--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once upon a time' These are the most…" description: "\"Once upon a time' These are the most magical words our world has ever known and the gateway to the greatest stories ever told. They're an immediate cal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/chris-colfer-1370_anything-can-happen_once-upon-a-time-these-are-the-most-magi_2536583.png" --- # Once upon a time' These are the most magical words our… ![“Once upon a time' These are the most magical words our world has ever known and the gateway to the greatest stories ever told. They're an immediate calling to anyone who hears them-a calling into a world where everyone is welcome and anything can happen. Mice can become men, maids can become…” quote by Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/chris-colfer-1370_anything-can-happen_once-upon-a-time-these-are-the-most-magi_2536583.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/chris-colfer-1370_anything-can-happen_once-upon-a-time-these-are-the-most-magi_2536583.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/chris-colfer-1370_anything-can-happen_once-upon-a-time-these-are-the-most-magi_2536583.png) > “Once upon a time' These are the most magical words our world has ever known and the gateway to the greatest stories ever told. They're an immediate calling to anyone who hears them-a calling into a world where everyone is welcome and anything can happen. Mice can become men, maids can become princesses, and they can teach valuable lessons in the process.” [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The phrase signals the start of imaginative storytelling, inviting listeners into a realm where anything is possible and lessons are learned. **In simple terms:** “Once upon a time” opens magical stories. Key Takeaway Embrace imagination and welcome all possibilities. Themes imagination inclusion transformation learning hope Mood wonderful inspired nostalgic Type narrative inspirational educational When to use this quote - children’s literature - family gatherings - creative writing workshops - role‑play games Key Concepts Storytelling mythic archetypes hero’s journey Questions to Reflect On - What stories have you created from this opening? - How does this phrase shape expectations? A Different Perspective May rely on clichés, limiting depth or originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anything can happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything-can-happen/) [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Gateways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gateways/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Magical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magical/) [Magical Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magical-words-646072/) [Maids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maids/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mice/) [Once upon a time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once-upon-a-time/) [Our world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-world/) [Princess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princess/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Magical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-magical-1394707/) [Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable/) [Valuable lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable-lessons/) [Welcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcome/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-world-1394708/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Because all the words in the world won't do much good if they're just rattling around in your head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-levine/because-all-the-words-in-the-world-won-t-do-much-good-if-they-re-just/) [Kristin Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-levine/) > [Words of the world are the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/words-of-the-world-are-the-life-of-the-world/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Words can go to the other side of the world or as close as the person next to you. By themselves, they mean nothing-together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/words-can-go-to-the-other-side-of-the-world-or-as-close-as-the-person/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Sometimes not speaking says more than all the words in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/sometimes-not-speaking-says-more-than-all-the-words-in-the-world-2/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Sometimes all the words in the world cant describe a single feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/sometimes-all-the-words-in-the-world-cant-describe-a-single-feeling/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The world is made of words. And if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-world-is-made-of-words-and-if-you-know-the-words-that-the-world/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The words of the world want to make sentences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/the-words-of-the-world-want-to-make-sentences/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [Your words become your world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-words-become-your-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/if-only-those-must-be-the-two-saddest-words-in-the-world/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Perhaps there is a language which is not made of words and everything in the world understands it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/perhaps-there-is-a-language-which-is-not-made-of-words-and-everything/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [“You can have all the words in the world,but if not said rightly, those words are simply wasted potential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-t-mcgrath/you-can-have-all-the-words-in-the-world-but-if-not-said-rightly-those/) [Joel T. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-t-mcgrath/) > [Am bold enough to say anything exept that three magical words I Love You. :( :(](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rechureshmaa/am-bold-enough-to-say-anything-exept-that-three-magical-words-i-love/) [Rechureshmaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rechureshmaa/) > [“To my lovely starling, Maybe there are magical words that will make you understand, but if so, I do not know them. Words are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-paul/to-my-lovely-starling-maybe-there-are-magical-words-that-will-make/) [Fiona Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-paul/) > ['I'm sorry, honey. I was wrong.' Are there six more magical words you can say to your wife?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/i-m-sorry-honey-i-was-wrong-are-there-six-more-magical-words-you-can/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [I would love to take u out 4 dinner, Make u sit beside the candle light, Shower u with roses, and utter those 3…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrthrill/i-would-love-to-take-u-out-4-dinner-make-u-sit-beside-the-candle/) [Mrthrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrthrill/) ## More by Chris Colfer > [I think I just want to leave my mark in some way. I hope I leave the world a better place than it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-think-i-just-want-to-leave-my-mark-in-some-way-i-hope-i-leave-the/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“Because I would rather have nothing and a big heart than everything and no heart at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/because-i-would-rather-have-nothing-and-a-big-heart-than-everything/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“After seeing amazing magical places like Neverland, Oz, Narnia and Wonderland, why did you ever want to leave?" The girls looked to one another;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/after-seeing-amazing-magical-places-like-neverland-oz-narnia-and/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“mandolin that made Conner jump. “She predicts his future,  And curses his enemies,  With devilish concoctions, She heals his injuries.”  “Great,” Conner”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/mandolin-that-made-conner-jump-she-predicts-his-future-and-curses-his/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“Youth is not an excuse for insanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/youth-is-not-an-excuse-for-insanity/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [There are ways to meet people and surround yourself with like-minded people who will support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/there-are-ways-to-meet-people-and-surround-yourself-with-like-minded/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“Jealousy is just a reminder of the frustrations you have with yourself. Who”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/jealousy-is-just-a-reminder-of-the-frustrations-you-have-with/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“Our Titanic of a family sank deeper and deeper as time went on. But in a sick way, I'm almost glad it did. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/our-titanic-of-a-family-sank-deeper-and-deeper-as-time-went-on-but-in/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [What grinds me the most is that we’re sending kids out into the world who don’t know how to balance a checkbook, don’t know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/what-grinds-me-the-most-is-that-we-re-sending-kids-out-into-the-world/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [I was obsessed with fairytales, and I was a very, very inquisitive kid, and I would ask my mom all kinds of questions. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-was-obsessed-with-fairytales-and-i-was-a-very-very-inquisitive-kid/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [People only love you as long as they're getting something of you, but the minute you say something they don't want to hear or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/people-only-love-you-as-long-as-they-re-getting-something-of-you-but/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“The sun slowly set and night started to fall. I almost felt betrayed in a way, knowing the sun would rise again the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/the-sun-slowly-set-and-night-started-to-fall-i-almost-felt-betrayed/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“Los recuerdos no se crean solos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/los-recuerdos-no-se-crean-solos/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [To Grandma: Once upon a time, there was a boy who flew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/to-grandma-once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-boy-who-flew/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“Your home is where you feel most comfortable and loved,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/your-home-is-where-you-feel-most-comfortable-and-loved/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) [Explore all 231 Chris Colfer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) ## More Anything can happen quotes > [“Nothing just happens in politics. If something happens you can be sure it was planned that way.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-brussell/nothing-just-happens-in-politics-if-something-happens-you-can-be-sure/) [Mae Brussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-brussell/) > [One of the first lessons he or she learns is that in baseball anything, absolutely anything, can happen. Just two days ago as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thorn/one-of-the-first-lessons-he-or-she-learns-is-that-in-baseball/) [John Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thorn/) > [Anything can happen: anything. Or nothing. Who can say? The world, monstrous, is made that way, and in the end consumes us all. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/anything-can-happen-anything-or-nothing-who-can-say-the-world/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [Anything that happens, happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/anything-that-happens-happens/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Everything happens for a reason, what is meant to be will be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-j-van-amelsvoort/everything-happens-for-a-reason-what-is-meant-to-be-will-be/) [Elizabeth J. Van Amelsvoort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-j-van-amelsvoort/) > [Whatever happens, however fast it's supposed to happen, it'll happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/whatever-happens-however-fast-it-s-supposed-to-happen-it-ll-happen/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [Whatever happens in your life, joyful or painful, do not be swept away by reactivity. Be patient with yourself and don't lose your sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/whatever-happens-in-your-life-joyful-or-painful-do-not-be-swept-away/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Anything Can Happen is also, incidentally, a poem that arose from teaching. I'd talked about the Horace Ode (I, 34) \[on which the poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/anything-can-happen-is-also-incidentally-a-poem-that-arose-from/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [Brian Posehn went up at 4:45 in the morning. And he gets lost at a certain point. I don't know if we kept him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-porter/brian-posehn-went-up-at-4-45-in-the-morning-and-he-gets-lost-at-a/) [B. J. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-porter/) > [As they used to say on Stingray, ‘Anything can happen in the next half hour’. I’ve always tried to live with that thought in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/as-they-used-to-say-on-stingray-anything-can-happen-in-the-next-half/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) > [If anything unfolds, it's supposed to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/if-anything-unfolds-it-s-supposed-to/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [In my opinion, it's more interesting to see magic happening in a world that feels grounded. If the world is already crazy, then anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/in-my-opinion-it-s-more-interesting-to-see-magic-happening-in-a-world/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [Life is. I am. Anything might happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/life-is-i-am-anything-might-happen/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [There's always a chance. Anything can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-johnson/there-s-always-a-chance-anything-can-happen/) [Shawn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-johnson/) > [There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/there-was-a-desert-wind-blowing-that-night-it-was-one-of-those-hot/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) [Browse all 174 Anything can happen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything-can-happen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once upon a time' These are the most magical words our world has ever known and the gateway to the greatest stories ever told. They're an immediate calling to anyone who hears them-a calling into a world where everyone is welcome and anything can happen. 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