey disguised as a party film; there's a circus in the movie, and there are parties, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-mcguinness/in-some-ways-lotus-eaters-is-a-journey-disguised-as-a-party-film/) [Alexandra McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-mcguinness/) > [“Modern architects and engineers are still trying to understand how the ancient Greeks were able to build the Parthenon in ten years when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dunn/modern-architects-and-engineers-are-still-trying-to-understand-how/) [Christopher Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dunn/) > [Nobody can say a word against Greek: it stamps a man at once as an educated gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-say-a-word-against-greek-it-stamps-a-man-at-once-as-an/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“After he cut off their genitals, Chronos threw them into the sea, where they floated in a "white foam." Out of this foam‒or "Aphros”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/after-he-cut-off-their-genitals-chronos-threw-them-into-the-sea-where/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [“One of its (civilisations) most powerful weapons has always been 'barbarity': 'we' know that 'we' are civilised by contrasting ourselves with those we deem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/one-of-its-civilisations-most-powerful-weapons-has-always-been/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) [Browse all 210 Ancient greek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-greek/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This book aims to capture, and explore, the outrageousness, inventiveness, and sheer fun that characterize classical mythology. But it is also born of the conviction that myth matters. 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