--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One may call the world a myth , in which…" description: "\"One may call the world a myth , in which bodies and things are visible, but souls and minds hidden. Besides, to wish to teach the whole truth about the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/sallust-4191_body_one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-b_1657821.jpg" --- # One may call the world a myth , in which bodies and things… ![“One may call the world a myth , in which bodies and things are visible, but souls and minds hidden. Besides, to wish to teach the whole truth about the Gods to all produces contempt in the foolish, because they cannot understand, and lack of zeal in the good, whereas to conceal the truth by myths…” quote by Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/sallust-4191_body_one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-b_1657821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/sallust-4191_body_one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-b_1657821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/sallust-4191_body_one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-b_1657821.jpg) > “One may call the world a myth , in which bodies and things are visible, but souls and minds hidden. Besides, to wish to teach the whole truth about the Gods to all produces contempt in the foolish, because they cannot understand, and lack of zeal in the good, whereas to conceal the truth by myths prevents the contempt of the foolish, and compels the good to practice philosophy.” [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that myths conceal truth, protecting the ignorant from contempt while encouraging the wise to pursue philosophy. **In simple terms:** Myths hide truth to keep fools from scorn and motivate the wise to think. Key Takeaway Use myths wisely, but seek deeper understanding. Themes philosophy mythology truth education human nature Mood cautious inquisitive analytical Type philosophical educational critical When to use this quote - teaching philosophy - literary analysis - public discourse - educational curricula Key Concepts epistemology ethics cognitive bias cultural narratives Questions to Reflect On - When should myths be used to teach? - How can we balance truth with accessibility? A Different Perspective Risk of oversimplifying truth and stifling critical inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myth Bodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth-bodies-724771/) [Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths/) [Myths Prevents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myths-prevents-724770/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Truth Myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-myths-724769/) [Visible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visible/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Whole truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-truth/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-myth-724768/) [Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal/) ## Related quotes > [I have decided to tell the story of my life as best I can, so that my children can separate the truth from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/i-have-decided-to-tell-the-story-of-my-life-as-best-i-can-so-that-my/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [You can live in the world of myth and be taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/you-can-live-in-the-world-of-myth-and-be-taken-seriously/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/as-human-beings-our-greatness-lies-not-so-much-in-being-able-to/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Myths remind us of the symbolic presence within all the lost-and-found adventures that alone can give life meaning. Losing touch with the world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-meade/myths-remind-us-of-the-symbolic-presence-within-all-the-lost-and/) [Michael Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-meade/) > [“The surface world may be as much a myth to the subterraneans as the underworld is to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-vogelbacher/the-surface-world-may-be-as-much-a-myth-to-the-subterraneans-as-the/) [Priscilla Vogelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priscilla-vogelbacher/) > [Truth, but not the whole truth, must be the invariable principle of every man who hath either religion, honour, or prudence. Thosewho violate it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/truth-but-not-the-whole-truth-must-be-the-invariable-principle-of/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I often say that I'm a Buddhist-Episcopalian. I say that partly to annoy people.I like to annoy people who think that a religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninian-smart/i-often-say-that-i-m-a-buddhist-episcopalian-i-say-that-partly-to/) [Ninian Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninian-smart/) > [Honesty is a virtue, but not the only one. If you're in a courtroom you need the whole truth and nothing but the truth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/honesty-is-a-virtue-but-not-the-only-one-if-you-re-in-a-courtroom-you/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“Cherokee's American, Ned. It don't get more American than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/cherokee-s-american-ned-it-don-t-get-more-american-than-that/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [a white person who claims to have no impediment of vision in this country is not, I think, telling the whole truth. And when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/a-white-person-who-claims-to-have-no-impediment-of-vision-in-this/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [I did try very hard to tell the whole truth without violating my literary instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/i-did-try-very-hard-to-tell-the-whole-truth-without-violating-my/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to-be-that-an-author-must-not/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth. Little men are dissolved in it. If there is any gold, truth makes it shine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adela-rogers-st-johns/the-truth-the-whole-truth-nothing-but-the-truth-little-men-are/) [Adela Rogers St. Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adela-rogers-st-johns/) > [Raise your hands in the air, pump your fists, and solemnly swear to rock the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kool-moe-dee/raise-your-hands-in-the-air-pump-your-fists-and-solemnly-swear-to/) [Kool Moe Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kool-moe-dee/) > [It is worth remembering (though there is nothing that we can do about it) that the world as it really is may easily be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-broad/it-is-worth-remembering-though-there-is-nothing-that-we-can-do-about/) [C. D. Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-broad/) ## More by Sallust > [It is impossible that there should be so much providence in the last details, and none in the first principles. Then the arts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-impossible-that-there-should-be-so-much-providence-in-the-last/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/as-the-blessings-of-health-and-fortune-have-a-beginning-so-they-must/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/everything-that-rises-sets-and-everything-that-grows-grows-old/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/fame-is-the-shadow-of-passion-standing-in-the-light/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The Romans assisted their allies and friends, and acquired friendships by giving rather than receiving kindness. \[Lat., Sociis atque amicis auxilia portabant Romani, magisque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-romans-assisted-their-allies-and-friends-and-acquired-friendships/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-prefers-to-suffer-rather-than-overcome-injustice-with-evil/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not unlikely, too, that the rejection of God is a kind of punishment: we may well believe that those who knew the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-unlikely-too-that-the-rejection-of-god-is-a-kind-of/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-evil-the-soul-brings-itself-to/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [To hope for safety in flight, when you have turned away from the enemy the arms by which the body is defended, is indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/to-hope-for-safety-in-flight-when-you-have-turned-away-from-the-enemy/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By the wicked the good conduct of others is always dreaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-the-wicked-the-good-conduct-of-others-is-always-dreaded/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-union-the-smallest-states-thrive-by-discord-the-greatest-are/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/ambition-drove-many-men-to-become-false-to-have-one-thought-locked-in/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-soul-is-the-captain-and-ruler-of-the-life-of-morals/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/not-by-vows-nor-by-womanish-prayers-is-the-help-of-the-gods-obtained/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [ Enough words, little wisdom. \[Lat., Satis eloquentiae sapientiae parum.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/enough-words-little-wisdom-lat-satis-eloquentiae-sapientiae-parum/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) [Explore all 115 Sallust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One may call the world a myth , in which bodies and things are visible, but souls and minds hidden. Besides, to wish to teach the whole truth about the Gods to all produces contempt in the foolish, because they cannot understand, and lack of zeal in the good, whereas to conceal the truth by myths prevents the contempt of the foolish, and compels the good to practice philosophy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sallust" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-bodies-and-things-are-visible/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-bodies-and-things-are-visible/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/sallust-4191_body_one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-b_1657821.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/sallust-4191_body_one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-b_1657821.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/sallust-4191_body_one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-b_1657821.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One may call the world a myth , in which bodies and things are visible, but souls and minds hidden. Besides…” — Sallust", "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": "Sallust", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One may call the world a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-bodies-and-things-are-visible/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/one-may-call-the-world-a-myth-in-which-bodies-and-things-are-visible/#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 } } ] } ```