--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Myths are seldom simple, and never…" description: "\"Myths are seldom simple, and never irresponsible.\" — Robert Graves" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/robert-graves-2410_irresponsible_myths-are-seldom-simple-and-never-irresp_3185893.png" --- # Myths are seldom simple, and never irresponsible. ![“Myths are seldom simple, and never irresponsible.” quote by Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/robert-graves-2410_irresponsible_myths-are-seldom-simple-and-never-irresp_3185893.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/robert-graves-2410_irresponsible_myths-are-seldom-simple-and-never-irresp_3185893.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/robert-graves-2410_irresponsible_myths-are-seldom-simple-and-never-irresp_3185893.png) > “Myths are seldom simple, and never irresponsible.” [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Myths are complex and cannot be reduced to simple explanations; they carry deep responsibility. **In simple terms:** Myths are complex and must be handled responsibly. Key Takeaway Respect mythic depth and avoid oversimplification. Themes mythology responsibility interpretation Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - education - media analysis - creative writing Key Concepts symbolism cultural narratives ethical storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do we have when retelling myths? - How does complexity enrich cultural understanding? A Different Perspective Simplifying myths can erase essential meanings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Irresponsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresponsible/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths/) [Myths Seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths-seldom-5856902/) [Seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seldom/) [Seldom Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seldom-simple-3188470/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) ## Related quotes > [The world is seldom so simple that it hinges on us alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/the-world-is-seldom-so-simple-that-it-hinges-on-us-alone/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“The myths of Hylas, Adonis, Lityerses, and Linus describes the annual mourning for the sacred king of his boy-surrogate, sacrificed to placate the goddess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-myths-of-hylas-adonis-lityerses-and-linus-describes-the-annual/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [The more real things get, the more like myths they become. There have always been myths, but the myths of earlier times were, Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-werner-fassbinder/the-more-real-things-get-the-more-like-myths-they-become-there-have/) [Rainer Werner Fassbinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-werner-fassbinder/) > [One of the greatest myths of all time is that so-called civilized man is no longer an animal, and for that reason can strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-powell/one-of-the-greatest-myths-of-all-time-is-that-so-called-civilized-man/) [William Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-powell/) > [“Myths are lies; but I believe in the power of myths the way I believe in rocks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/myths-are-lies-but-i-believe-in-the-power-of-myths-the-way-i-believe/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“This is the time of myths. They are woven into the present like silk strands from the past, like a wire mesh from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavie-tidhar/this-is-the-time-of-myths-they-are-woven-into-the-present-like-silk/) [Lavie Tidhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavie-tidhar/) > [If swans weren't real myths'd make up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/if-swans-weren-t-real-myths-d-make-up/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Myths are, in fact...neither primitive nor untrue. They are, rather, a kind of poetry that helps us make sense of the world and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-h-furrer/myths-are-in-fact-neither-primitive-nor-untrue-they-are-rather-a-kind/) [Stephen H. Furrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-h-furrer/) > [I want to clear up a few myths about myself. People have written that I was a kindergarten teacher and a former Miss Texas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-allen/i-want-to-clear-up-a-few-myths-about-myself-people-have-written-that/) [Krista Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-allen/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 Robert Graves > [The poet's first rule must be never to bore his readers; and his best way of keeping this rule is never to bore himself-which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-poet-s-first-rule-must-be-never-to-bore-his-readers-and-his-best/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [She told me that all the girls in Annezin prayed every night for the war to end and for the English to go away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/she-told-me-that-all-the-girls-in-annezin-prayed-every-night-for-the/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“As quick as boiled asparagus!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/as-quick-as-boiled-asparagus/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“Children born of fairy stock Never need for shirt or frock Never want for food or fire Always get their heart's desire Jingle pockets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/children-born-of-fairy-stock-never-need-for-shirt-or-frock-never-want/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [To know only one thing well is to have a barbaric mind: civilization implies the graceful relation of all varieties of experience to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/to-know-only-one-thing-well-is-to-have-a-barbaric-mind-civilization/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Before an attack, the platoon pools all its available cash and the survivors divide it up afterwards. Those who are killed can't complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/before-an-attack-the-platoon-pools-all-its-available-cash-and-the/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“To resist the social pressure now put even on one's leisure time, requires a tougher upbringing and a more obstinate willfulness about going one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/to-resist-the-social-pressure-now-put-even-on-one-s-leisure-time/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“The child alone a poet is: Spring and Fairyland are his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-child-alone-a-poet-is-spring-and-fairyland-are-his/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [The art of poetry consists in taking the poem through draft after draft, without losing its inspirational magic: he removes everything irrelevant or distracting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-art-of-poetry-consists-in-taking-the-poem-through-draft-after/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Entrance and exit wounds aresilvered clean, The track aches only when the rain reminds. The one-legged man forgets his leg of wood. The one-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/entrance-and-exit-wounds-aresilvered-clean-the-track-aches-only-when/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [What we now call "finance" is, I hold, an intellectual perversion of what began as warm human love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/what-we-now-call-finance-is-i-hold-an-intellectual-perversion-of-what/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“Manticor in Arabia (The manticors of the montaines Mighte feed them on thy braines.--Skelton.) Thick and scented daisies spread Where with surface dull like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/manticor-in-arabia-the-manticors-of-the-montaines-mighte-feed-them-on/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [As you are woman, so be lovely: As you are lovely, so be various, Merciful as constant, constant as various, So be mine, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/as-you-are-woman-so-be-lovely-as-you-are-lovely-so-be-various/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Philosophy is antipoetic. Philosophize about mankind and you brush aside individual uniqueness, which a poet cannot do without self-damage. Unless, for a start, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/philosophy-is-antipoetic-philosophize-about-mankind-and-you-brush/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Abstract reason, formerly the servant of practical human reasons, has everywhere become its master, and denies poetry any excuse for existence. Though philosophers like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/abstract-reason-formerly-the-servant-of-practical-human-reasons-has/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) [Explore all 166 Robert Graves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) ## More Irresponsible quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Iran, Libya and Syria are irresponsible states, which must be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, and a successful American move in Iraq as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/iran-libya-and-syria-are-irresponsible-states-which-must-be-disarmed/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [All nations that have nuclear weapons think that they are responsible and it is the other guys who are irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cirincione/all-nations-that-have-nuclear-weapons-think-that-they-are-responsible/) [Joseph Cirincione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cirincione/) > [I vote Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-vote-democrat-because-i-m-way-too-irresponsible-to-own-a-gun-and-i/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“I do my job,” Mikodez said, “because after all the trouble I went to get it, it would be irresponsible not to.” He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoon-ha-lee/i-do-my-job-mikodez-said-because-after-all-the-trouble-i-went-to-get/) [Yoon Ha Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoon-ha-lee/) > [It is the individual's task to differentiate himself from all the others and stand on his own feet. All collective identities . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-the-individual-s-task-to-differentiate-himself-from-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [And the point is, is it possible for the mind to be totally free from suffering and yet not become indifferent, callous, irresponsible, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/and-the-point-is-is-it-possible-for-the-mind-to-be-totally-free-from/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [A coach is often responsible to an irresponsible public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-zuppke/a-coach-is-often-responsible-to-an-irresponsible-public/) [Robert Zuppke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-zuppke/) > [The Bush administration continues to coddle China, despite its continuing crackdown on democratic reform, its brutal subjugation of Tibet, its irresponsible export of nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-bush-administration-continues-to-coddle-china-despite-its/) [William J. 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