--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it's correct to say that there is a…" description: "\"If it's correct to say that there is a closing of minds around the world, story is one of the most powerful agents of reviving the conversation between..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/anthony-mccarten-16426_around-the-world_if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-c_1461522.jpg" --- # If it's correct to say that there is a closing of minds… ![“If it's correct to say that there is a closing of minds around the world, story is one of the most powerful agents of reviving the conversation between ideas. Ultimately, that's all stories are trying to do - open the conversation. They cannot give a proscription. It's not clairvoyant art.” quote by Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/anthony-mccarten-16426_around-the-world_if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-c_1461522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/anthony-mccarten-16426_around-the-world_if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-c_1461522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/anthony-mccarten-16426_around-the-world_if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-c_1461522.jpg) > “If it's correct to say that there is a closing of minds around the world, story is one of the most powerful agents of reviving the conversation between ideas. Ultimately, that's all stories are trying to do - open the conversation. They cannot give a proscription. It's not clairvoyant art.” [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories act as catalysts that revive dialogue between ideas, without prescribing solutions. **In simple terms:** Stories spark conversation, not dictate answers. Key Takeaway Use stories to open dialogue. Themes communication ideas storytelling Mood inspirational curious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - media - public discourse - conflict resolution Key Concepts dialogue cultural exchange Questions to Reflect On - How can stories balance openness and guidance? - What stories have changed your perspective? A Different Perspective Stories may oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Closing Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closing-minds-5280780/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Open Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-conversation-755656/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Stories Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-trying-253742/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-powerful-849630/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-story-387633/) ## Related quotes > [ \[My mother\] closed the school the next day \[after a visit from Castro's soldiers\], because she knew that the purpose of education was the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/my-mother-closed-the-school-the-next-day-after-a-visit-from-castro-s/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [OCTOBER BABY is a profoundly beautiful story and a powerful testament to the importance of every human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-dannenfelser/october-baby-is-a-profoundly-beautiful-story-and-a-powerful-testament/) [Marjorie Dannenfelser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-dannenfelser/) > [In each of our lives, there are certain moments that have the potential to change everything, depending on how we react. Those are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dileesh-pothan/in-each-of-our-lives-there-are-certain-moments-that-have-the/) [Dileesh Pothan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dileesh-pothan/) > [The human longing for story is so powerful, so primitive, that it seems like something not learned, but locked into our genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/the-human-longing-for-story-is-so-powerful-so-primitive-that-it-seems/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [Any story about a powerful woman owning herself in any way is automatically deemed feminist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-brewer/any-story-about-a-powerful-woman-owning-herself-in-any-way-is/) [Madeline Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-brewer/) > [You're trying to bring a character to an audience, and tell stories. That's what we're all trying do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lee-miller/you-re-trying-to-bring-a-character-to-an-audience-and-tell-stories/) [Jonny Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lee-miller/) > [Telling a story is like trying to eat grapes with a fork. It's always trying to get away from you. And if you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/telling-a-story-is-like-trying-to-eat-grapes-with-a-fork-it-s-always/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I continue to enjoy looking for stories, and trying to do the best job I can reporting and writing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-greene/i-continue-to-enjoy-looking-for-stories-and-trying-to-do-the-best-job/) [Bob Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-greene/) > [“Story is one of the most powerful ways we pattern our world and discover its meaningfulness. It goes beyond mere embellishment of a spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/story-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-ways-we-pattern-our-world-and/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [“Your story is your most powerful weapon. We must use our hurts to help. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/your-story-is-your-most-powerful-weapon-we-must-use-our-hurts-to-help/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [My work often begins as little internal dares, wondering if I can pull something off. So I spent a few years drawing these stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-marra/my-work-often-begins-as-little-internal-dares-wondering-if-i-can-pull/) [Anthony Marra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-marra/) > [Wherever the good stories are, I'm trying to place myself there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-wright/wherever-the-good-stories-are-i-m-trying-to-place-myself-there/) [Letitia Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-wright/) > [“Story is powerful. Story is fluid and it belongs to nobody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-abani/story-is-powerful-story-is-fluid-and-it-belongs-to-nobody/) [Chris Abani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-abani/) > [(I want to) make good stories that have a redemptive message and allow people to dig into their own lives and personal struggles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-waters/i-want-to-make-good-stories-that-have-a-redemptive-message-and-allow/) [Drew Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-waters/) > [“The space between meeting a stranger and making a new friend can be a short distance or a gaping chasm. By understanding how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/the-space-between-meeting-a-stranger-and-making-a-new-friend-can-be-a/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) ## More by Anthony McCarten > [One of the great things about Churchill is that he had the guts to say the unpalatable, to level with the people, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/one-of-the-great-things-about-churchill-is-that-he-had-the-guts-to/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [At 17, I wanted to be a rock star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/at-17-i-wanted-to-be-a-rock-star/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [Reading is essential to human life. When the last reader dies, humanity will be at an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/reading-is-essential-to-human-life-when-the-last-reader-dies-humanity/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [There's a really fine line between artistic license and artistic licentiousness. And history is a lousy filmmaker. It doesn't give you all the ingredients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/there-s-a-really-fine-line-between-artistic-license-and-artistic/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [If we did not have the impulse and ability to believe in the impossible, we would not have religion, democracy, or marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/if-we-did-not-have-the-impulse-and-ability-to-believe-in-the/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [My experience is, the writer I was when I began was only a fraction of what I feel capable of doing now. Don't stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/my-experience-is-the-writer-i-was-when-i-began-was-only-a-fraction-of/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [My routine is to create activities for myself unrelated to writing that allow little time for writing. This means that when I do get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/my-routine-is-to-create-activities-for-myself-unrelated-to-writing/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [I was born to a very large family, one of 7 kids. I grew up with carnivals and chaos all around me, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/i-was-born-to-a-very-large-family-one-of-7-kids-i-grew-up-with/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [Truth is seldom appreciated and never understood, whereas a flattering lie is always appreciated and instantly understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/truth-is-seldom-appreciated-and-never-understood-whereas-a-flattering/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [Since my student days, I'd been a fan of those books with titles like 'Great Speeches that Changed the World,' as I loved the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/since-my-student-days-i-d-been-a-fan-of-those-books-with-titles-like/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [“Finally, it's not the lies we tell others that do the most damage, it's those we tell ourselves. From this all troubles rise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/finally-it-s-not-the-lies-we-tell-others-that-do-the-most-damage-it-s/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [We're living in extraordinary times, all the time. The issues that assail us are perennial. They haven't changed since the Greeks picked up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/we-re-living-in-extraordinary-times-all-the-time-the-issues-that/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [It's impossible to make a living in the arts unless you make a fortune. There's almost no in-between. Writers are either broke or rolling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/it-s-impossible-to-make-a-living-in-the-arts-unless-you-make-a/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [I still present myself as a New Zealander, answering people's questions about New Zealand and contributing in my own unlikely way to the global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/i-still-present-myself-as-a-new-zealander-answering-people-s/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [I have three favorite cities: London, Wellington, and Los Angeles. What makes them so good? The friends who live there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/i-have-three-favorite-cities-london-wellington-and-los-angeles-what/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) [Explore all 40 Anthony McCarten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) ## More Around the world quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) [Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it's correct to say that there is a closing of minds around the world, story is one of the most powerful agents of reviving the conversation between ideas. Ultimately, that's all stories are trying to do - open the conversation. They cannot give a proscription. It's not clairvoyant art.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony McCarten" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-closing-of-minds-around-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Around the world" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-closing-of-minds-around-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/anthony-mccarten-16426_around-the-world_if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-c_1461522.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/anthony-mccarten-16426_around-the-world_if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-c_1461522.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/anthony-mccarten-16426_around-the-world_if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-c_1461522.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it's correct to say that there is a closing of minds around the world, story is one of the most powerful…” — Anthony McCarten", "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": "Anthony McCarten", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If it's correct to say that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-closing-of-minds-around-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/if-it-s-correct-to-say-that-there-is-a-closing-of-minds-around-the/#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 } } ] } ```