What are the motifs in The Neverending Story by Michael Ende?

Hubris is a recurring idea in the story. The author of The Neverending Story seeks to teach that the roots of arrogance lie in emotional immaturity. The Neverending Story is a morality tale that relies heavily on modern psychological wisdom to explain mankind's tendency to abuse power. The misuse of power, according to the story, stems from an immature, childish sense of entitlement coupled with low self-esteem. What better audience to teach than children since it is natural and normal for children to be immature. Through Bastian's arduous quest, the author shows how maturity and self-esteem can be gained, and warns of the perils of abandoning the quest before these goals are reached. When the immature Bastian is granted the awesome power of the AURYN medallion, his first inclination is to make himself superior to others in strengths, looks, and power. Bastian then demonstrates classic hubris by wishing for occasions to show off his superior qualities.