--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the point is this: not that myth…" description: "\"“For the point is this: not that myth refers us back to some original event which has been fancifully transcribed as it passed through collective memor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/julian-barnes-522_memory_for-the-point-is-this-not-that-myth-refe_2719813.png" --- # For the point is this: not that myth refers us back to… ![“For the point is this: not that myth refers us back to some original event which has been fancifully transcribed as it passed through collective memory; but that it refers us forward to something that will happen, that must happen. Myth will become reality, however sceptical we might be.” quote by Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/julian-barnes-522_memory_for-the-point-is-this-not-that-myth-refe_2719813.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/julian-barnes-522_memory_for-the-point-is-this-not-that-myth-refe_2719813.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/julian-barnes-522_memory_for-the-point-is-this-not-that-myth-refe_2719813.png) > ““For the point is this: not that myth refers us back to some original event which has been fancifully transcribed as it passed through collective memory; but that it refers us forward to something that will happen, that must happen. Myth will become reality, however sceptical we might be.”” [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Myths act as bridges, connecting past narratives to future possibilities, shaping reality through collective belief. **In simple terms:** Myths link past and future, influencing what happens. Key Takeaway Use myths to inspire future actions. Themes mythology future belief culture Mood thoughtful inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing stories - building cultural narratives - teaching history Key Concepts narrative power collective memory Questions to Reflect On - How do myths in your culture guide your expectations? - Can a myth become a self‑fulfilling prophecy? A Different Perspective Myths can be misinterpreted or ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happen Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen-myth-2873685/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myth Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth-reality-468536/) [Myth Refers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth-refers-2873684/) [Point Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-myth-2873687/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Sceptical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-sceptical-2873686/) ## Related quotes > [“The universal hero myth always refers to a powerful man or god-man who vanquishes evil in the form of drag- ons, serpents, monsters, demons,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/the-universal-hero-myth-always-refers-to-a-powerful-man-or-god-man/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [I always have difficulty with the Greek tragic plays. I think the difficulty one has - which is a serious problem - is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/i-always-have-difficulty-with-the-greek-tragic-plays-i-think-the/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [“Myth and Reality go hand in hand!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-leela-pandey/myth-and-reality-go-hand-in-hand/) [Abhishek Leela Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-leela-pandey/) > [I've created things that I thought were not possible. Believing in myself, reality wasn't a myth. The myth became reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/i-ve-created-things-that-i-thought-were-not-possible-believing-in/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Here I stand and make Both myth and reality in my own way And live the violence of my dream and of my reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/here-i-stand-and-make-both-myth-and-reality-in-my-own-way-and-live/) [Jabra Ibrahim Jabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/) > [I have always considered imaginative truth to be more profound, more loaded with significance, than every day reality... Everything we dream about, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/i-have-always-considered-imaginative-truth-to-be-more-profound-more/) [Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [“If you are not a myth Whose reality are you? 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The two were intimately tied together in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/most-people-in-the-ancient-world-did-not-make-a-sharp-distinction/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [It's the historian's job not to ridicule the myths, but to show the difference between myth and reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/it-s-the-historian-s-job-not-to-ridicule-the-myths-but-to-show-the/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > ['Sex and The City' was made to correct the myth that if you were single at a certain age, you were a leper. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-patrick-king/sex-and-the-city-was-made-to-correct-the-myth-that-if-you-were-single/) [Michael Patrick King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-patrick-king/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [I have always been fascinated by the supernatural elements in stories, whether fairy tales, myths, film or literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/i-have-always-been-fascinated-by-the-supernatural-elements-in-stories/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [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 Julian Barnes > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“I settled into a contented routine of working, spending my free time with Veronica and, back in my student room, wanking explosively to fantasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-settled-into-a-contented-routine-of-working-spending-my-free-time/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/the-greatest-patriotism-is-to-tell-your-country-when-it-is-behaving/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“There is only good vodka and very good vodka—there is no such thing as bad vodka.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/there-is-only-good-vodka-and-very-good-vodka-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Alice Munro can move characters through time in a way that no other writer can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/alice-munro-can-move-characters-through-time-in-a-way-that-no-other/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [How rarely do our emotions meet the object they seem to deserve? 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I remember that I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/my-train-was-late-slowed-by-the-usual-sunday-engineering-work-i-got/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [In life, every ending is just the start of another story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/in-life-every-ending-is-just-the-start-of-another-story/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Indeed, isn’t the whole business of ascribing responsibility kind of a cop-out? We want to blame an individual so that everyone else is exculpated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/indeed-isn-t-the-whole-business-of-ascribing-responsibility-kind-of-a/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Some of the freckles I once loved are now closer to liver spots. But it’s still the eyes we look at, isn’t it? That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/some-of-the-freckles-i-once-loved-are-now-closer-to-liver-spots-but/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“And what percentage of people take up the option to die off?’ She looked at me, her glance telling me to be calm. ‘Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/and-what-percentage-of-people-take-up-the-option-to-die-off-she/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) [Explore all 454 Julian Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) ## More Memory quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“Maybe there is something when it all ends. 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Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [“The whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I have a memory like an elephant. I remember every elephant I've ever met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-have-a-memory-like-an-elephant-i-remember-every-elephant-i-ve-ever/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [What’s the use of remembering anything? 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