---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A story is a labyrinth, it looks as if…"
description: "\"“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 ever..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/cornelia-funke-908_labyrinth_a-story-is-a-labyrinth-it-looks-as-if-th_4611.png"
---

#  A story is a labyrinth, it looks as if there were several…

![“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.” quote by Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/cornelia-funke-908_labyrinth_a-story-is-a-labyrinth-it-looks-as-if-th_4611.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/cornelia-funke-908_labyrinth_a-story-is-a-labyrinth-it-looks-as-if-th_4611.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14f/cornelia-funke-908_labyrinth_a-story-is-a-labyrinth-it-looks-as-if-th_4611.png)

> ““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.””

[Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

Key Takeaway

Narrative choices shape outcomes.

Themes

storytelling choice consequence labyrinth

Mood

mysterious thought‑provoking

Type

metaphorical didactic

When to use this quote

- creative writing classes
- game design
- educational curricula

Key Concepts

structural narrative theory moral decision‑making

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?

A Different Perspective

Some narratives intentionally embrace multiple valid endings, challenging the idea of a single ‘right’ path.

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[Labyrinth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labyrinth/) [Labyrinth Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labyrinth-looks-292676/) [Nasty Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nasty-surprise-292677/) [Punish False](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punish-false-292675/) [Story Labyrinth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-labyrinth-292674/)

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## More by Cornelia Funke

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