--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have in our head something called…" description: "\"We have in our head something called story grammar. We see the world as a series of episodes rather than logical propositions... In our serious society..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/daniel-h-pink-1532_episodes_we-have-in-our-head-something-called-sto_641270.jpg" --- # We have in our head something called story grammar. We see… ![“We have in our head something called story grammar. We see the world as a series of episodes rather than logical propositions... In our serious society, storytelling is seen as being soft. But people process the world through story.” quote by Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/daniel-h-pink-1532_episodes_we-have-in-our-head-something-called-sto_641270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/daniel-h-pink-1532_episodes_we-have-in-our-head-something-called-sto_641270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/daniel-h-pink-1532_episodes_we-have-in-our-head-something-called-sto_641270.jpg) > “We have in our head something called story grammar. We see the world as a series of episodes rather than logical propositions... In our serious society, storytelling is seen as being soft. But people process the world through story.” [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People naturally organize experiences as narratives, yet societies often undervalue storytelling in favor of logical analysis. **In simple terms:** Stories shape how we understand the world, even if seen as “soft.” Key Takeaway Use stories to convey ideas. Themes communication psychology culture Mood reflective analytical Type educational thought‑provoking When to use this quote - marketing pitches - educational curricula - policy briefs - team meetings - media campaigns Key Concepts narrative cognition story grammar cognitive bias social influence Questions to Reflect On - When does story outweigh data? - How to balance narrative with evidence? A Different Perspective Overreliance on narrative can obscure factual accuracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grammar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grammar/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [We want to be famous as a writer, as a poet, as a painter, as a politician, as a singer, or what you will.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/we-want-to-be-famous-as-a-writer-as-a-poet-as-a-painter-as-a-2/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [It's all about this abstract entity called the story. It's all about the best way to tell the story, and to make a movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-padilha/it-s-all-about-this-abstract-entity-called-the-story-it-s-all-about/) [Jose Padilha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-padilha/) > [“A level of a house, his father has told him, is called a story. Nathaniel likes that. It makes him feel like maybe he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/a-level-of-a-house-his-father-has-told-him-is-called-a-story/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Experimental novels are sometimes terribly clever and very seldom read. But the story that appeals to the child sitting on your knee is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/experimental-novels-are-sometimes-terribly-clever-and-very-seldom/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [“I say fuck the old advice 'show, don't tell.' It's called story TELLING for a reason, and I'll stick to it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashly-lorenzana/i-say-fuck-the-old-advice-show-don-t-tell-it-s-called-story-telling/) [Ashly Lorenzana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashly-lorenzana/) > ['A Child Called It' was a story about resilience, it was never about boo hoo hoo, it was about a kid that didn't quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/a-child-called-it-was-a-story-about-resilience-it-was-never-about-boo/) [Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/) > [“The story is not about the singular virtues of the one being called. The story is about a risk-taking, bold sort of God who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-story-is-not-about-the-singular-virtues-of-the-one-being-called/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [A book suggests a whole world and story that I could have never thought of in a million years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/a-book-suggests-a-whole-world-and-story-that-i-could-have-never/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [If youre a reporter, the easiest thing in the world is to get a story. The hardest thing is to verify. The old sins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halberstam/if-youre-a-reporter-the-easiest-thing-in-the-world-is-to-get-a-story/) [David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halberstam/) > [A story matrix connects all of us. There are rules, processes, and circles of responsibility in this world. And the story begins exactly where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/a-story-matrix-connects-all-of-us-there-are-rules-processes-and/) [Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/) > [“A child may ask, “What is the world’s story about?” And a grown man or woman may wonder, “What way will the world go?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-child-may-ask-what-is-the-world-s-story-about-and-a-grown-man-or/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Since all the world is but a story, it were well for thee to buy the more enduring story, rather than the story that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/since-all-the-world-is-but-a-story-it-were-well-for-thee-to-buy-the/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Sometimes I wake up and think I wish id never told the world my story but I know good comes from it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/sometimes-i-wake-up-and-think-i-wish-id-never-told-the-world-my-story/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [With live-action I think we'd have lost the universal appeal of the Persepolis story. With live-action, it would have turned into a story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/with-live-action-i-think-we-d-have-lost-the-universal-appeal-of-the/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [Find the story, Granny Weatherwax always said. She believed that the world was full of story shapes. If you let them, they controlled you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/find-the-story-granny-weatherwax-always-said-she-believed-that-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Daniel H. Pink > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“morning people to be pleasant, productive folks—“introverted,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/morning-people-to-be-pleasant-productive-folks-introverted/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“tweeters felt active, engaged, and hopeful—generally rose in the morning, plummeted in the afternoon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/tweeters-felt-active-engaged-and-hopeful-generally-rose-in-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The longer it takes for a boss to respond to their e-mails, the less satisfied people are with their leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-longer-it-takes-for-a-boss-to-respond-to-their-e-mails-the-less/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [For creative tasks, the best approach is often just to hire great people and get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/for-creative-tasks-the-best-approach-is-often-just-to-hire-great/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The less evidence of extrinsic motivation during art school, the more success in professional art both several years after graduation and nearly twenty years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-less-evidence-of-extrinsic-motivation-during-art-school-the-more/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you look at the very best presidents, the most effective presidents, they were always decent salespeople. Ronald Reagan was an extremely effective salesman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/if-you-look-at-the-very-best-presidents-the-most-effective-presidents/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“the more they chat and gossip—the more they get done”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-more-they-chat-and-gossip-the-more-they-get-done/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“continuing to think about job demands during breaks may result in strain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/continuing-to-think-about-job-demands-during-breaks-may-result-in/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The quality of the problem that is found is a forerunner of the quality of the solution that is attained . . .” Getzels concluded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-quality-of-the-problem-that-is-found-is-a-forerunner-of-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“innovation and creativity are greatest when we are not at our best”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/innovation-and-creativity-are-greatest-when-we-are-not-at-our-best/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Temporal landmarks slow our thinking, allowing us to deliberate at a higher level and make better decisions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/temporal-landmarks-slow-our-thinking-allowing-us-to-deliberate-at-a/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Jobs that offer autonomy but little challenge bore us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/jobs-that-offer-autonomy-but-little-challenge-bore-us/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“richest experiences in our lives aren’t when we’re clamoring for validation from others, but when we’re listening to our own voice—doing something that matters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/richest-experiences-in-our-lives-aren-t-when-we-re-clamoring-for/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) [Explore all 230 Daniel H. Pink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## More Episodes quotes > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. 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It was extraordinary stuff. He wrote… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-carradine/walter-hill-basically-brought-me-into-that-wild-bill-hickok-and-it/) [Keith Carradine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-carradine/) > [ On the other hand \[making a string of one-off episodes\], there's a real freedom, because you're kind of reinventing the show every week. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/on-the-other-hand-making-a-string-of-one-off-episodes-there-s-a-real/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [All Internet comedy is niche comedy. If you do an Internet video about Halo, every Halo fan will send it to every other Halo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-van-veen/all-internet-comedy-is-niche-comedy-if-you-do-an-internet-video-about/) [Ricky Van Veen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-van-veen/) > [I understand why creative people like dark, but American audiences dont like dark. They like story. 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