Cut every tradition and myth would start over in one generation.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916), Part I, ch. I 'Concerning the Two Kinds of Thinking'

What it means

Myths are not just stories we inherit. The mind makes them on its own, because they answer needs that never go away. Take them all away and people would invent them again.

The source

"Cut every tradition and myth would start over in one generation." Carl Jung said it in Psychology of the Unconscious (1916), Part I, ch. I 'Concerning the Two Kinds of Thinking'. Translated by Beatrice M. Hinkle, 1916.

"One can say, that should it happen that all traditions in the world were cut off with a single blow, then with the succeeding generation, the whole mythology and history of religion would start over again."

Beatrice M. Hinkle, 1916, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916), Part I, ch. I 'Concerning the Two Kinds of Thinking'. Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Carl Jung (1875–1961). Swiss psychiatrist who broke with Freud and founded analytical psychology. He mapped the persona, the shadow, the collective unconscious and the lifelong work of becoming yourself, which he called individuation. Our lines come only from his writings published before 1931, in our own translations from the German or in English translations of the time.

Questions

What does "Cut every tradition and myth would start over in one generation." mean?: Myths are not just stories we inherit. The mind makes them on its own, because they answer needs that never go away. Take them all away and people would invent them again.
Who said "Cut every tradition and myth would start over in one generation."?: Carl Jung (1875–1961). Source: Psychology of the Unconscious (1916), Part I, ch. I 'Concerning the Two Kinds of Thinking'.
What is the original wording?: One can say, that should it happen that all traditions in the world were cut off with a single blow, then with the succeeding generation, the whole mythology and history of religion would start over again (Beatrice M. Hinkle, 1916). Translated by Beatrice M. Hinkle, 1916.
Is "Cut every tradition and myth would start over in one generation." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Cut every tradition and myth would start over in one generation." (Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916), Part I, ch. I 'Concerning the Two Kinds of Thinking', trans. Beatrice M. Hinkle, 1916). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/cut-every-tradition-and-myth-would-start-over