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You remember the fairy tales you were told when you were…

“You remember the fairy tales you were told when you were very small - 'once upon a time...' Why do you think they always began like that?" "Because they weren't true," Simon said promptly. Jane said, caught up in the unreality of the high remote place, "Because perhaps they were true once, but…” quote by Susan Cooper
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““You remember the fairy tales you were told when you were very small - 'once upon a time...' Why do you think they always began like that?" "Because they weren't true," Simon said promptly. Jane said, caught up in the unreality of the high remote place, "Because perhaps they were true once, but nobody could remember when.””

Susan Cooper

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Fairy tales start with “once upon a time,” suggesting they were once true but now forgotten, hinting at lost truth.

In simple terms: Stories begin with “once upon a time,” implying forgotten truth.

Key Takeaway

Remember the original truth of stories.

Themes

storytelling memory truth

Mood

nostalgic inquisitive

Type

literary reflective

When to use this quote

  • childhood education
  • creative writing
  • cultural analysis

Key Concepts

mythology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we cling to the opening phrase?
  • How does forgotten truth affect belief?
A Different Perspective

Not all stories hold literal truth.

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