--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our thesis is that symbols and myths are…" description: "\"Our thesis is that symbols and myths are an expression of man's unique self-consciousness, his capacity to transcend the immediate concrete situation a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/rollo-may-1295_aspect_our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are_1860582.jpg" --- # Our thesis is that symbols and myths are an expression of… ![“Our thesis is that symbols and myths are an expression of man's unique self-consciousness, his capacity to transcend the immediate concrete situation and see his life in terms of 'the possible,' and that this capacity is one aspect of his experiencing himself as a being having a world.” quote by Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/rollo-may-1295_aspect_our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are_1860582.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/rollo-may-1295_aspect_our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are_1860582.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/rollo-may-1295_aspect_our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are_1860582.jpg) > “Our thesis is that symbols and myths are an expression of man's unique self-consciousness, his capacity to transcend the immediate concrete situation and see his life in terms of 'the possible,' and that this capacity is one aspect of his experiencing himself as a being having a world.” [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Symbols and myths reveal humanity's self‑consciousness and ability to imagine possibilities beyond immediate reality. **In simple terms:** Myths show our capacity to imagine beyond now. Key Takeaway Cultivate symbolic thinking to expand perspective. Themes self‑awareness imagination meaning Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - education - art creation - personal growth Key Concepts existential psychology mythology Questions to Reflect On - What symbols guide your life? - How do myths shape your choices? A Different Perspective Symbols can be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspect/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Concrete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concrete/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Existential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existential/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Man Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-unique-355623/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myths Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths-expression-2501688/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-consciousness/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) [Symbols Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols-myths-2501687/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thesis/) [Thesis Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thesis-symbols-2501689/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [Unique self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-self/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Artistic symbols and myths speak out of the primordial, preconscious realm of the mind which is powerful and chaotic. Both symbol and myth are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/artistic-symbols-and-myths-speak-out-of-the-primordial-preconscious/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Speech gave man a unique power to lead a double life, he could say one thing and do another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/speech-gave-man-a-unique-power-to-lead-a-double-life-he-could-say-one/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Every great man is unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-great-man-is-unique/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [One of humanity's prime drives is to understand and be understood. All other living creatures are designed for highly specialized tasks. Man seems unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/one-of-humanity-s-prime-drives-is-to-understand-and-be-understood-all/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Man is unique in organizing the mass murder of his own species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-is-unique-in-organizing-the-mass-murder-of-his-own-species/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man is unique in that, unlike animals, he knows he is going to die, and unlike animals he can do something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/man-is-unique-in-that-unlike-animals-he-knows-he-is-going-to-die-and/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“Man is neither unique nor central nor necessarily here to stay. But he is a product of circumstances special to the point of disbelief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ardrey/man-is-neither-unique-nor-central-nor-necessarily-here-to-stay-but-he/) [Robert Ardrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ardrey/) > [Man is unique in that he has plans, purpose and goals which require the need for criteria of choice. The need for ethical value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/man-is-unique-in-that-he-has-plans-purpose-and-goals-which-require/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Man is unique not because he does science, and his is unique not because he does art, but because science and art equally are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/man-is-unique-not-because-he-does-science-and-his-is-unique-not/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [Man is a unique individual. He can never be put in a system where he becomes just another notch. Another nail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-capra/man-is-a-unique-individual-he-can-never-be-put-in-a-system-where-he/) [Frank Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-capra/) > [“...a large percentage of bright young men and women locate the impetus behind their career choice in the belief that they are fundamentally different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/a-large-percentage-of-bright-young-men-and-women-locate-the-impetus/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [The inventor, the man with a unique, specialized talent, is the only real super-genius. But he is so rare that he needs no consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/the-inventor-the-man-with-a-unique-specialized-talent-is-the-only/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [Every great man is a unique. The Scipionism of Scipio is precisely that part he could not borrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-great-man-is-a-unique-the-scipionism-of-scipio-is-precisely/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Meadowlark Lemon is one very clever man, unique and truly one of a kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/meadowlark-lemon-is-one-very-clever-man-unique-and-truly-one-of-a-kind/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Man is unique in creation because he has a sense of justice and truth. We spend billions of dollars each year to set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/man-is-unique-in-creation-because-he-has-a-sense-of-justice-and-truth/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) ## More by Rollo May > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Political freedom is to be cherished indeed. But there is no political freedom that is not indissolubly bound to the inner personal freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/political-freedom-is-to-be-cherished-indeed-but-there-is-no-political/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Joy is the effect which comes when we use our powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/joy-is-the-effect-which-comes-when-we-use-our-powers/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [In religion, it is not the sycophants or those who cling most faithfully to the status quo who are ultimately praised. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/in-religion-it-is-not-the-sycophants-or-those-who-cling-most/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [One of the few blessings of living in an age of anxiety is that we are forced to become aware of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/one-of-the-few-blessings-of-living-in-an-age-of-anxiety-is-that-we/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Intimacy requires courage because risk is inescapable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/intimacy-requires-courage-because-risk-is-inescapable/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Artists do not run away from non-being, but by encountering and wrestling with it, force it to produce being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/artists-do-not-run-away-from-non-being-but-by-encountering-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we do not experience it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/technology-is-the-knack-of-so-arranging-the-world-that-we-do-not/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [By the creative act, we are able to reach beyond our own death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/by-the-creative-act-we-are-able-to-reach-beyond-our-own-death/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Joy is the zest that you get out of using your talents, your understanding, the totality of your being, for great aims...That's the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/joy-is-the-zest-that-you-get-out-of-using-your-talents-your/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [One must have at least a readiness to love the other person, broadly speaking, if one is to be able to understand him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/one-must-have-at-least-a-readiness-to-love-the-other-person-broadly/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Man is the "ethical animal" ethical in potentiality even if, unfortunately, not in actuality. His capacity for ethical judgment like freedom, reason and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/man-is-the-ethical-animal-ethical-in-potentiality-even-if/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Evil, in this system of ethics, is that which tears apart, shuts out the other person, raises barriers, sets people against each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/evil-in-this-system-of-ethics-is-that-which-tears-apart-shuts-out-the/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [We receive love — from our children as well as others — not in proportion to our demands or sacrifices or needs, but roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/we-receive-love-from-our-children-as-well-as-others-not-in-proportion/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/the-opposite-of-courage-in-our-society-is-not-cowardice-it-is/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) [Explore all 259 Rollo May quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) ## More Aspect quotes > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I do miss the social aspect of sitting in a pub with a pint but you know what when I get down to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-do-miss-the-social-aspect-of-sitting-in-a-pub-with-a-pint-but-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) [Fernando Bujones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-bujones/) > [I love fall because I love the whole cuddling aspect of it, and a sweater dress has that vibe of I'm going to hunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-love-fall-because-i-love-the-whole-cuddling-aspect-of-it-and-a/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 3,171 Aspect quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspect/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our thesis is that symbols and myths are an expression of man's unique self-consciousness, his capacity to transcend the immediate concrete situation and see his life in terms of 'the possible,' and that this capacity is one aspect of his experiencing himself as a being having a world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rollo May" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are-an-expression-of-man-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aspect" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are-an-expression-of-man-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/rollo-may-1295_aspect_our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are_1860582.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/rollo-may-1295_aspect_our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are_1860582.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/rollo-may-1295_aspect_our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are_1860582.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our thesis is that symbols and myths are an expression of man's unique self-consciousness, his capacity to…” — Rollo May", "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": "Rollo May", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our thesis is that symbols and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are-an-expression-of-man-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/our-thesis-is-that-symbols-and-myths-are-an-expression-of-man-s/#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 } } ] } ```