Action Quote by Chris Abani
“Literature is an aspect of story and story is all that exists to make sense of reality. War is a story. Now you begin to see how powerful story is because it informs our worldview and our every action, our every justification is a story. So how can story not be truly transformative? I've seen it happen in real ways, not in sentimental ways or in the jargon of New Age liberal ideology.”
About This Quote
Stories shape our perception of reality and justify actions; recognizing this power can transform societies.
In simple terms: Stories shape worldviews and actions.
Key Takeaway
Question the narratives you accept.
Themes
storytelling
perception
war
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- media analysis
- education
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
narrative theory
psychology
politics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify underlying narratives?
- What stories have changed your view?
A Different Perspective
Stories can be manipulated for propaganda.
![“Such an act [testifying for an accused prison guard of the Shah's regime] can only be accomplished by someone who is engrossed in literature, has learned that every individual has different dimensions to his personality… Those who judge must take all aspects of an individual's personality into…” quote by Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e57/azar-nafisi-2001_books_such-an-act-testifying-for-an-accused-pr_74846.jpg)
