Believe Quote by Arundhati Roy
“Writers imagine that they cull stories from the world. I'm beginning to believe that vanity makes them think so. That it's actually the other way around. Stories cull writers from the world. Stories reveal themselves to us. The public narrative, the private narrative - they colonize us. They commission us. They insist on being told. Fiction and nonfiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons that I don't fully understand, fiction dances out of me, and nonfiction is wrenched out by the aching, broken world I wake up to every morning.”
About This Quote
Writers claim they draw stories from reality, but reality is shaped by the stories they tell; fiction and nonfiction are merely different forms of storytelling that both influence and are influenced by the world.
In simple terms: Stories shape both writers and reality.
Key Takeaway
Question the narratives that shape perception.
Themes
storytelling
truth
perception
creativity
power dynamics
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- journalism
- novel writing
- social commentary
- personal expression
Key Concepts
literary theory
philosophy
media studies
Questions to Reflect On
- What narratives dominate your life?
- How does fiction differ from nonfiction in impact?
A Different Perspective
Stories can both reveal and obscure truth.
