How we cite our quotes: (Page.Paragraph)
Quote #4
The myths and folk tales of the whole world make clear that the refusal is essentially a refusal to give up what one takes to be one's own interest. The future is regarded not in terms of an unremitting series of deaths and births, but as though one's present system of ideals, virtues, goals, and advantages were to be fixed and made secure. (55.2)
Refusing the call is kind of like deciding to live in your parents' basement for the rest of your life. Yeah, you can do it, but you're missing out on a lot of what life's supposed to be about—the risks you need to take if you want to be a hero.
Quote #5
For those who have not refused the call, the first encounter of the hero-journey is with a protective figure (often a little old crone or old man) who provides the adventurer with amulets against the dragon forces he is about to pass. (63.3)
Transformation doesn't take place all at once. You need to do it in stages, and the mentor is there to help you. We've all had that awesome teacher or relative (a cool aunt perhaps) who helps us gain confidence or teaches us cool things like understanding Hamlet or changing the oil. Those are the mentors in our lives, arriving at the start of our journey and showing us the way.
Quote #6
This popular motif gives emphasis to the lesson that the passage of the threshold is a form of self-annihilation. Its resemblance to the adventure of the Symplegades is obvious. But here, instead of passing outward, beyond the confines of the visible world, the hero goes inward, to be born again. (84.3)
Once we grow up, we're never going to be children again. There's a certain sadness to that—we don't know about you, but we'd give anything to spend the day building blanket forts and coloring—but to hold fast to childhood is to avoid living a full life.