--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fairy tales have always been about…" description: "\"Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are about sur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/catherynne-m-valente-375_closets_fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getti_50249.jpg" --- # Fairy tales have always been about getting through the… ![“Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are about surviving, and what you look like when you emerge from the trial. The reason we keep telling fairy tales over and over, that we need to keep telling…” quote by Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/catherynne-m-valente-375_closets_fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getti_50249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/catherynne-m-valente-375_closets_fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getti_50249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/catherynne-m-valente-375_closets_fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getti_50249.jpg) > “Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are about surviving, and what you look like when you emerge from the trial. The reason we keep telling fairy tales over and over, that we need to keep telling them, is that the trials change. So the stories change too, and the heroines and villains and magical objects, to keep them true. Fairy tales are the closets where the world keeps its skeletons.” [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fairy tales serve as allegorical survival guides, reflecting humanity’s darkest trials and the transformative emergence of the self. **In simple terms:** Survival through metaphorical darkness. Key Takeaway Stories evolve with societal challenges. Themes Transformation Resilience Archetype Cultural Adaptation Mythic Structure Mood Reflective Hopeful Mysterious Type Allegorical Didactic Cultural When to use this quote - Coping with personal loss - Teaching children resilience - Analyzing cultural shifts - Designing therapeutic storytelling Key Concepts Hero's Journey Symbolic Conflict Moral Ambiguity Narrative Renewal Practical Applications - Therapeutic narrative workshops - Adaptive curriculum design Questions to Reflect On - How do modern anxieties reshape classic motifs? - What does the 'skeleton' metaphor reveal about collective memory? A Different Perspective Some argue fairy tales reinforce outdated gender roles, but their mutable nature allows reinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Fairy tale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tale/) [Fairy tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) [Heroines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroines/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Skeletons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeletons/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Surviving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surviving/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [September could see it. She did not know what is was she saw. That is the disadvantage of being a heroine, rather than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-could-see-it-she-did-not-know-what-is-was-she-saw-that-is/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [A lot of times, people complain about how books and stories change when they're translated to the screen. But I think sometimes people forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/a-lot-of-times-people-complain-about-how-books-and-stories-change/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“It happened so long ago I can't even be sure it happened as I say it did. Stories change in the telling, memory makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-almond/it-happened-so-long-ago-i-can-t-even-be-sure-it-happened-as-i-say-it/) [David Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-almond/) > [“They still need to keep their bellies full, but now they’re trying to figure out how to do it without working—and that’s the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-still-need-to-keep-their-bellies-full-but-now-they-re-trying-to-2/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The way stories change us can't be explained,' Padraig says. 'It can only be felt. Like love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-callahan/the-way-stories-change-us-can-t-be-explained-padraig-says-it-can-only/) Patti Callahan > [“People respond to the stories. They tell them themselves. The stories spread, and as people tell them, the stories change the tellers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-respond-to-the-stories-they-tell-them-themselves-the-stories/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Good and evil have always existed. They always will. It’s only our stories about them that ever change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/good-and-evil-have-always-existed-they-always-will-it-s-only-our/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“We are all given one thing by which our lives are measured, one determination. Mine are the stories which can change or not change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/we-are-all-given-one-thing-by-which-our-lives-are-measured-one/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Stories do not change the world. I've learned that. But perhaps in some secret, subtle way... I mean it's not the world I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-emshwiller/stories-do-not-change-the-world-i-ve-learned-that-but-perhaps-in-some/) [Carol Emshwiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-emshwiller/) > [Stories change people while statistics give them something to argue about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/stories-change-people-while-statistics-give-them-something-to-argue/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [“Stories do not change, only the lives they live in do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-conaway/stories-do-not-change-only-the-lives-they-live-in-do/) [Cameron Conaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-conaway/) > [“Does that change things?” asked the old man. “Maybe Anansi’s just some guy from a story, made up back in Africa in the dawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/does-that-change-things-asked-the-old-man-maybe-anansi-s-just-some/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Find an excellent quote about "Stories with a Dramatic Arc" by Deb Volberg Search for "the yellow dress" on Youtube tinyurl dot com /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-volberg/find-an-excellent-quote-about-stories-with-a-dramatic-arc-by-deb/) Deb Volberg > [“All good stories - stories that touch your soul, stories that change your nature, stories that cause you to become a better person from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camron-wright/all-good-stories-stories-that-touch-your-soul-stories-that-change/) [Camron Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camron-wright/) > [“To animals they were just the weather, just part of everything. But humans arose and gave them names, just as people filled the starry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/to-animals-they-were-just-the-weather-just-part-of-everything-but/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Catherynne M. Valente > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all just keep moving, September. We keep moving until we stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-just-keep-moving-september-we-keep-moving-until-we-stop/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-couldn-t-ever-really-fix-a-sad-story-you-could-only-make-another/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“He considers it for a moment and spits out the seeds, which sprout, quickly, into tiny junkblossoms sizzling with recursive algorithms. The algorithms wriggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/he-considers-it-for-a-moment-and-spits-out-the-seeds-which-sprout/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Truly, Mallow yearned to know everything. Curiosity was part of her, like her short blond hair and bitten fingernails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/truly-mallow-yearned-to-know-everything-curiosity-was-part-of-her/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“The cicada lies in the earth for seventeen years. It is warm and dark there, it is soft and wet. Its little legs curl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/the-cicada-lies-in-the-earth-for-seventeen-years-it-is-warm-and-dark/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/her-heart-was-bruised-by-the-kiss-smashed-and-surprised-and-unsettled/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“September put her hand on the grip of the Rivet Gun. She’d only just gotten it, and she’d promised to take copious notes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-put-her-hand-on-the-grip-of-the-rivet-gun-she-d-only-just/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/just-tell-yourself-a-story-that-ll-satisfy-you-and-pretend-he-told-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-see-the-future-is-a-kind-of-stew-a-soup-a-vichyssoise-of-the/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“There is a place, September, oh, very far from Pandemonium. A place where it is always autumn, where there is always cider and pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/there-is-a-place-september-oh-very-far-from-pandemonium-a-place-where/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“I was happy, the sun was high. I had enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-was-happy-the-sun-was-high-i-had-enough/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Who are you?" "I am Death," said the creature. "I thought that was obvious." "But you're so small!" "Only because you are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/who-are-you-i-am-death-said-the-creature-i-thought-that-was-obvious/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I don’t want to be a Princess,” she said finally. “You can’t make me be one.” She knew very well what became of Princesses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-princess-she-said-finally-you-can-t-make-me-be/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) [Explore all 621 Catherynne M. Valente quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## More Closets quotes > [I always sleep on my own. I can't sleep with somebody else. Always separate bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. I'm very individual and I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/i-always-sleep-on-my-own-i-can-t-sleep-with-somebody-else-always/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [But what struck me was the book-madness of the place--books lay scattered across the unmade bed and the top of a battered-looking desk, books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-millhauser/but-what-struck-me-was-the-book-madness-of-the-place-books-lay/) [Steven Millhauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-millhauser/) > [I used it in a shot where Richard Burton goes down the hall to get a gun in a closet. And I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haskell-wexler/i-used-it-in-a-shot-where-richard-burton-goes-down-the-hall-to-get-a/) [Haskell Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haskell-wexler/) > [I feel like I've been shut in a closet, and he's on the other side, and he doesn't have the key to unlock the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-feel-like-i-ve-been-shut-in-a-closet-and-he-s-on-the-other-side-and/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [People dance and we have a lot of music and... this might be the closet I get for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-crowe/people-dance-and-we-have-a-lot-of-music-and-this-might-be-the-closet/) [Cameron Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-crowe/) > [We will not win our rights by staying quietly in our closets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/we-will-not-win-our-rights-by-staying-quietly-in-our-closets/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [Friends are readily disappointed by the size of my closet. And I thought it was big!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/friends-are-readily-disappointed-by-the-size-of-my-closet-and-i/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [All of my life, actually, I had a real strong relationship with God, but I was always in the closet about it. The only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/all-of-my-life-actually-i-had-a-real-strong-relationship-with-god-but/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [SM is an art. Doing it well requires more than a bag full of expensive whips and exotic electrical toys, a closet full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sm-is-an-art-doing-it-well-requires-more-than-a-bag-full-of-expensive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Weddings seem to be magnets for mishap and for whatever craziness lurks in family closets. In more ways than one, weddings bring out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/weddings-seem-to-be-magnets-for-mishap-and-for-whatever-craziness/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Twenty-eight years ago, I created my first game on an Apple II in my bedroom closet at a time when the interactive entertainment industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-garriott/twenty-eight-years-ago-i-created-my-first-game-on-an-apple-ii-in-my/) [Richard Garriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-garriott/) > [That holy, humble, meek, modest, retiring Form, sometimes called the Spirit of Prayer, has been dragged from the closet, and so rudely handled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asahel-nettleton/that-holy-humble-meek-modest-retiring-form-sometimes-called-the/) [Asahel Nettleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asahel-nettleton/) > [No one is ignorant that our character and turn of mind are intimately connected with the water-closet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/no-one-is-ignorant-that-our-character-and-turn-of-mind-are-intimately/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Multiple closets for different needs. Overkill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/multiple-closets-for-different-needs-overkill/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) Browse all 594 Closets quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are about surviving, and what you look like when you emerge from the trial. The reason we keep telling fairy tales over and over, that we need to keep telling them, is that the trials change. So the stories change too, and the heroines and villains and magical objects, to keep them true. Fairy tales are the closets where the world keeps its skeletons.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherynne M. 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