Labyrinth Quote by Cornelia Funke
““A story is a labyrinth, it looks as if there were several ways to go, but only one is right, and there's a nasty surprise ready to punish you for every false step.””
About This Quote
Stories resemble mazes: many apparent routes exist, yet only one coherent path leads to truth, and every misstep brings consequences that teach or punish.
In simple terms: Stories have one true path; wrong choices have consequences.
Narrative choices shape outcomes.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- creative writing classes
- game design
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- use maze metaphor to teach plot structure
- design branching narratives with clear stakes
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which narrative path is ‘right’?
- What value lies in exploring false steps?
Some narratives intentionally embrace multiple valid endings, challenging the idea of a single ‘right’ path.