It was entirely taken for granted that there wasn't any…
““It was entirely taken for granted that there wasn't any lying in our family, and I was advanced in adolescence before I realized that in plenty of homes where I played with schoolmates, and went to their parties, children lied to their parents and parents lied to their children and to each other. It took me a long time to realize that these very same everyday lies, and the stratagems and jokes and tricks and dares that went with them, were in fact the basis of the scenes I so well loved to hear about and hoped for and treasured in the conversation of adults. My instinct - the dramatic instinct - was to lead me, eventually, on the right track for a storyteller: the scene was full of hints, pointers, suggestions, and promises of things to find out and know about human beings.I had to grow up and learn to listen for the unspoken as well as the spoken - and to know a truth, I also had to recognize a lie.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Highlights how everyday deception shapes narrative intrigue and the storyteller’s skill to read between lines.
In simple terms: Lies and tricks fuel storytelling depth.
Key Takeaway
Listen for hidden truths in stories.
Themes
storytelling
perception
truth
deception
Mood
reflective
curious
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- media analysis
- family communication
- detective work
Key Concepts
narrative theory
psychology
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern truth from fiction?
- What role do unspoken cues play in your life?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on lies can breed cynicism.