The tales of pure terror, of course, are completely…
““The tales of pure terror, of course, are completely naturalistic in their content, and must stand or fall by their merit alone. But what about the supernatural stories? Can we, the children of a scientific age, give any credence to these medleys of devils, ghosts, and other psychical invasions? There is only one answer: we can and do. We are dealing with stories, not with scientific dissertations. And if, as stories, they have the ring of truth, we'll believe them, as stories, implicitly. ("Introduction")””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage argues that supernatural stories, though not scientifically grounded, hold truth as narratives, influencing belief through their compelling nature.
In simple terms: Stories can feel true even without evidence.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate narrative power, but stay critical.
Themes
storytelling
supernatural
belief
science
narrative truth
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
critical
Type
Ghost:0
Ghosts:0
Happiness:0
Horror:1
Storytelling:1
Supernatural:1
Believe Stories:0
Supernatural Stories:0
Ghosts Psychical:0
Stories Implicitly:0
Psychical Invasions:0
When to use this quote
- literature analysis
- media criticism
- education on critical thinking
Key Concepts
psychology of belief
cultural mythmaking
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we accept stories as truth?
- How can we balance narrative appeal with evidence?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on stories can obscure factual understanding.