--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each of us has been designed for one of…" description: "\"Each of us has been designed for one of two immortal functions, as either a storyteller or as a cross-legged listener to tales of wonder, love, and dar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/bryce-courtenay-7125_crosses_each-of-us-has-been-designed-for-one-of_2475619.jpg" --- # Each of us has been designed for one of two immortal… ![“Each of us has been designed for one of two immortal functions, as either a storyteller or as a cross-legged listener to tales of wonder, love, and daring. When we cease to tell or listen, then we no longer exist as a people.” quote by Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/bryce-courtenay-7125_crosses_each-of-us-has-been-designed-for-one-of_2475619.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/bryce-courtenay-7125_crosses_each-of-us-has-been-designed-for-one-of_2475619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/bryce-courtenay-7125_crosses_each-of-us-has-been-designed-for-one-of_2475619.jpg) > “Each of us has been designed for one of two immortal functions, as either a storyteller or as a cross-legged listener to tales of wonder, love, and daring. When we cease to tell or listen, then we no longer exist as a people.” [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans exist as storytellers or listeners; without these, cultural identity fades. **In simple terms:** Storytelling sustains culture. Key Takeaway Preserve storytelling and listening traditions. Themes culture storytelling identity Mood reflective inspirational Type cultural educational When to use this quote - education - family gatherings - media production - community events Key Concepts mythology collective memory Questions to Reflect On - How do stories shape identity? - What role does listening play in community? A Different Perspective Digital media can dilute oral traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daring/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [Eduardo Halfon is a brilliant storyteller, whose gifts are displayed on every page of this beautiful, daring, and deeply humane book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-alarcon/eduardo-halfon-is-a-brilliant-storyteller-whose-gifts-are-displayed/) [Daniel Alarcon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-alarcon/) > [William Shakespeare was the most remarkable storyteller that the world has ever known. Homer told of adventure and men at war, Sophocles and Tolstoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marchette-chute/william-shakespeare-was-the-most-remarkable-storyteller-that-the/) Marchette Chute > [O may I join the choir invisible of those immortal dead who live again in minds made better by their presence; live in pulses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/o-may-i-join-the-choir-invisible-of-those-immortal-dead-who-live/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I am essentially an entertainer and a storyteller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/i-am-essentially-an-entertainer-and-a-storyteller/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [It's been a privilege to write for you and to have you accept me as a storyteller in your lives, Now, as my story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/it-s-been-a-privilege-to-write-for-you-and-to-have-you-accept-me-as-a/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [I guess my use-by date is just about up but if I could come back as a storyteller now, I would be jumping over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/i-guess-my-use-by-date-is-just-about-up-but-if-i-could-come-back-as-a/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [I feel like we've found an interesting little corner of the sandbox here as far as the way we're telling sci-fi stories. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-trevorrow/i-feel-like-we-ve-found-an-interesting-little-corner-of-the-sandbox/) [Colin Trevorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-trevorrow/) > [I hate it when girls say guys who care or have feelings don't exist, they do exist, people just don't notice them, there's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-hate-it-when-girls-say-guys-who-care-or-have-feelings-don-t-exist/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [I believe that I exist for the people. I'm just here to try to make a difference, and hopefully, the people listen and trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/i-believe-that-i-exist-for-the-people-i-m-just-here-to-try-to-make-a/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [“Some people are happy to exist, and other people are happy to exit. 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For years, it was glaringly obvious that a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/the-key-thing-about-lcd-soundsystem-is-that-people-always-wanted-this/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [“Religions exist because people would rather have a wrong answer than no answer at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/religions-exist-because-people-would-rather-have-a-wrong-answer-than/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [You can have your own thought process about things, but you still need to include and co-exist with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/you-can-have-your-own-thought-process-about-things-but-you-still-need/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [“A thing can't exist in people's minds until it has a name. But with a name, it can exist in people's minds without existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/a-thing-can-t-exist-in-people-s-minds-until-it-has-a-name-but-with-a/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [It has to be understood that the world doesn't exist with people who are exactly like us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/it-has-to-be-understood-that-the-world-doesn-t-exist-with-people-who/) T.I ## More by Bryce Courtenay > [“It's who you is when folks knocks at the door of your heart what counts. Hide the past and it gives them what's jealous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/it-s-who-you-is-when-folks-knocks-at-the-door-of-your-heart-what/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [I watch people get older and lose their intellectual acuity; you lose that sharpness, that cleanness, that brain that you worked so hard on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/i-watch-people-get-older-and-lose-their-intellectual-acuity-you-lose/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“every man is an island and at the same time also robinson crusoe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/every-man-is-an-island-and-at-the-same-time-also-robinson-crusoe/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“First with the head and then with the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/first-with-the-head-and-then-with-the-heart/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [Good conversational debate is an end in itself, and talking for the love of conversation is what makes us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/good-conversational-debate-is-an-end-in-itself-and-talking-for-the/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“I wish to cup knowledge in my hand and drink it as one drinks water by the side of the stream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/i-wish-to-cup-knowledge-in-my-hand-and-drink-it-as-one-drinks-water/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [You've got to be quick on your feet in this world if you want to survive. Though once you know the rules, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/you-ve-got-to-be-quick-on-your-feet-in-this-world-if-you-want-to/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [I knew then that the person on the outside was only a shell, a presence to be seen and provoked. Inside was the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/i-knew-then-that-the-person-on-the-outside-was-only-a-shell-a/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [Always listen to yourself... It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/always-listen-to-yourself-it-is-better-to-be-wrong-than-simply-to/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [The only thing I can say that is wonderful about my mother is she forced me to learn three verses of the Bible every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/the-only-thing-i-can-say-that-is-wonderful-about-my-mother-is-she/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [I have found in life that everything, no matter how bad, comes to an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/i-have-found-in-life-that-everything-no-matter-how-bad-comes-to-an-end/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [I guess my use-by date is just about up but if I could come back as a storyteller now, I would be jumping over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/i-guess-my-use-by-date-is-just-about-up-but-if-i-could-come-back-as-a/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [Inside all people there is love, also the need to take care of the other man who is his brother. Inside everyone is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/inside-all-people-there-is-love-also-the-need-to-take-care-of-the/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“In teaching me independence of thought, they had given me the greatest gift an adult can give to a child besides love, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/in-teaching-me-independence-of-thought-they-had-given-me-the-greatest/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [. . . besides love, independence of thought is the greatest gift an adult can give a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/besides-love-independence-of-thought-is-the-greatest-gift-an-adult/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) [Explore all 92 Bryce Courtenay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) ## More Crosses quotes > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [“To my fellow Crosses, keep the faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/to-my-fellow-crosses-keep-the-faith/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [I told my mom I was going to do a movie about a son who hears a story about his mom and takes her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelman/i-told-my-mom-i-was-going-to-do-a-movie-about-a-son-who-hears-a-story/) [Dan Fogelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelman/) > [I think in black communities today we need to encourage a lot more cross racial organizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/i-think-in-black-communities-today-we-need-to-encourage-a-lot-more/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [Never forget that the road to Heaven is the Way of the Cross. Jesus has called us to follow Him, bearing the Cross as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/never-forget-that-the-road-to-heaven-is-the-way-of-the-cross-jesus/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. 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Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) Browse all 2,897 Crosses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Each of us has been designed for one of two immortal functions, as either a storyteller or as a cross-legged listener to tales of wonder, love, and daring. 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