So, I need to chase down this quote in the 'real' book, but I have to wait for it from the library... Instead, this is my transcription from the graphic novel; words from a brigand who is offended that the wizard knows stories about Robin Hood, but not himself:
"Robin Hood's a classic example of the heroic folk figures synthesized out of need... John Henry is another. Men have to have heroes, but no man can ever be as big as the need, and so a legend grows around a grain of truth, like a pearl... Robin Hood is the fable and I am the reality. No ballads will accumulate around my name unless I write them myself; no children will read of my adventures in their school books and play at me after school. I mean, you can't leave epic events to the people. They get everything wrong."
Of course, though he speaks about Robin Hood, the same could be said for many heroes. ;)
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