Aspiration Quote by Rollo May
“Heroes are necessary in order to enable the citizens to find their own ideals, courage and wisdom in the society. The hero carries our hopes, our aspirations, our ideals, our beliefs. In the deepest sense the hero is created by us; he or she is born collectively as our own myth. This is what makes heroism so important: it reflects our own sense of identity and from this our own heroism is molded.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Courage to Create by Rollo May, 1975
Heroism mirrors collective identity; heroes embody shared hopes and values, shaping personal ideals and courage.
In simple terms: Heroes reflect our shared hopes and values.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and nurture collective ideals.
Themes
identity
heroism
culture
psychology
myth
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- community building
- personal development
- leadership
- cultural storytelling
- education
Key Concepts
collective myth
self‑actualization
social identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you see yourself in the myths you cherish?
- What responsibilities arise from collective hero worship?
A Different Perspective
Heroes may become idealized, obscuring individual agency.
![“One of the great crimes of the Bloomberg/Klein administration [in New York City] is that they've removed themselves from communities, as if communities have nothing to say about what their needs and aspirations are for themselves and for their children.” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cfb/bill-ayers-1848_administration_one-of-the-great-crimes-of-the-bloomberg_36172.jpg)
