A short story is the ultimate close-up magic trick -- a couple of thousand words to take you around the universe or break your heart.
Neil GaimanRead
I can believe things that are true and things that aren't true and I can believe things where nobody knows if they're true or not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the complexity of belief, suggesting that one can hold onto truths, falsehoods, and uncertainties simultaneously.
Neil Gaiman's quote reflects on the nature of belief and perception. It suggests that belief is not limited to empirical truths or established facts, but can encompass the realm of possibilities, including those things that may not have clear answers. This perspective encourages an open-minded approach to life, where individuals are allowed to embrace mystery and ambiguity, acknowledging that not all truths are black and white.
Themes
BeliefTruthUncertaintyPhilosophyPerception
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on existentialism, this quote could be shared to illustrate the multifaceted nature of human belief.
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As a teenager I wrote to R.A. Lafferty. And he responded, too, with letters that were like R.A. Lafferty short stories, filled with elliptical answers to straight questions and simple answers to complicated ones.
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The important thing to understand about American history, wrote Mr. Ibis, in his leather-bound journal, is that it is fictional, a charcoal-sketched simplicity for the children, or the easily bored.
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Nothing’s changed. You’ll go home. You’ll be bored. You’ll be ignored. No one will listen to you, really listen to you. You’re too clever and too quiet for them to understand. They don’t even get your name right.
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I like the stars. It's the illusion of permanence, I think. I mean, they're always flaring up and caving in and going out. But from here, I can pretend...I can pretend that things last. I can pretend that lives last longer than moments. Gods come, and gods go. Mortals flicker and flash and fade. Worlds don't last; and stars and galaxies are transient, fleeting things that twinkle like fireflies and vanish into cold and dust. But I can pretend.
Neil GaimanRead
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