QuoteProject
As soon as histories are properly told there is no more need of romances.
Walt Whitman
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

True stories can be more compelling than fictional tales.

Walt Whitman's quote suggests that when the narratives of history are effectively conveyed, they possess so much depth, emotion, and significance that they surpass fabricated stories or romances. These historical accounts can evoke strong feelings and reveal profound truths about human experience, illustrating that reality can be just as engaging, if not more so, than fiction.

Themes

HistoryTruthStorytellingLiteratureNarrative

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the importance of historical education.

More from Walt Whitman

All music is is what awakes from you when you are reminded by the instruments.
Walt WhitmanRead
Did you, too, O friend, suppose democracy was only for elections, for politics, and for a party name? I say democracy is only of use there that it may pass on and come to its flower and fruit in manners, in the highest forms of interaction between people, and their beliefs - in religion, literature, colleges and schools- democracy in all public and private life.
Walt WhitmanRead
In the confusion we stay with each other, happy to be together, speaking without uttering a single word.
Walt WhitmanRead
A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.
Walt WhitmanRead
Now, dearest comrade, lift me to your face,_x000D_ _x000D_ We must separate awhileHere! take from my lips this kiss._x000D_ _x000D_ Whoever you are, I give it especially to you;_x000D_ _x000D_ So long!And I hope we shall meet again.
Walt WhitmanRead
And whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral drest in his shroud.
Walt WhitmanRead

Similar quotes

One cannot be too careful in the selection of adjectives for descriptions. Words or compounds which describe precisely, and which convey exactly the right suggestions to the mind of the reader, are essential.
H. P. LovecraftRead
Books and marriage go ill together.
MoliereRead
It had been startling and disappointing to me to find out that story books had been written by people, that books were not natural wonders, coming of themselves like grass.
Eudora WeltyRead
Until the 20th century it was generally assumed that a writer had said what he had to say in his works.
John UpdikeRead
I think the novel is not so much a literary genre, but a literary space, like a sea that is filled by many rivers. The novel receives streams of science, philosophy, poetry and contains all of these; it's not simply telling a story.
Jose SaramagoRead
I sent The World Well Lost to one editor who rejected it on sight, and then wrote a letter to every other editor in the field warning them against the story, and urging them to reject it on sight without reading it.
Theodore SturgeonRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.