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Man seeks to escape himself in myth, and does so by any means at his disposal... unnable to withdraw into himself, he disguises himself. Lies and inaccuracy give him a few moments of comfort, the trifling feeling of escape experienced at a masked ball. He distances himself from that which he feels and sees. He invents. He transfigures. He mythifies. He creates. He fancies himself an artist. He imitates, in his small way, the painters he claims are mad.

Jean Cocteau#84

TruthIdentityEscapismHuman natureMyth

About this quote

What does it mean?
People invent myths to escape their uncomfortable reality and create a comfortable disguise for themselves.
In plain terms
People make myths to hide from themselves and find comfort in lies.
What can you take from it?
Recognize when you use myths to avoid facing reality.

Where it applies

  • personal growth
  • artistic motivation
  • social behavior

Putting it to work

  • journaling about self-image
  • confronting discomfort
  • artistic creation

Questions to consider

  • When do you lie to yourself?
  • How do your stories serve you?

Another view

It oversimplifies complex human motivations behind storytelling.

More from Jean Cocteau

  1. Beauty is always the result of an accident. Of a violent lapse between acquired habits and those yet to be acquired. It baffles and disgusts. It may even horri…

    Permalink to quote #83
  2. Accuracy is vexing to a crowd of would-be fantasizers. Hasn't our age coined the term 'escapism,' when in fact the only way to escape oneself is to allow onese…

    Permalink to quote #85
  3. Poetry, being elegance itself, cannot hope to achieve visibility. In that case, you ask me, of what use is it? Of no use. Who will see it? No one. Which does n…

    Permalink to quote #82

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