When we hear those words we automatically consider them to be fictional, for the most part... something that isn't true, something that is a LIE.

Now we react that way because that is what we are taught, that is what we observe of others...

Most lies stem from a small sum of truth.. I know this for a fact since I have been lying for a very long time.

So does this mean that some things occured and then the people considered writing about them, only to go waaaayyy off track and make up some stuff..?

If so then that might explain some things.. but what about prophecies?

Nostradamus is by far the most known prophet...
And yet there have been more...

We don't even know those others are there because we aren't taught that.. instead we are taught that nostradamus was craaaazzzyyy... or we're taught not to think about what his quatrains might mean, but instead to believe others.

Seeing as we are much further ahead of the time at which the quatrain were originally "deciphered", then that means we should be able to decipher them ourselves... with ease.

That isn't true though, seeing as I have tried my hardest to decipher some of the quatrains, and only then did I realize that everyone sees them in a different light...

Which means that they are tools to teach, not to warn.
As are myths.
As are legends.

Is this correct or is this incorrect..? Please.. give me your opinions and state why you believe so.

What you're asking goes beyond most of the regular intellects that posters in the forums have at their disposal (myself included). I will attempt to answer your obvious questions, and then I will ramble about what I see fit.

So does this mean that some things occured and then the people considered writing about them, only to go waaaayyy off track and make up some stuff..?
It's entirely possible. Or, the person was inspired by some event, and decided to write some metaphorical, quaint little tale to give that feeling of inspiration to others. Or perhaps they wanted to give a reason that no one could really disprove because they themselves have no clue.

If so then that might explain some things.. but what about prophecies?
Well, the same thing could apply, I mean, some prophecies are just looking at the current situation of society, and taking one extreme or the other, and projecting it a couple of years down the road. History has an odd tendency to repeat itself sometimes like a senile old grandmother.

That isn't true though, seeing as I have tried my hardest to decipher some of the quatrains, and only then did I realize that everyone sees them in a different light... Which means that they are tools to teach, not to warn. As are myths. As are legends. Is this correct or is this incorrect..?
Correct, and incorrect. Despite that I'm learning this in school, I've figured out for myself that not all things can be taken at face value, and especially literature. All literature, and all mysticism involve symbolism. All symbolism is to teach, and also to warn.

Here begins the rambling:
Myths are to explain occurrences that people had no idea of comprehending, simply because they didn't have "science" at their disposal-- basically how things work. (Religion was to explain why things work.) The beauty of myths were that they explained "how" and "why" all at the same time. They were both belief and knowledge, things to be taken in faith, and to learn from. Legends were tales to inspire hope. Prophecies were to warn. These all are ways the people of old have used to teach humans. This, I believe, was true education, both warning, belief, knowledge, and wisdom. Not only was it useful, but it was interesting, so it stuck in the mind, and in the heart. Storytelling has gone downhill since then, but I still appreciate writers such as Robert Jordan, and them all.

Okay, hopefully, that clarifies things, if it hasn't totally become incomprehensible or contradictory near the end.

Ooooh, smart DP...

I belief the reach of benefit is commonly dictated by the benefactor , been this my start point ,indeed right you are .

I'm not smart. I just babble.

Well, for the first parth, I think there's a difference between myth and legend.

A myth is a purely fabricated story. It has no truthful basis, and was the sole creation of someone's imagination.

A legend is something that has a basis in fact. Something like it happaned at one time. The story may have changed, but there's at least a small part of it that is true.

Those are just my own views on legends and myths.

As for prohpecies, you have to stop and think how many incorrect prophets there are. The National Enquirer has been predicting the end of the world for close to 20 years now. One of these days they'll get it right, but until then, they don't have a great track record.

Prophecying is easy if you predict far enough in the future.

But because there have been so many incorrect prophets we are told to discount the ones that have been right. It is hard enough to believe a propet as it is.

I don't know why we are told to discount what Nostradamus has said. He has been correct many times. He has been incorrect many times, but the amount of times he's been right outweighs the times he's been wrong.

Therefore, I would think that one would spend at least a little time concentrating on what he has said. Or any prophet for that matter. Not necessarily when they predict the end of the world..(I mean, what are you going to do? Stick a paper bag over your head?) but in other cases where you may be able to do something to prevent it. What could it hurt?

Just one thing...

We don't know what his quatrains really mean, since only he does... everyone deciphers them there own way, bringing about their own definition of what they can mean.

This means we don't know if he is correct or if he is incorrect.

Exactly. I've been studying his life and works for awhile, and it's obvious with that mix of French Provencal, Italian, Latin, and God Knows What Else (I just can't remember, lol), no one can decipher them. That was his intent, after all those times the Inquisition was hounding after him, and all... He also wanted to teach us humans a lesson, to warn us, and to give us hope... it's a giant puzzle meant to intrigue...