--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stories are the only thing that I can be…" description: "\"Stories are the only thing that I can be bothered with. It's the only way that I can do anything, even if I'm quite useless. It's the only area in bein..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/alice-englert-16124_anything_stories-are-the-only-thing-that-i-can-be_390509.jpg" --- # Stories are the only thing that I can be bothered with… ![“Stories are the only thing that I can be bothered with. It's the only way that I can do anything, even if I'm quite useless. It's the only area in being human where I could be a little useful.” quote by Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/alice-englert-16124_anything_stories-are-the-only-thing-that-i-can-be_390509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/alice-englert-16124_anything_stories-are-the-only-thing-that-i-can-be_390509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/alice-englert-16124_anything_stories-are-the-only-thing-that-i-can-be_390509.jpg) > “Stories are the only thing that I can be bothered with. It's the only way that I can do anything, even if I'm quite useless. It's the only area in being human where I could be a little useful.” [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories give purpose and a sense of usefulness despite perceived inadequacy. **In simple terms:** Stories help feel useful. Key Takeaway Use storytelling to find purpose. Themes purpose creativity selfworth Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - writing - teaching - community volunteering - personal reflection Key Concepts narrative therapy meaning-making Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn storytelling into tangible impact? - What stories reflect your values? A Different Perspective Stories may not solve practical problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Being human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-human/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [Stories are the only thing that I can be bothered with. Its the only way that I can do anything, even if Im quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/stories-are-the-only-thing-that-i-can-be-bothered-with-its-the-only/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Everywhere I look, there are ads marking Mother's Day. Mostly they conform to stereotype: flowers, jewelry, perfume. Not a lot of books. Not many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/everywhere-i-look-there-are-ads-marking-mother-s-day-mostly-they/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [I seem to only write New York stories because it's the only thing that inspires or interests me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-westfeldt/i-seem-to-only-write-new-york-stories-because-it-s-the-only-thing/) [Jennifer Westfeldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-westfeldt/) > [From the first, I made my learning, what little it was, useful every way I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcleod-bethune/from-the-first-i-made-my-learning-what-little-it-was-useful-every-way/) [Mary McLeod Bethune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcleod-bethune/) > [We have to listen to other people's stories. That's the thing. And that's the only way that we eventually get to know ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/we-have-to-listen-to-other-people-s-stories-that-s-the-thing-and-that/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [I get very selfish at times. I write about things that are interesting to me. Which are often very different. All of these stories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-thompson/i-get-very-selfish-at-times-i-write-about-things-that-are-interesting/) [Wright Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-thompson/) > [That’s how people live, by telling stories. What’s the first thing a kid says when he learns how to talk? “Tell me a story.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/that-s-how-people-live-by-telling-stories-what-s-the-first-thing-a/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Stories are one thing that will be constant in life. Whether told, written, reenacted they are a fundamental part of human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shirvington/stories-are-one-thing-that-will-be-constant-in-life-whether-told/) [Jessica Shirvington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shirvington/) > [It's my calling to tell stories. It's the one thing that scratches the itch for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williamson/it-s-my-calling-to-tell-stories-it-s-the-one-thing-that-scratches-the/) [Kit Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williamson/) > [After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/after-nourishment-shelter-and-companionship-stories-are-the-thing-we/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I have a lot of stories. I had done a thing called Nightmare in Red White and Blue, which was an anthology of horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/i-have-a-lot-of-stories-i-had-done-a-thing-called-nightmare-in-red/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) > [It seems that singing is the only thing I've been able to do and fortunately it seems to be useful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/it-seems-that-singing-is-the-only-thing-i-ve-been-able-to-do-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [Behavior is mutable. It changes from place to place. It's like accents, dialect - it varies from one area to another. But there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/behavior-is-mutable-it-changes-from-place-to-place-it-s-like-accents/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/) [Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/) ## More by Alice Englert > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I would never want to do something just for the sake of being independent or for the sake of doing big films. I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/i-would-never-want-to-do-something-just-for-the-sake-of-being/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Actually, I think I'm part of the last generation to grow up believing in magic and fairies and believing I had powers - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/actually-i-think-i-m-part-of-the-last-generation-to-grow-up-believing/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I'm a big fan of being able to hold those long shots and use space. I don't know, I think everything's so quick cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/i-m-a-big-fan-of-being-able-to-hold-those-long-shots-and-use-space-i/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I deliberately went to boarding school. It was my choice. My mum was abroad and I wanted to wean myself off being dependent. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/i-deliberately-went-to-boarding-school-it-was-my-choice-my-mum-was/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I've always loved fantasy. I think it's a great way to look at issues that we have in our own lives with a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/i-ve-always-loved-fantasy-i-think-it-s-a-great-way-to-look-at-issues/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Apparently I had lunch with Johnny Depp when I was three months old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/apparently-i-had-lunch-with-johnny-depp-when-i-was-three-months-old/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [What I realised is, watching some old home videos, I've always had a weird accent. It's because I spent a lot of time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/what-i-realised-is-watching-some-old-home-videos-i-ve-always-had-a/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [There are so many of these young-adult movies with these cold guys who act like jerks to girls but are hiding soft sentiments. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-are-so-many-of-these-young-adult-movies-with-these-cold-guys/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I've spent half my life on planes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/i-ve-spent-half-my-life-on-planes/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I think that every child grows up with the ideas that what we our given, is our society. Your education, and your mother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/i-think-that-every-child-grows-up-with-the-ideas-that-what-we-our/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Stories are the only thing that I can be bothered with. Its the only way that I can do anything, even if Im quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/stories-are-the-only-thing-that-i-can-be-bothered-with-its-the-only/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Being in love is not cool!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/being-in-love-is-not-cool/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I dropped out of school and I never took acting classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/i-dropped-out-of-school-and-i-never-took-acting-classes/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Personally, I like films that make me a little bit uncomfortable because I think you're uncomfortable when something is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/personally-i-like-films-that-make-me-a-little-bit-uncomfortable/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) [Explore all 41 Alice Englert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Stories are the only thing that I can be bothered with. It's the only way that I can do anything, even if I'm quite useless. 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