The Nigerian storyteller Ben Okri says that ‘In a…
“The Nigerian storyteller Ben Okri says that ‘In a fractured age, when cynicism is god, here is a possible heresy: we live by stories, we also live in them. One way or another we are living the stories planted in us early or along the way, or we are also living the stories we planted — knowingly or unknowingly — in ourselves. We live stories that either give our lives meaning or negate it with meaninglessness. If we change the stories we live by, quite possibly we change our lives.’”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Stories shape identity and reality; altering them can transform personal and collective life.
In simple terms: Stories guide us; changing them changes us.
Key Takeaway
Re‑write your narrative.
Themes
identity
meaning
storytelling
change
agency
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- political discourse
- education
- therapy
- media creation
Key Concepts
Narrative psychology
constructivism
mythopoetics
Questions to Reflect On
- What story are you living?
- How can you consciously reshape it?
A Different Perspective
Stories can oversimplify complex lives, leading to false narratives.