---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that we are a story-driven…"
description: "\"I believe that we are a story-driven species and that we understand how things are put together, in the context of narrative. It's a shame that science..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ann-druyan-13605_believe_i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-spe_295714.jpg"
---

#  I believe that we are a story-driven species and that we…

![“I believe that we are a story-driven species and that we understand how things are put together, in the context of narrative. It's a shame that science hasn't been taught that way, in a long time. It's usually the fact completely devoid of any human experience or any idea of how the scientist came…” quote by Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ann-druyan-13605_believe_i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-spe_295714.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ann-druyan-13605_believe_i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-spe_295714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ann-druyan-13605_believe_i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-spe_295714.jpg)

> “I believe that we are a story-driven species and that we understand how things are put together, in the context of narrative. It's a shame that science hasn't been taught that way, in a long time. It's usually the fact completely devoid of any human experience or any idea of how the scientist came to that conclusion.”

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

## About This Quote

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

Advocates teaching science through narrative to connect facts with human experience, enhancing understanding.

**In simple terms:** Teach science as story for better grasp.

Key Takeaway

Use narrative in science education.

Themes

education storytelling science

Mood

hopeful inquisitive

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- classrooms
- public lectures
- media content

Key Concepts

cognitive framing human-centered learning

Questions to Reflect On

- How can stories preserve scientific accuracy?
- What narratives best illustrate scientific concepts?

A Different Perspective

Narratives may oversimplify complex data.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Human experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-experience/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“How fortunate that science hasn't cracked human immortality. It's a great blessing that we can outlive old wars. And old warriors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/how-fortunate-that-science-hasn-t-cracked-human-immortality-it-s-a/)

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

> [Contempt for science could perhaps depend on the fact that, science hasn't been able to solve any of our basic problems, for example the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-rn-ulvaeus/contempt-for-science-could-perhaps-depend-on-the-fact-that-science/)

[Bjorn Ulvaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-rn-ulvaeus/)

> [Science not only hasn't found God, it isn't even looking for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sloan/science-not-only-hasn-t-found-god-it-isn-t-even-looking-for-him/)

[Gary Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sloan/)

> [The more you know about a species, the more you understand about how better to help protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-clark/the-more-you-know-about-a-species-the-more-you-understand-about-how/)

[Alan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-clark/)

> [We humans are naturally a difficult species to understand. We aren't simplistic in any way, shape or form. That is why are brains tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/we-humans-are-naturally-a-difficult-species-to-understand-we-aren-t/)

Isaiah Harden (Me

> [We cannot learn freedom and responsibility within the confines of our own species. We cannot understand life and death and what they are for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-mills/we-cannot-learn-freedom-and-responsibility-within-the-confines-of-our/)

[Stephanie Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-mills/)

> [The costs of an ignorance of science are nor just practical ones like misbegotten policies, forgone cures, and a unilateral disarmament in national competitiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-costs-of-an-ignorance-of-science-are-nor-just-practical-ones-like/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [If there is one conclusion to which human experience unmistakably points it is that democratic ends demand democratic methods for their realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/if-there-is-one-conclusion-to-which-human-experience-unmistakably/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [“Naval officers were not mother's sort; very few people were her sort in those days, and that was her trouble - a very authentic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lowell/naval-officers-were-not-mother-s-sort-very-few-people-were-her-sort/)

[Robert Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lowell/)

> [“Strangers when you meet, strangers when you part -a gymnasium of bodies namelessly masturbating each other. People with no morals often considered themselves more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/strangers-when-you-meet-strangers-when-you-part-a-gymnasium-of-bodies/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [“There is no one way of seeing. Nor is there a right way of seeing. Yet simply to accept the notion that both the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-lasalle/there-is-no-one-way-of-seeing-nor-is-there-a-right-way-of-seeing-yet/)

[Mick LaSalle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-lasalle/)

> [I think it's something to do with the nurturing side of the psyche; tying up a sunflower or whatever and helping it grow, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/i-think-it-s-something-to-do-with-the-nurturing-side-of-the-psyche/)

[Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/)

> [“know that I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience. I’m a spiritual being having a human experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/know-that-i-m-not-a-human-being-having-a-spiritual-experience-i-m-a/)

[Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/)

> [There is no normal. I've never met a normal person. The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/)

[Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/)

## More by Ann Druyan

> [We are living in a society that is totally dependent on science and high technology, and yet most of us are effectively alienated and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/we-are-living-in-a-society-that-is-totally-dependent-on-science-and/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [If you have a beating heart, that's good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/if-you-have-a-beating-heart-that-s-good-enough/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [“It's not for any one generation to see the completed picture. That's the point. The picture is never completed. There is always so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/it-s-not-for-any-one-generation-to-see-the-completed-picture-that-s/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [“Why do we separate the scientific, which is just a way of searching for the truth, from what we hold sacred, which are those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/why-do-we-separate-the-scientific-which-is-just-a-way-of-searching/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [The Universe revealed by science is one of far more awesome grandeur than any religion has ever posited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/the-universe-revealed-by-science-is-one-of-far-more-awesome-grandeur/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [No single step in the persuit of enlightenment should ever be considered sacred; only the search was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/no-single-step-in-the-persuit-of-enlightenment-should-ever-be/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [People think that if you are a scientist you have to give up that joy of discovery, that passion, that sense of the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/people-think-that-if-you-are-a-scientist-you-have-to-give-up-that-joy/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [Carl did not want to believe. He wanted to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/carl-did-not-want-to-believe-he-wanted-to-know/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [If you are searching for sacred knowledge and not just a palliative for your fears, then you will train yourself to be a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/if-you-are-searching-for-sacred-knowledge-and-not-just-a-palliative/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [We smoked the way other American families would have wine with dinner. For us, it was our sacrament. It was something that made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/we-smoked-the-way-other-american-families-would-have-wine-with-dinner/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [The greatest thing that science teaches you is the law of unintended consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/the-greatest-thing-that-science-teaches-you-is-the-law-of-unintended/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [For most of the history of our species we were helpless to understand how nature works. We took every storm, drought, illness and comet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/for-most-of-the-history-of-our-species-we-were-helpless-to-understand/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [Contrary to the fantasies of the fundamentalists, there was no deathbed conversion, no last minute refuge taken in a comforting vision of a heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/contrary-to-the-fantasies-of-the-fundamentalists-there-was-no/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [The only gratification that science denies to us is deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/the-only-gratification-that-science-denies-to-us-is-deception/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

> [Well, I actually grew up in the sixties. I feel very lucky, actually, that that was my slice of time that I was dealt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/well-i-actually-grew-up-in-the-sixties-i-feel-very-lucky-actually/)

[Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

[Explore all 49 Ann Druyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I believe that we are a story-driven species and that we understand how things are put together, in the context of narrative. It's a shame that science hasn't been taught that way, in a long time. It's usually the fact completely devoid of any human experience or any idea of how the scientist came to that conclusion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ann Druyan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-species-and-that-we-understand/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-species-and-that-we-understand/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ann-druyan-13605_believe_i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-spe_295714.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ann-druyan-13605_believe_i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-spe_295714.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ann-druyan-13605_believe_i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-spe_295714.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I believe that we are a story-driven species and that we understand how things are put together, in the…” — Ann Druyan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ann Druyan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I believe that we are a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-species-and-that-we-understand/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-species-and-that-we-understand/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
