--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People tell stories, and it's up to those…" description: "\"“People tell stories, and it's up to those who listen whether to believe them or not. It's not the job of the storyteller.”\" — Cecelia Ahern" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/cecelia-ahern-535_story_people-tell-stories-and-it-s-up-to-those_694040.jpg" --- # People tell stories, and it's up to those who listen… ![“People tell stories, and it's up to those who listen whether to believe them or not. It's not the job of the storyteller.” quote by Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/cecelia-ahern-535_story_people-tell-stories-and-it-s-up-to-those_694040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/cecelia-ahern-535_story_people-tell-stories-and-it-s-up-to-those_694040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/cecelia-ahern-535_story_people-tell-stories-and-it-s-up-to-those_694040.jpg) > ““People tell stories, and it's up to those who listen whether to believe them or not. It's not the job of the storyteller.”” [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Storytelling is passive; listeners decide belief, not the storyteller's responsibility. **In simple terms:** Listeners choose what to believe. Key Takeaway Focus on honesty, not control. Themes communication belief storytelling Mood reflective neutral Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - Education - media - personal relationships Key Concepts Epistemology responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure integrity in sharing stories? - What makes a listener accept a narrative? A Different Perspective Storytellers can influence perception unintentionally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Life will go on as long as there is someone to sing, to dance, to tell stories and to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-lyons/life-will-go-on-as-long-as-there-is-someone-to-sing-to-dance-to-tell/) [Oren Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-lyons/) > [All of us are made up of the stories that we listen to, the ones we disagree with and the ones that we agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-crouch/all-of-us-are-made-up-of-the-stories-that-we-listen-to-the-ones-we/) [Stanley Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-crouch/) > [I'm not always successful, but I take my job as a storyteller very seriously and want to make sure the audience has as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/i-m-not-always-successful-but-i-take-my-job-as-a-storyteller-very/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [Stories are the collective wisdom of everyone who has ever lived. Your job as a storyteller is not simply to entertain. Nor is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcdonald/stories-are-the-collective-wisdom-of-everyone-who-has-ever-lived-your/) [Brian McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcdonald/) > [I write at eighty-five for the same reasons that impelled me to write at forty-five; I was born with a passionate desire to communicate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-write-at-eighty-five-for-the-same-reasons-that-impelled-me-to-write/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [The basic idea of making this film was that even if one person is touched by the thought in the film, then my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-wahi/the-basic-idea-of-making-this-film-was-that-even-if-one-person-is/) [Karan Wahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-wahi/) > [I feel like my job as a storyteller and director is to create an experience where the audience forgets they're in a cinema and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/i-feel-like-my-job-as-a-storyteller-and-director-is-to-create-an/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [The job of a storyteller is to tell stories, and I have concentrated on that obligation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/the-job-of-a-storyteller-is-to-tell-stories-and-i-have-concentrated/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [People will always tell stories. The publishing industry might vanish, but not stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/people-will-always-tell-stories-the-publishing-industry-might-vanish/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [We as Black people have to tell our own stories. We have to document our history. When we allow someone else to document our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/we-as-black-people-have-to-tell-our-own-stories-we-have-to-document/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I love watching people tell stories, because it's very vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lapkus/i-love-watching-people-tell-stories-because-it-s-very-vulnerable/) [Lauren Lapkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lapkus/) > [“I have noticed that when people tell their own stories, often it has less to do with wanting to communicate an idea to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-minatoya/i-have-noticed-that-when-people-tell-their-own-stories-often-it-has/) [Lydia Minatoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-minatoya/) > [Some people tell stories and some people tell the truth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-williams/some-people-tell-stories-and-some-people-tell-the-truth/) [Amber Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-williams/) > [To me, a good storyteller should be able to tell stories across genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/to-me-a-good-storyteller-should-be-able-to-tell-stories-across-genres/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I'm a storyteller in a joke format. I tell stories, I try to have a lot of jokes constantly through that story. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/i-m-a-storyteller-in-a-joke-format-i-tell-stories-i-try-to-have-a-lot/) [Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/) ## More by Cecelia Ahern > [“Don't worry, nothing speaks louder than a lifetime of regret and self-loathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/don-t-worry-nothing-speaks-louder-than-a-lifetime-of-regret-and-self/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“Edith says that there are some people in the world that don't you all the time or play games but they still love you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/edith-says-that-there-are-some-people-in-the-world-that-don-t-you-all/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“Ruby: How nice for you all. How is the wonderfully helpful Ursula? Rosie: Wonderfully helpful. Yesterday she told me I had problems discussing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/ruby-how-nice-for-you-all-how-is-the-wonderfully-helpful-ursula-rosie/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“If you can't put magnolia on a wall then there are always a million other colors you can use, if you can't pay your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/if-you-can-t-put-magnolia-on-a-wall-then-there-are-always-a-million/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [As the rain falls and the sun shines, they grow, grow, grow; minds so open, they go through life aware and accepting, seeing light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/as-the-rain-falls-and-the-sun-shines-they-grow-grow-grow-minds-so/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Her best friend was gone and nobody understood that no amount of makeup, fresh air or shopping was going to fill the hole in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/her-best-friend-was-gone-and-nobody-understood-that-no-amount-of/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Alex: Rosie, I wanted you to be the first person to no that I’ve decided to become a heart surgeon! Rosie: Cool, does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/alex-rosie-i-wanted-you-to-be-the-first-person-to-no-that-i-ve/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Holly's theory about the army," Sharon explained. And what is it?" Denise asked, intrigued. Oh, that fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/holly-s-theory-about-the-army-sharon-explained-and-what-is-it-denise/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“Fairy tales are such evil little stories for young children. Every time I’m in a mess I expect a long-haired posh-speaking man to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/fairy-tales-are-such-evil-little-stories-for-young-children-every/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [I always pushed myself. Whenever I felt I needed to stop, I made myself run faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/i-always-pushed-myself-whenever-i-felt-i-needed-to-stop-i-made-myself/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“... however good it is, some love isn't meant to be for ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/however-good-it-is-some-love-isn-t-meant-to-be-for-ever/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [I always take a story that's kind of out there, like an urban myth. I take some possibility that people imagine, that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/i-always-take-a-story-that-s-kind-of-out-there-like-an-urban-myth-i/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“At moments when life is at its worst there are two things that you can do: 1. Breakdown, lose hope and refuse to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/at-moments-when-life-is-at-its-worst-there-are-two-things-that-you/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“Life is made up of meetings and partings. People come into your life everyday, you say good morning, you say good evening, some stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/life-is-made-up-of-meetings-and-partings-people-come-into-your-life/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“Home isn't a place, its a feeling”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/home-isn-t-a-place-its-a-feeling/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) [Explore all 462 Cecelia Ahern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) ## More Story quotes > [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“Saving History One Story at a Time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwsa-website/saving-history-one-story-at-a-time/) MWSA website > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [When I was 3, my parents strapped on a pair of Playskool plastic roller skates to my feet, and that's where the story begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/when-i-was-3-my-parents-strapped-on-a-pair-of-playskool-plastic/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [If you look back at my story, it doesn’t matter where you look, but God’s fingerprints are all over the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/if-you-look-back-at-my-story-it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-look-but-god/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Starting a new job can be nerve-racking , but it's also exciting. You're embarking on a new future, positioning yourself to write a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adena-friedman/starting-a-new-job-can-be-nerve-racking-but-it-s-also-exciting-you-re/) [Adena Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adena-friedman/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [What a cool job to be part of - whether it's doing lighting or acting or serving food on set. You're part of telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/what-a-cool-job-to-be-part-of-whether-it-s-doing-lighting-or-acting/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [If you do weave one-liners into a story, you have to have an overall story as well, otherwise it doesn't really count as narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/if-you-do-weave-one-liners-into-a-story-you-have-to-have-an-overall/) [Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/) > [Each child’s story is worthy of telling. There shouldn’t be a sliding scale of death. The weight of it is crushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/each-child-s-story-is-worthy-of-telling-there-shouldn-t-be-a-sliding/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) [Browse all 9,674 Story quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People tell stories, and it's up to those who listen whether to believe them or not. 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