--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How should we be able to forget those…" description: "\"“How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the last moment turn int..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/rainer-maria-rilke-193_attitude_how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-an_1954315.jpg" --- # How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that… ![“How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the last moment turn into princesses; perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything…” quote by Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/rainer-maria-rilke-193_attitude_how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-an_1954315.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/rainer-maria-rilke-193_attitude_how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-an_1954315.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/rainer-maria-rilke-193_attitude_how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-an_1954315.jpg) > ““How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the last moment turn into princesses; perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us. So you must not be frightened if a sadness rises up before you larger than any you have ever seen; if a restiveness, like light and cloudshadows, passes over your hands and over all you do. You must think that something is happening with you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand; it will not let you fall. Why do you want to shut out of your life any uneasiness, any miseries, or any depressions? For after all, you do not know what work these conditions are doing inside you.”” [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage urges embracing pain and fear as transformative forces, seeing monsters as hidden helpers and trusting life’s supportive hand. **In simple terms:** Pain can hide hidden help; trust life’s support. Key Takeaway Accept discomfort as growth catalyst. Themes growth acceptance transformation psychology mythology Mood reflective hopeful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - creative writing - personal crisis - spiritual practice Key Concepts Archetype shadow work resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe fear as ally? - What hidden gifts might your sorrow reveal? A Different Perspective Pain may overwhelm and hinder clarity if not processed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) [Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons/) [Dragons Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons-moment-807621/) [Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears/) [Frightened Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightened-sadness-2041480/) [Helplessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helplessness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-forgotten-319422/) [Miseries Depressions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miseries-depressions-3189505/) [Myths Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths-dragons-807619/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [“And if we only organize our life according to the principle which teaches us always to hold to what is difficult, then what now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/and-if-we-only-organize-our-life-according-to-the-principle-which/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races, the myths about dragons that at the last moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/how-could-we-forget-those-ancient-myths-that-stand-at-the-beginning/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races, the myths about dragons that at the last moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/how-could-we-forget-those-ancient-myths-that-stand-at-the-beginning-2/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [If we only arrange our life in accordance with the principle which tells us that we must always trust in the difficult, then what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/if-we-only-arrange-our-life-in-accordance-with-the-principle-which/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“How should we be able to forget those myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilka/how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-myths-that-are-at-the-beginning/) [Rainer Maria Rilka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilka/) > [“‎Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love. So you mustn’t be frightened, if a sadness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/perhaps-everything-that-frightens-us-is-in-its-deepest-essence-2/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“We have no reason to harbor any mistrust against our world, for it is not against us. If it has terrors, they are our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/we-have-no-reason-to-harbor-any-mistrust-against-our-world-for-it-is-2/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“We have no reason to mistrust our world, for it is not against us. Has it terrors, they are our terrors; has it abysses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/we-have-no-reason-to-mistrust-our-world-for-it-is-not-against-us-has-2/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“Most days I live awed by the world we have still, rather than mourning the worlds we have lost. The bandit mask of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bogard/most-days-i-live-awed-by-the-world-we-have-still-rather-than-mourning/) [Paul Bogard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bogard/) > [You must realise that something is happening to you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/you-must-realise-that-something-is-happening-to-you-that-life-has-not/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [You must think that something is happening upon you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand; it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/you-must-think-that-something-is-happening-upon-you-that-life-has-not/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/perhaps-everything-that-frightens-us-is-in-its-deepest-essence/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [No one knows where we are going, the aim of life has been forgotten, the end has been left behind. Man has set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/no-one-knows-where-we-are-going-the-aim-of-life-has-been-forgotten/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“Writing is breathing life into forgotten memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-anske/writing-is-breathing-life-into-forgotten-memories/) [Ksenia Anske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-anske/) > [“If we knew we could carry our memories to wherever we go next, then there would be nothing to fear. It's just the thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-knew-we-could-carry-our-memories-to-wherever-we-go-next-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Rainer Maria Rilke > [The artist's experience lies so unbelievably close to the sexual, to its pain and its pleasure, that the two phenomena are really just different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/the-artist-s-experience-lies-so-unbelievably-close-to-the-sexual-to/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“Out of infinite longings rise finite deeds like weak fountains, falling back just in time and trembling. And yet, what otherwise remains silent, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/out-of-infinite-longings-rise-finite-deeds-like-weak-fountains/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“I love the dark hours of my being. My mind deepens into them. There I can find, as in old letters, the days of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/i-love-the-dark-hours-of-my-being-my-mind-deepens-into-them-there-i/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“A complete sharing between two people is an impossibility and whenever it seems, nevertheless, to exist, it is a narrowing, a mutual agreement which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/a-complete-sharing-between-two-people-is-an-impossibility-and/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“But this is what ... people are so often and disastrously wrong in doing: they (who by their very nature are impatient) fling themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/but-this-is-what-people-are-so-often-and-disastrously-wrong-in-doing/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“If there is nothing you can share with other people, try to be close to Things. Things will not abandon you. The nights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/if-there-is-nothing-you-can-share-with-other-people-try-to-be-close/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [To be here is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/to-be-here-is-immense/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“Sin is the most wonderfully roundabout path to God”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/sin-is-the-most-wonderfully-roundabout-path-to-god/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Swells, Marina? we ocean, depths, Marina? we sky!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/swells-marina-we-ocean-depths-marina-we-sky/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“The point of marriage is not to create a quick commonality by tearing down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/the-point-of-marriage-is-not-to-create-a-quick-commonality-by-tearing/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [You life will find its own paths... and that they be good, rich, and wide is what I wish for you, more than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/you-life-will-find-its-own-paths-and-that-they-be-good-rich-and-wide/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [I do not want to be folded for where I am folded, there I am a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/i-do-not-want-to-be-folded-for-where-i-am-folded-there-i-am-a-lie/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/at-no-other-time-than-autumn-does-the-earth-let-itself-be-inhaled-in/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“That is why the sadness passes: the new presence inside us, the presence that has been added, has entered our heart, has gone into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/that-is-why-the-sadness-passes-the-new-presence-inside-us-the/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms, like books written in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/have-patience-with-everything-that-remains-unsolved-in-your-heart-try/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) [Explore all 861 Rainer Maria Rilke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the last moment turn into princesses; perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us. So you must not be frightened if a sadness rises up before you larger than any you have ever seen; if a restiveness, like light and cloudshadows, passes over your hands and over all you do. You must think that something is happening with you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand; it will not let you fall. Why do you want to shut out of your life any uneasiness, any miseries, or any depressions? For after all, you do not know what work these conditions are doing inside you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rainer Maria Rilke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-ancient-myths-that-are-at-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-ancient-myths-that-are-at-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/rainer-maria-rilke-193_attitude_how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-an_1954315.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/rainer-maria-rilke-193_attitude_how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-an_1954315.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d45/rainer-maria-rilke-193_attitude_how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-an_1954315.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths…” — Rainer Maria Rilke", "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": "Rainer Maria Rilke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“How should we be able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-ancient-myths-that-are-at-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/how-should-we-be-able-to-forget-those-ancient-myths-that-are-at-the/#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 } } ] } ```