Family Quote by Lewis Hyde
““There is the family of our birth and then there is a more noble world to which we really belong; the richness of this ideal world is often proportional to the poverty of the real, as personal grandiosity is proportional to shame.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gift, 1983
There are two realms: the ordinary family and a higher, ideal world; the latter’s value grows as the former’s material poverty increases, mirroring how personal ego expands with shame.
In simple terms: Two worlds: ordinary family and a noble ideal; ego grows with shame.
Key Takeaway
Seek humility and recognize the limits of material wealth.
Themes
spirituality
philosophy
self-reflection
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- artistic creation
- social critique
Key Concepts
dualism
idealism
ego dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “noble world” mean to you?
- How can you balance material reality with higher ideals?
A Different Perspective
Ideal world may be inaccessible or illusory for many.
