Life Quote by Joseph Campbell
““The battlefield is symbolic of the field of life, where every creature lives on the death of another. A realization of the inevitable guilt of life may so sicken the heart, that like Hamlet, or like Arjuna, one may refuse to go on with it. On the other hand, like most of the rest of us, one may invent a false finally unjustified image of oneself as an exceptional phenomenon in the world--not guilty as others are, but justified in one's inevitable sinning, because one represents the good. Such self-righteousness leads to a misunderstanding, not only of oneself, but of the nature of both Man and the Cosmos. The goal of the myth is to dispel the need for such life-ignorance by affecting a reconciliation of the individual consciousness with the universal will, and this is affected through a realization of the true relationship of the passing phenomena of time to the imperishable life that lives and dies in all.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers, 1988
The quote suggests life mirrors battle, where survival depends on others' demise, creating guilt and self‑righteousness that blinds us to our true place in the cosmos. Reconciliation comes from recognizing our connection to universal will and impermanent time.
In simple terms: Life is like a battlefield of interdependence, leading to guilt and false superiority; understanding our link to the cosmos heals this.
Key Takeaway
Accept interdependence, let go of false superiority.
Themes
interdependence
guilt
self‑righteousness
cosmic perspective
reconciliation
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- spiritual practice
- conflict resolution
- leadership
- education
Key Concepts
philosophy
mythology
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing interdependence change your daily choices?
- What false narratives about self‑importance do you hold?
A Different Perspective
The view may oversimplify complex moral agency and ignore structural injustices.
![“The fall [of your soul] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical version of a myth known to many lands.” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ff/joseph-campbell-300_biblical_the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-in_22526.jpg)
