Still. Four words. And I didn’t realize it until a couple…
““Still. Four words. And I didn’t realize it until a couple of days ago, when someone wrote in to my blog: Dear Neil, If you could choose a quote - either by you or another author - to be inscribed on the wall of a public library children’s area, what would it be? Thanks! Lynn I pondered a bit. I’d said a lot about books and kids’ reading over the years, and other people had said things pithier and wiser than I ever could. And then it hit me, and this is what I wrote: I’m not sure I’d put a quote up, if it was me, and I had a library wall to deface. I think I’d just remind people of the power of stories, and why they exist in the first place. I’d put up the four words that anyone telling a story wants to hear. The ones that show that it’s working, and that pages will be turned: “… and then w””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Stories empower and exist to fulfill a purpose; the four words “… and then w” symbolize continuation and hope.
In simple terms: Stories give purpose and continue forward.
Key Takeaway
Share stories that inspire continuation.
Themes
literature
purpose
storytelling
Mood
inspirational
hopeful
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- education
- library programming
- creative writing
Key Concepts
narrative power
human motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What story has most impacted you?
- How can you foster storytelling in your community?
A Different Perspective
Over‑emphasis on stories may overlook other forms of learning.