The world’s full of people who have stopped listening to themselves.
Joseph Campbell
About the author
Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer. He is most known for his work in comparative mythology and religion. Over his career, Campbell wrote many books on the power of myth in human culture across time, including The Hero with a Thousand Faces, which discussed the journey of the archetypal hero in world mythologies. The quote comes from one of Campbell’s most famous interviews, The Power of Myth with Bill Moyers. This documentary series, released in 1988 after Campbell’s death, brought his ideas to a wider audience.
The meaning of the quote
Joseph Campbell cautions us not to lose touch with our inner voice and authentic self. In the constant noise and distractions of life, Campbell believed many people stop paying attention to their true desires, intuitions and callings. They get swept up in society’s expectations rather than following their own path.
His words urge us to stay connected to ourselves. We need to pause, listen closely to what our hearts and souls are telling us, and have the courage to follow that inner compass. Even if it means going against the grain, we can only live a deeply fulfilling life true to our unique purpose.
Campbell’s quote is a powerful reminder to trust ourselves above all else. To never let external pressures drown out the whispers of our inner wisdom. By staying loyal to our own truth, he believed we access a power that helps us become the heroes of our own lives.