Boxing ring Quote by Joseph Campbell
““The image that comes to mind is a boxing ring. There are times when...you just want that bell to ring, but you're the one who's losing. The one who's winning doesn't have that feeling. Do you have the energy and strength to face life? Life can ask more of you than you are willing to give. And then you say, 'Life is not something that should have been. I'm not going to play the game. I'm going to meditate. I'm going to call "out".' There are three positions possible. One is the up-to-it, and facing the game and playing through. The second is saying, Absolutely not. I don't want to stay in this dogfight. That's the absolute out. The third position is the one that says, This is mixed of good and evil. I'm on the side of the good. I accept the world with corrections. And may [the world] be the way I like it. And it's good for me and my friends. There are only the three positions.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Life Philosophy, 1990s
The quote describes three attitudes toward life's challenges: confronting them, rejecting them, or accepting them as a mix of good and evil.
In simple terms: Three ways to handle life's difficulties.
Key Takeaway
Choose the stance that aligns with your values.
Themes
philosophy
resilience
choice
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- stress management
- spiritual practice
- decision making
Key Concepts
existentialism
acceptance
agency
Questions to Reflect On
- Which stance do you most identify with?
- How can acceptance transform adversity?
A Different Perspective
Rejecting challenges can limit growth and lead to stagnation.
![“[T]here is nothing to say about life. It has no meaning. You make meaning. If you want a meaning in your life, find a meaning and bring it into your life, but life won't give you a meaning. Meaning is a concept. It is a notion of an end toward which you are going. The point of Buddhism is This Is…” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a1/joseph-campbell-300_buddhism_t-here-is-nothing-to-say-about-life-it-h_119345.jpg)
![“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)
![“[W]hat is the world but a boxing ring where fools and devils put up their fists?” quote by Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d8c/catherynne-m-valente-375_boxing_w-hat-is-the-world-but-a-boxing-ring-whe_786355.jpg)
