The strange power of art is sometimes it can show that what people have in common is more urgent than what differentiates them. It seems to me it's something that theatre can do, but it's rare; it's very rare.
John BergerRead
If every event which occurred could be given a name, there would be no need for stories.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stories give deeper meaning and connection to events, beyond just naming them.
John Berger's quote suggests that simply naming events is insufficient for understanding our experiences; it emphasizes the essential role of storytelling in enriching our lives and providing insightful narratives that connect us on a deeper level. Stories are not merely labels for occurrences; they encapsulate emotions, lessons, and meaning, which allow us to relate to and reflect on our experiences.
Themes
StoriesEventsMeaningNarrativeExperience
In practice
Example use cases
During a storytelling session, one might share this quote to highlight the importance of narratives.
More from John Berger
All quotes βUnlike any other visual image, a photograph is not a rendering, an imitation or an interpretation of its subject, but actually a trace of it. No painting or drawing, however naturalist, belongs to its subject in the way that a photograph does.
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The camera relieves us of the burden of memory. It surveys us like God, and it surveys for us. Yet no other god has been so cynical, for the camera records in order to forget.
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Propaganda requires a permanent network of communication so that it can systematically stifle reflection with emotive or utopian slogans. Its pace is usually fast.
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Being a unique superpower undermines the military intelligence of strategy. To think strategically, one has to imagine oneself in the enemy's place. If one cannot do this, it is impossible to foresee, to take by surprise, to outflank. Misinterpreting an enemy can lead to defeat. This is how empires fall.
John BergerRead
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I feel like I could be likened to an old hound circling on a rug for the last five years.
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