Humans like stories. Humans need stories. Stories are good. Stories work. Story clarifies and captures the essence of the human spirit. Story, in all its forms—of life, of love, of knowledge—has traced the upward surge of mankind. And story, you mark my words, will be with the last human to draw breath.
Interpretation
Stories are an essential part of human existence, shaping our understanding and connection to life.
This quote by Jasper Fforde emphasizes the fundamental role that storytelling plays in human life. It suggests that stories are not only important for communication and understanding but also serve as a vital medium through which the essence of humanity is expressed and preserved across generations. Stories unite us, help us make sense of our experiences, and will continue to exist as long as humanity does.
In practice
During a conference on creativity, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of storytelling in innovation.
I didn't set out to discover a truth. I was actually sent to the Outer Fringes to conduct a chair census and learn some humility. But the truth inevitably found me, as important truths often do, like a lost thought in need of a mind.
Whereas story is processed in the mind in a straightforward manner, poetry bypasses rational thought and goes straight to the limbic system and lights it up like a brushfire. It's the crack cocaine of the literary world.
Put your soul in the palm of my hand for me to look at, like a crystal jewel. I'll sketch it in words.
Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.
No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.
I have no desire to prove anything by dancing. I have never used it as an outlet or a means of expressing myself. I just dance. I just put my feet in the air and move them around.
Beautiful things spoil nothing.
I pride myself on working with great musicians.
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