--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But, look, Washington is a town that…" description: "\"But, look, Washington is a town that creates myths for its own existence and its own amusement, and I was a subject of myth, sort of like Grendel in Be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/karl-rove-3809_amusement_but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creat_1750468.jpg" --- # But, look, Washington is a town that creates myths for its… ![“But, look, Washington is a town that creates myths for its own existence and its own amusement, and I was a subject of myth, sort of like Grendel in Beowulf - you know, not seen very often but often talked about.” quote by Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/karl-rove-3809_amusement_but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creat_1750468.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/karl-rove-3809_amusement_but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creat_1750468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/karl-rove-3809_amusement_but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creat_1750468.jpg) > “But, look, Washington is a town that creates myths for its own existence and its own amusement, and I was a subject of myth, sort of like Grendel in Beowulf - you know, not seen very often but often talked about.” [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Washington builds its identity through self‑generated myths, and the speaker feels like a rarely seen but often discussed figure, akin to Grendel. **In simple terms:** Washington creates myths; speaker feels like a mythic figure. Key Takeaway Recognize and question the narratives you inhabit. Themes identity myth self‑perception culture storytelling Mood reflective critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - political analysis - personal branding - media commentary Key Concepts mythmaking social narrative heroic archetype Questions to Reflect On - How do the myths you accept shape your actions? - What would happen if you rejected the myth? A Different Perspective Myths can obscure truth and limit authentic self‑understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Creates Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creates-myths-1601644/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths/) [Myths Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths-existence-1601646/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Subject Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject-myth-1601645/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) [Washington Town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-town-1601647/) ## Related quotes > [America creates myths by focusing a lot of energy on its history and using it - - not always, but sometimes - for constructive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/america-creates-myths-by-focusing-a-lot-of-energy-on-its-history-and/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [ \[On Washington, D.C.:\] a town of successful men and the women they married before they were successful. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roosevelt-longworth/on-washington-d-c-a-town-of-successful-men-and-the-women-they-married/) [Alice Roosevelt Longworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roosevelt-longworth/) > [It's not about superheroes. This is the method of universal storytelling that all people have... To me, they're the same as the Greek myths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/it-s-not-about-superheroes-this-is-the-method-of-universal/) [Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/) > [“For hero-worship often defeats its own ends; the boy who "cannot tell a lie," the boy who kept his finger in the hole in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-ma-guerrero/for-hero-worship-often-defeats-its-own-ends-the-boy-who-cannot-tell-a/) [Leon Ma. Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-ma-guerrero/) > [Now I'm a Catholic agnostic by the way. Yet those myths still live within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/now-i-m-a-catholic-agnostic-by-the-way-yet-those-myths-still-live/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [We overhype everything. We create monumental myths. There are people who still believe that Brandi Chastain and the U.S. women's World Cup team pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/we-overhype-everything-we-create-monumental-myths-there-are-people/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [They do not depend upon mere legends and myths. They are not predicated on the false conception that the Emperor is divine and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-do-not-depend-upon-mere-legends-and-myths-they-are-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All my stories are like the Greek and Roman myths, and the Egyptian myths, and the Old and New Testament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/all-my-stories-are-like-the-greek-and-roman-myths-and-the-egyptian/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Like Achilles, the hero who forgot his heel, or like Icarus who, flying close to the sun, forgot that his wings were made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-longenecker/like-achilles-the-hero-who-forgot-his-heel-or-like-icarus-who-flying/) [Dwight Longenecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-longenecker/) > [Other people's beliefs may be myths, but not mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/other-people-s-beliefs-may-be-myths-but-not-mine/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [When we lose our myths we lose our place in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/when-we-lose-our-myths-we-lose-our-place-in-the-universe/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Anachron’s Law: There is no myth which is so irrational that no one will believe it. Anachron’s Corollary: There is no truth which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/anachron-s-law-there-is-no-myth-which-is-so-irrational-that-no-one/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [Songs are like myths. Myths are useful because they allow you to cast yourself and your life and your own experience. And for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/songs-are-like-myths-myths-are-useful-because-they-allow-you-to-cast/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [“Many people do simply awful things out of sincere religious belief, not using religion as a cover the way that Saddam Hussein may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/many-people-do-simply-awful-things-out-of-sincere-religious-belief/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [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/) ## More by Karl Rove > [Well, I'm a Christian. I was a born a Presbyterian and became an Episcopalian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/well-i-m-a-christian-i-was-a-born-a-presbyterian-and-became-an/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [We face a brutal enemy who will kill the innocent for one purpose and that is to gain control of the Middle East and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-face-a-brutal-enemy-who-will-kill-the-innocent-for-one-purpose-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [We need to be asking for the vote in the most powerful way possible, which is to have people asking for the vote who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-need-to-be-asking-for-the-vote-in-the-most-powerful-way-possible/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [The labor movement must be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/the-labor-movement-must-be-destroyed/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [You may be right that people say: You know what, we had Obama. He was inexperienced. The guy had great rhetoric, sounded good, looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/you-may-be-right-that-people-say-you-know-what-we-had-obama-he-was/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I'm not a journalist. I'm a pundit. I'm a commentator, I'm somebody with an opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-m-not-a-journalist-i-m-a-pundit-i-m-a-commentator-i-m-somebody-with/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [ I think it was Osama bin Laden's \[idea to start a pre-emptive war in Iraq\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-it-was-osama-bin-laden-s-idea-to-start-a-pre-emptive-war-in/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [It's time to put America at the front of all of our agendas and to find ways to work together on common ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/it-s-time-to-put-america-at-the-front-of-all-of-our-agendas-and-to/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [But the world is a better place with Saddam Hussein gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-the-world-is-a-better-place-with-saddam-hussein-gone/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [What Mr. Obama wants in a nominee isn't really 'empathy' and 'understanding.' He wants a liberal, activist Supreme Court justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/what-mr-obama-wants-in-a-nominee-isn-t-really-empathy-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [As people do better, they start voting like Republicans - unless they have too much education and vote Democratic, which proves there can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/as-people-do-better-they-start-voting-like-republicans-unless-they/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [There is a difference between Senator Obama and Senator McCain. Senator Obama believes that the government ought to be able to take as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/there-is-a-difference-between-senator-obama-and-senator-mccain/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I think wealthy conservatives are busy investing in profit and job creation and enterprise, and wealthy liberals, many of them either from the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-wealthy-conservatives-are-busy-investing-in-profit-and-job/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [If you look underneath the surface of the Tea Party movement, on the other hand, you will find that it is not sophisticated. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/if-you-look-underneath-the-surface-of-the-tea-party-movement-on-the/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [To win in November, Republican candidates must show they are in touch with voter concerns about growth, jobs, paychecks, government spending and debt. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/to-win-in-november-republican-candidates-must-show-they-are-in-touch/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) [Explore all 121 Karl Rove quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) ## More Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But, look, Washington is a town that creates myths for its own existence and its own amusement, and I was a subject of myth, sort of like Grendel in Beowulf - you know, not seen very often but often talked about.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karl Rove" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creates-myths-for-its-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creates-myths-for-its-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/karl-rove-3809_amusement_but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creat_1750468.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/karl-rove-3809_amusement_but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creat_1750468.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/karl-rove-3809_amusement_but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creat_1750468.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But, look, Washington is a town that creates myths for its own existence and its own amusement, and I was a…” — Karl Rove", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karl Rove", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But, look, Washington is a town...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creates-myths-for-its-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-look-washington-is-a-town-that-creates-myths-for-its-own/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```