Does that change things?” asked the old man. “Maybe…
““Does that change things?” asked the old man. “Maybe Anansi’s just some guy from a story, made up back in Africa in the dawn days of the world by some boy with blackfly on his leg, pushing his crutch in the dirt, making up some goofy story about a man made of tar. Does that change anything? People respond to the stories. They tell them themselves. The stories spread, and as people tell them, the stories change the tellers. Because now the folk who never had any thought in their head but how to run from lions and keep far enough away from rivers that the crocodiles don’t get an easy meal, now they’re starting to dream about a whole new place to live. The world may be the same, but the wallpaper’s changed. Yes? People still have the same story, the one where they get born and they do stuff and they die, but now the story means something different to what it meant before.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Stories evolve as they’re told, reshaping both teller and audience, altering perception of reality.
In simple terms: Stories change and change us.
Key Takeaway
Pay attention to how narratives shape beliefs.
Themes
storytelling
culture
change
perception
identity
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
hopeful
Type
literary
cultural
When to use this quote
- education
- media
- community building
- personal growth
Key Concepts
anthropology
literature
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What story influences your worldview?
- How do you adapt when narratives shift?
A Different Perspective
Stories can also reinforce harmful myths.