--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things either become unclear in a story…" description: "\"Things either become unclear in a story or they're just ambiguous with no real point. So defined gray area with clarity that also works in the narrativ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/annette-bening-3058_ambiguous_things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story_2007637.jpg" --- # Things either become unclear in a story or they're just… ![“Things either become unclear in a story or they're just ambiguous with no real point. So defined gray area with clarity that also works in the narrative, that's tricky.” quote by Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/annette-bening-3058_ambiguous_things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story_2007637.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/annette-bening-3058_ambiguous_things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story_2007637.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/annette-bening-3058_ambiguous_things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story_2007637.jpg) > “Things either become unclear in a story or they're just ambiguous with no real point. So defined gray area with clarity that also works in the narrative, that's tricky.” [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Narrative clarity requires balancing ambiguity with purpose; without direction, confusion reigns. **In simple terms:** Stories need clear purpose. Key Takeaway Seek purpose in ambiguity. Themes storytelling clarity ambiguity Mood analytical curious Type literary educational When to use this quote - writing - film making - public speaking Key Concepts literary theory communication Questions to Reflect On - When does ambiguity enhance a story? - How can you maintain purpose while allowing mystery? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on clarity can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambiguous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambiguous/) [Clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clarity/) [Gray area](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gray-area/) [Just Ambiguous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-ambiguous-3566852/) [Narrative Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative-tricky-3566850/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Things Unclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-unclear-3566851/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricky/) [Unclear Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unclear-story-3566849/) ## Related quotes > [The ambiguous, gray areas of authority and responsibility between parents and teachers exacerbate the distrust between them. The distrust is further complicated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-lawrence-lightfoot/the-ambiguous-gray-areas-of-authority-and-responsibility-between/) [Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-lawrence-lightfoot/) > [I love the gray area between right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-love-the-gray-area-between-right-and-wrong/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [When you're working on something where there's usually one sex scene in the film, it all gets a little bit of a gray area…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/when-you-re-working-on-something-where-there-s-usually-one-sex-scene/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [I really see food as subjective. It's a creative outlet. It's something that you do for fun. It's a gray area. It's not black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-elliot/i-really-see-food-as-subjective-it-s-a-creative-outlet-it-s-something/) [Graham Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-elliot/) > [I think people understand things different when they get older. It’s not a question of getting soft, or seeing things in the gray areas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-think-people-understand-things-different-when-they-get-older-it-s/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [If you want to slice into America, it's pretty red, white, and blue in terms of how it goes about things, but there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/if-you-want-to-slice-into-america-it-s-pretty-red-white-and-blue-in/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I try to write about real women, real people - in other words flawed characters. I find flawed characters much more interesting than perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-write-about-real-women-real-people-in-other-words-flawed-2/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Well, you know, in any novel you would hope that the hero has someone to push back against, and villains - I find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/well-you-know-in-any-novel-you-would-hope-that-the-hero-has-someone/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [The middle of the road is all of the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-middle-of-the-road-is-all-of-the-usable-surface-the-extremes/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The Internet foments outrageous behavior in part because it is a 'gray area' for social interactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-simmons/the-internet-foments-outrageous-behavior-in-part-because-it-is-a-gray/) [Rachel Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-simmons/) > [“Oftentimes, we end up in the gray area because we allow ourselves to get into or stay in situations without setting any clear expectations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-brown-white/oftentimes-we-end-up-in-the-gray-area-because-we-allow-ourselves-to/) [Shonda Brown White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-brown-white/) > [“Sometimes, there is no right thing. Sometimes wrong wins, and that’s okay. Life can’t be distilled down to right and wrong. It’s all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pippa-dacosta/sometimes-there-is-no-right-thing-sometimes-wrong-wins-and-that-s/) [Pippa DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pippa-dacosta/) > [All of the films that I've made are about the country I live in and grew up in... And I think if you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/all-of-the-films-that-i-ve-made-are-about-the-country-i-live-in-and/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Everything is not black-and-white . I'm really interested in the gray area - not justifying it, not glorifying it, not condoning it, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-washington/everything-is-not-black-and-white-i-m-really-interested-in-the-gray/) [Isaiah Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-washington/) > [The discrepancy between what actually happened and the version of what happened provided by sources is an enormous gray area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-jay-epstein/the-discrepancy-between-what-actually-happened-and-the-version-of/) [Edward Jay Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-jay-epstein/) ## More by Annette Bening > [I never thought my private life would be newsworthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-never-thought-my-private-life-would-be-newsworthy/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I do have to take care of myself, not only because I'm in the movies, just for mental health reasons. I exercise for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-do-have-to-take-care-of-myself-not-only-because-i-m-in-the-movies/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [We all get lost along the way, but hopefully we figure out some sort of path. It helps if you can imagine the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/we-all-get-lost-along-the-way-but-hopefully-we-figure-out-some-sort/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [One of the things on a very practical level as an actor or actress is that when you do a play, you do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/one-of-the-things-on-a-very-practical-level-as-an-actor-or-actress-is/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [We want to be seen for who we really are, and each person has his own complex story and reasons for doing what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/we-want-to-be-seen-for-who-we-really-are-and-each-person-has-his-own/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I don't see myself as competing with other actresses. I mean, I went through a time when I was in New York, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-don-t-see-myself-as-competing-with-other-actresses-i-mean-i-went/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I'm lucky: almost all my family has lived to be very old. I have one grandfather who lived to be 100.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-m-lucky-almost-all-my-family-has-lived-to-be-very-old-i-have-one/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [It's always tricky to watch yourself, always. When I first had to watch myself, it was really hard because I'd done quite a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/it-s-always-tricky-to-watch-yourself-always-when-i-first-had-to-watch/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [To me, I didn't think of acting as being a young thing only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/to-me-i-didn-t-think-of-acting-as-being-a-young-thing-only/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I act, but I am a mother first and wife second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-act-but-i-am-a-mother-first-and-wife-second/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Why I love acting is that it's totally subjective and I like that. I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/why-i-love-acting-is-that-it-s-totally-subjective-and-i-like-that-i/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Somebody said something really smart: It's like you end up being the defense attorney for your role. Your job is to defend their point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/somebody-said-something-really-smart-it-s-like-you-end-up-being-the/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Anybody who has children and children who are well feels a sense of responsibility towards parents and kids and families that are struggling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/anybody-who-has-children-and-children-who-are-well-feels-a-sense-of/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I just want to be educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-just-want-to-be-educated/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I remember hearing someone say that good acting is more about taking off a mask than putting one on, and in movie acting, certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-remember-hearing-someone-say-that-good-acting-is-more-about-taking/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) [Explore all 141 Annette Bening quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) ## More Ambiguous quotes > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Happiness can be bought with a bottle of wine and has become ambiguous through overuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-can-be-bought-with-a-bottle-of-wine-and-has-become/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Somehow, in the novel format, I don't really like to do upfront, ideological discussion. In my heart, literature remains a poetic and ambiguous medium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xiaolu-guo/somehow-in-the-novel-format-i-don-t-really-like-to-do-upfront/) [Xiaolu Guo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xiaolu-guo/) > [Redundancy is ambiguous because it seems like a waste if nothing unusual happens. Except that something unusual happens-usually .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/redundancy-is-ambiguous-because-it-seems-like-a-waste-if-nothing/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“In general we are reminded that the word heimlich is not unambiguous, but belongs to two sets of ideas, which, without being contradictory, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/in-general-we-are-reminded-that-the-word-heimlich-is-not-unambiguous/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [I want each poem to be ambiguous enough that its meaning can shift, depending on the reader's own frame of reference, and depending on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/i-want-each-poem-to-be-ambiguous-enough-that-its-meaning-can-shift/) [James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/) > [Photography appears to be an easy activity; in fact it is a varied and ambiguous process in which the only common denominator among its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/photography-appears-to-be-an-easy-activity-in-fact-it-is-a-varied-and/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [My drawings inspire, and are not to be defined. They place us, as does music, in the ambiguous realm of the undetermined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odilon-redon/my-drawings-inspire-and-are-not-to-be-defined-they-place-us-as-does/) [Odilon Redon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odilon-redon/) > [Words are such gross machinery, so primitive and ambiguous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/words-are-such-gross-machinery-so-primitive-and-ambiguous/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Wave particle duality is a core feature of our world. Or rather, we should say, it is a core feature of our mathematical descriptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-wertheim/wave-particle-duality-is-a-core-feature-of-our-world-or-rather-we/) [Margaret Wertheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-wertheim/) > [Humor is really one of the hardest things to define, very hard. And it's very ambiguous. You have it or you don't. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-b-ll/humor-is-really-one-of-the-hardest-things-to-define-very-hard-and-it/) [Heinrich Böll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-b-ll/) > [I was perceiving myself as good as a man or equal to a man and as powerful and I wanted to look ambiguous because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-was-perceiving-myself-as-good-as-a-man-or-equal-to-a-man-and-as/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I was always, like, ambiguous. Is that how you say it? When I was turning 16 I talked to my mom about transitioning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adore-delano/i-was-always-like-ambiguous-is-that-how-you-say-it-when-i-was-turning/) [Adore Delano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adore-delano/) > [I am Indian-American, but I often play ethnically ambiguous roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiya-sircar/i-am-indian-american-but-i-often-play-ethnically-ambiguous-roles/) [Tiya Sircar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiya-sircar/) > [Humor is really one of the hardest things to define, very hard. And it's very ambiguous. You have it, or you don't. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-b-ll/humor-is-really-one-of-the-hardest-things-to-define-very-hard-and-it-2/) [Heinrich Boll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-b-ll/) [Browse all 271 Ambiguous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambiguous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Things either become unclear in a story or they're just ambiguous with no real point. So defined gray area with clarity that also works in the narrative, that's tricky.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Annette Bening" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story-or-they-re-just-ambiguous/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambiguous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story-or-they-re-just-ambiguous/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/annette-bening-3058_ambiguous_things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story_2007637.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/annette-bening-3058_ambiguous_things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story_2007637.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/annette-bening-3058_ambiguous_things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story_2007637.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Things either become unclear in a story or they're just ambiguous with no real point. So defined gray area…” — Annette Bening", "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": "Annette Bening", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Things either become unclear in a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story-or-they-re-just-ambiguous/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/things-either-become-unclear-in-a-story-or-they-re-just-ambiguous/#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 } } ] } ```