If You Walk Far Enough You’ll Meet Yourself

Terry Pratchett? Marion Woodman? Joseph Campbell? David Mitchell? Vina Howland? Anonymous? Question for Quote Investigator: There is a family of sayings with a surrealistic twist. Here are three instances: (1) If you walk far enough you’ll meet yourself. (2) Walk far enough and you will meet yourself, coming the other way. (3) If you travel …

We Cannot Cure the World of Sorrows, But We Can Choose To Live in Joy

Joseph Campbell? Diane K. Osbon? Kurt Vonnegut? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: When I watch the news I see endless reports signaling that the world is a mess. Efforts to mend the world are necessary and laudable; however, I am reminded of the advice given by mythology scholar Joseph Campbell. The world has always been a …

We Must Be Willing To Get Rid of the Life We’ve Planned, So As To Have the Life That Is Waiting for Us

Joseph Campbell? E. M. Forster? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: Life often presents us with unexpected obstacles and challenges that require us to rethink our assumptions. The following pertinent statement has been attributed to the expert in mythology Joseph Campbell and popular English novelist E. M. Forster: We must let go of the life we have …

The Cave You Fear to Enter Holds the Treasure You Seek

Joseph Campbell? Apocryphal? Dear Quote Investigator: Joseph Campbell was renowned for teaching about the mythologies of many cultures. The following statement is often ascribed to him: The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. I have looked through several of his books and have not located this quote. Did he say or …