Only the courage to live, and the heroism to do it, breaks the spell.

Carl Jung, Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido (1912), Part II, ch. VIII 'Das Opfer'

What it means

Jung describes a hero who talks, yearns and never acts, circling forever in the same place. Insight alone does not break that loop. It takes the courage to want life and the nerve to act on it.

The source

"Only the courage to live, and the heroism to do it, breaks the spell." Carl Jung said it in Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido (1912), Part II, ch. VIII 'Das Opfer'. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.

"Diesen Zauberkreis bricht nur der, der den Mut des Lebenwollens besitzt und den Heroismus, es auszuführen."

Original German, Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido (1912), Part II, ch. VIII 'Das Opfer'. Text read at archive.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 "Only the courage to live, and the heroism to do it, breaks the spell." mean?: Jung describes a hero who talks, yearns and never acts, circling forever in the same place. Insight alone does not break that loop. It takes the courage to want life and the nerve to act on it.
Who said "Only the courage to live, and the heroism to do it, breaks the spell."?: Carl Jung (1875–1961). Source: Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido (1912), Part II, ch. VIII 'Das Opfer'.
What is the original German?: Diesen Zauberkreis bricht nur der, der den Mut des Lebenwollens besitzt und den Heroismus, es auszuführen. Translated from the original German by Spartan Surfers.
Is "Only the courage to live, and the heroism to do it, breaks the spell." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Only the courage to live, and the heroism to do it, breaks the spell." (Carl Jung, Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido (1912), Part II, ch. VIII 'Das Opfer', translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/only-the-courage-to-live-and-the-heroism