--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After all, it was only a story,' I said…" description: "\"After all, it was only a story,' I said, determined to prove her wrong. 'All manner of terrible things may happen in a story. They may be startling at ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/chris-priestley-38598_caught_after-all-it-was-only-a-story-i-said-det_896531.jpg" --- # After all, it was only a story,' I said, determined to… ![“After all, it was only a story,' I said, determined to prove her wrong. 'All manner of terrible things may happen in a story. They may be startling at the time, but it passes. One gets caught up in the narrative, but the dangers aren't real, are they? Things happen in any way the storyteller…” quote by Chris Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/chris-priestley-38598_caught_after-all-it-was-only-a-story-i-said-det_896531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/chris-priestley-38598_caught_after-all-it-was-only-a-story-i-said-det_896531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/chris-priestley-38598_caught_after-all-it-was-only-a-story-i-said-det_896531.jpg) > “After all, it was only a story,' I said, determined to prove her wrong. 'All manner of terrible things may happen in a story. They may be startling at the time, but it passes. One gets caught up in the narrative, but the dangers aren't real, are they? Things happen in any way the storyteller chooses. It is all just made up.” [Chris Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-priestley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that stories are fictional constructs, and their dangers are imagined, not real. **In simple terms:** Stories are made up and not dangerous. Key Takeaway Recognize fiction as safe mental play. Themes fiction psychology reality perception Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - reading fiction - therapy using narrative - creative writing Key Concepts narrative illusion cognitive distancing storytelling power Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever feel real fear from a fictional plot? - How can we use stories to process real anxieties? A Different Perspective Stories can still influence emotions and beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) ## Related quotes > [For me to do a story, something has to happen to someone. It's a story in the way you learn what a story is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/for-me-to-do-a-story-something-has-to-happen-to-someone-it-s-a-story/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [“Don’t go yet. Please. Tell me a story, one about us. Tell what it meant. How on earth did it happen? 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