Quotes: Myths (3)

Myth 321 "It’s one of our favorite American myths that broad plains necessarily make broad minds, and high mountains make high purpose." Sinclair Lewis, Main Street.

Myth 426 "She had left a city which sat up nights to talk of universal transition; of European revolution, guild socialism, free verse…fancied that all the world was changing…found that it was not." Sinclair Lewis, Main Street. People may have a thirst for knowledge, but they don't share the same taste in kinds of knowledge.

Myth, bulls 1466 "Indeed, it had heretofore been a great inconvenience to these poor animals [the fiery-breathing bulls], that, whenever they wished to eat a mouthful of grass, the fire out of their nostrils had shriveled it up before they could manage to crop it…but, now…they breathed the very sweetest of cow-breath!" “The Golden Fleece” Hawthorne, Tanglewood Tales

Myth, Circe 1400 Quicksilver: "By her [Circe’s] magic arts, she changes every human being into the brute beast or fowl, whom he happens to resemble." “Circe’s Palace” Hawthorne, Tanglewood Tales. An interesting exercise. What kind of beast would I resemble?

Myth, Circe 1400 "The lions and wolves and tigers who will come running to meet you, in front of the palace, were formerly fierce and cruel men resembling in their dispositions the wild beasts, whose forms they now rightfully wear…if Circe had never done anything worse, I really should not think her so very much to blame." “Circe’s Palace” Hawthorne, Tanglewood Tales At least you'd know the kind of person you were dealing with.