--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would not be too much to say that myth…" description: "\"It would not be too much to say that myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural manifes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/joseph-campbell-300_art_it-would-not-be-too-much-to-say-that-myt_2468007.png" --- # It would not be too much to say that myth is the secret… ![“It would not be too much to say that myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural manifestation. Religions, philosophies, arts, the social forms of primitive and historic man, prime discoveries in science and technology, the very dreams…” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/joseph-campbell-300_art_it-would-not-be-too-much-to-say-that-myt_2468007.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/joseph-campbell-300_art_it-would-not-be-too-much-to-say-that-myt_2468007.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/joseph-campbell-300_art_it-would-not-be-too-much-to-say-that-myt_2468007.png) > “It would not be too much to say that myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural manifestation. Religions, philosophies, arts, the social forms of primitive and historic man, prime discoveries in science and technology, the very dreams that blister sleep, boil up from the basic, magic ring of myth.” [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Myths channel the boundless creative energy of the universe into human culture across all domains. **In simple terms:** Myths channel cosmic energy into culture. Key Takeaway Explore and honor mythic narratives. Themes mythology creativity culture Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - storytelling - artistic creation - scientific inspiration - cultural analysis Key Concepts Archetypes collective unconscious Questions to Reflect On - What modern myths shape our society? - How do myths influence scientific imagination? A Different Perspective Myths can be misinterpreted or weaponized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Cosmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cosmos/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Discovery in science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery-in-science/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Manifestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifestation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy of religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-religion/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science and technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-and-technology/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [Myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human manifestation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/myth-is-the-secret-opening-through-which-the-inexhaustible-energies/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“One of the greatest myths in the world - & the phrase 'greatest myths' is just a fancy way of saying 'big fat lies'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/one-of-the-greatest-myths-in-the-world-the-phrase-greatest-myths-is/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“The great mythologist Joseph Campbell stated 'Myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural manifestations'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cornish/the-great-mythologist-joseph-campbell-stated-myth-is-the-secret/) [Sophie Cornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cornish/) > [“Find your myth. As Joseph Campbell observed, "Myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/find-your-myth-as-joseph-campbell-observed-myth-is-the-secret-opening/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [Cruelty might be very human and very cultural, but it is not acceptable and it is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/cruelty-might-be-very-human-and-very-cultural-but-it-is-not/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Human cultural diversity is vast; the range of cultural practices, beliefs, and languages that we speak is vast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pagel/human-cultural-diversity-is-vast-the-range-of-cultural-practices/) [Mark Pagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pagel/) > [We are the climactic generation of human cultural evolution, and in the microcosm of our lives the macrocosm of the evolution of the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-irwin-thompson/we-are-the-climactic-generation-of-human-cultural-evolution-and-in/) [William Irwin Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-irwin-thompson/) > [Cruelty might be very human, and it might be cultural, but it's not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/cruelty-might-be-very-human-and-it-might-be-cultural-but-it-s-not/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [“showed a group of two- and three-year-olds a new game. 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You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-will-defend-the-absolute-value-of-mozart-over-miley-cyrus-of-course/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Look at the kind of people who most object to the childishness and cheapness of celebrity culture. Does one really want to side with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/look-at-the-kind-of-people-who-most-object-to-the-childishness-and/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Who never walks save where he sees men's tracks makes no discoveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/who-never-walks-save-where-he-sees-men-s-tracks-makes-no-discoveries/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [Advances are Made by Answering Questions. Discoveries are Made by Questioning Answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-haisch/advances-are-made-by-answering-questions-discoveries-are-made-by-2/) [Bernard Haisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-haisch/) ## More by Joseph Campbell > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The last act in the biography of the hero is that of the death or departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-last-act-in-the-biography-of-the-hero-is-that-of-the-death-or/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-privilege-of-a-lifetime-is-being-who-you-are/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [How do you find the divine power in yourself? The word enthusiasm means 'filled with a god,' so what makes you enthusiastic? Follow it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/how-do-you-find-the-divine-power-in-yourself-the-word-enthusiasm/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [What we're learning in our schools is not the wisdom of life. We're learning technologies, we're getting information. There's a curious reluctance on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/what-we-re-learning-in-our-schools-is-not-the-wisdom-of-life-we-re/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-into-duality-was-naturally/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [So that's what destiny is: simply the fulfillment of the potentialites of the energies in your own system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/so-that-s-what-destiny-is-simply-the-fulfillment-of-the-potentialites/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Your ego is your embodiment and your self is your potentiality and that's what you listen to when you listen for the voice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/your-ego-is-your-embodiment-and-your-self-is-your-potentiality-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [When you follow your bliss a kind of track opens up, that's always been there, waiting for you. And the life that you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-follow-your-bliss-a-kind-of-track-opens-up-that-s-always/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The best we can do is lean towards the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-best-we-can-do-is-lean-towards-the-light/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [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/) > [When you are falling --- Dive!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-are-falling-dive/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [We're all seeking...the rapture of being alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/we-re-all-seeking-the-rapture-of-being-alive/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Both the artist and the lover know that perfection is not loveable. It is the clumsiness of a fault that makes a person lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/both-the-artist-and-the-lover-know-that-perfection-is-not-loveable-it/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) [Explore all 711 Joseph Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It would not be too much to say that myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural manifestation. 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