--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like that 'once upon a time' quality…" description: "\"I like that 'once upon a time' quality, where the telling of a tale has an elevated sense of story. There's a whimsical quality to it. Sometimes in fai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/erin-morgenstern-806_fairy_i-like-that-once-upon-a-time-quality-whe_2369225.png" --- # I like that 'once upon a time' quality, where the telling… ![“I like that 'once upon a time' quality, where the telling of a tale has an elevated sense of story. There's a whimsical quality to it. Sometimes in fairy tales more things seem possible, even though often they're real world based.” quote by Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/erin-morgenstern-806_fairy_i-like-that-once-upon-a-time-quality-whe_2369225.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/erin-morgenstern-806_fairy_i-like-that-once-upon-a-time-quality-whe_2369225.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3be/erin-morgenstern-806_fairy_i-like-that-once-upon-a-time-quality-whe_2369225.png) > “I like that 'once upon a time' quality, where the telling of a tale has an elevated sense of story. There's a whimsical quality to it. Sometimes in fairy tales more things seem possible, even though often they're real world based.” [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## 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 “once upon a time” creates a magical framing that makes stories feel larger‑than‑life, allowing imagination to stretch beyond ordinary reality. **In simple terms:** Storytelling feels magical and limitless. Key Takeaway Embrace the wonder of narrative framing. Themes imagination storytelling fantasy wonder Mood playful nostalgic inspirational Type literary creative motivational When to use this quote - Children’s bedtime stories - creative writing workshops - marketing brand narratives - role‑playing games Key Concepts Narrative framing magical realism suspension of disbelief Questions to Reflect On - How does framing a story as a fairy tale change your expectations? - When does whimsical language hinder clarity? A Different Perspective The elevated tone can feel cliché if overused, reducing authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Fairy tale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tale/) [Fairy tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) [Once upon a time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once-upon-a-time/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Real world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-world/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whimsical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whimsical/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The search for inventive ways of telling the tale of Christ's birth has been going on a long time; in a way, difference was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-foden/the-search-for-inventive-ways-of-telling-the-tale-of-christ-s-birth/) [Giles Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-foden/) > [Telling a tale cannot be like living it, no matter what you say, talking of love cannot be like giving it away……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santanu-mishra/telling-a-tale-cannot-be-like-living-it-no-matter-what-you-say/) [Santanu Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santanu-mishra/) > [“One describes a tale best by telling the tale. You see? The way one describes a story, to oneself or to the world, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/one-describes-a-tale-best-by-telling-the-tale-you-see-the-way-one-2/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Stories are thick with meanings. You can fall in love with a story for what you think it says, but you can't know for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/stories-are-thick-with-meanings-you-can-fall-in-love-with-a-story-for/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [One describes a tale best by telling the tale. You see? The way one describes a story, to oneself or to the world, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/one-describes-a-tale-best-by-telling-the-tale-you-see-the-way-one/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“As for 'too much description,' well, opinions differ. We write the books we want to read. And I want to read books that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/as-for-too-much-description-well-opinions-differ-we-write-the-books/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“There is no way to bring back what is lost, but maybe telling a tale of beauty is a form of mourning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kiernan/there-is-no-way-to-bring-back-what-is-lost-but-maybe-telling-a-tale/) Stephen Kiernan > [You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/you-may-tell-a-tale-that-takes-up-residence-in-someone-s-soul/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“That is a complicated matter. The heart of the tale and the ideas behind it are simple. Time has altered and condensed their nuances,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/that-is-a-complicated-matter-the-heart-of-the-tale-and-the-ideas/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I love that very traditional fairy tale where it's not all 'happily ever after.' I like all that old school, bloody, 'Brothers Grimm' sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-love-that-very-traditional-fairy-tale-where-it-s-not-all-happily/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“And so, they sat next to a birch tree, watching the butterflies spin around them. Linetta leaned back, her dark hair falling against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-marinello-sweeney/and-so-they-sat-next-to-a-birch-tree-watching-the-butterflies-spin/) [Gina Marinello-Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-marinello-sweeney/) > [I wish the word whimsical wasn't used now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcgough/i-wish-the-word-whimsical-wasn-t-used-now/) [Roger McGough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcgough/) > [On inspection, Gaudi's architecture isn't whimsical at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/on-inspection-gaudi-s-architecture-isn-t-whimsical-at-all/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Agreements. Specifically, a treaty ratified by all the orders of whimsical like forms who dwell here that affords a measure of security for mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/agreements-specifically-a-treaty-ratified-by-all-the-orders-of/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [“I love to create vibrant, whimsical floral compositions that are either executed with one single hue or the opposite: a blend of multiple colors!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chantal-larocque/i-love-to-create-vibrant-whimsical-floral-compositions-that-are/) [Chantal Larocque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chantal-larocque/) ## More by Erin Morgenstern > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. They seek each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/they-are-enthusiasts-devotees-addicts-something-about-the-circus/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“The Burgess sisters arrive together. Tara and Lainie do a little bit of everything. Sometimes dancers, sometimes actresses. Once they were librarians, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/the-burgess-sisters-arrive-together-tara-and-lainie-do-a-little-bit/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Bedtime stories Eventide Rhapsodies Anthologies of Memory Please enter cautiously and feel free to open what is closed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/bedtime-stories-eventide-rhapsodies-anthologies-of-memory-please/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“When all of this is over, no matter which one of us wins, I will not let you go so easily. Agreed?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/when-all-of-this-is-over-no-matter-which-one-of-us-wins-i-will-not/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Even the ground beneath his feet feels unsatisfying to his boots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/even-the-ground-beneath-his-feet-feels-unsatisfying-to-his-boots/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Why haven’t you asked me how I do my tricks?” Celia asks, once they have reached the point where she is certain he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/why-haven-t-you-asked-me-how-i-do-my-tricks-celia-asks-once-they-have/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [And there are really never endings, happy or otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-there-are-really-never-endings-happy-or-otherwise/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I binge write. I think it's because I started seriously writing by participating in National Novel Writing Month, an online-based challenge to write 50,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-binge-write-i-think-it-s-because-i-started-seriously-writing-by/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I have absurdly vivid dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-have-absurdly-vivid-dreams/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I made a wish on this tree years ago," Marco says. "What did you wish for?" Bailey asks. Marco leans forward and whispers in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-made-a-wish-on-this-tree-years-ago-marco-says-what-did-you-wish-for/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“He reads histories and mythologies and fairy tales, wondering why it seems that only girls are ever swept away from their mundane lives on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/he-reads-histories-and-mythologies-and-fairy-tales-wondering-why-it/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field beyond.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-devices-decide-to-wander/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [Marco moves to close the distance between them, kissing away her tears before catching her lip with his own. As he kisses her, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/marco-moves-to-close-the-distance-between-them-kissing-away-her-tears/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“«Importa más ser que parecer.»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/importa-m-s-ser-que-parecer/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [And before he can tell her to tell Widget goodbye for him if need be, she leans forward and kisses him, not on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-before-he-can-tell-her-to-tell-widget-goodbye-for-him-if-need-be/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) [Explore all 339 Erin Morgenstern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## More Fairy quotes > [Once upon a time. Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know my hair is out of the '60's, my clothes are '50's and the shoes I wear are from the '40's. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-my-hair-is-out-of-the-60-s-my-clothes-are-50-s-and-the-shoes-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I have always been fascinated by the supernatural elements in stories, whether fairy tales, myths, film or literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/i-have-always-been-fascinated-by-the-supernatural-elements-in-stories/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [“You can't get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. It's the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-can-t-get-mad-at-a-real-ending-some-of-them-are-ugly-it-s-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“ Happily-ever-afters don't come in happily-every-days . They are found at the end of challenges-ever-met, promises-ever-kept, and tears-ever-wept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/happily-ever-afters-don-t-come-in-happily-every-days-they-are-found/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“But even if they could go home it would be difficult for me to tell you what the moral of the story is. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/but-even-if-they-could-go-home-it-would-be-difficult-for-me-to-tell/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [One of the first houses we lived in was like out of a fairy story. We had a stream that ran through our garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/one-of-the-first-houses-we-lived-in-was-like-out-of-a-fairy-story-we/) [Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/) > [“If two people see a fairy appear, eat a starfish, and dive into the tile floor without so much as a splash, neither can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaydeon-k-moore/if-two-people-see-a-fairy-appear-eat-a-starfish-and-dive-into-the/) Kaydeon K. Moore > [Poems come from ordinary experiences and objects, I think. Out of memory - a dress I lent my daughter on her way back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/poems-come-from-ordinary-experiences-and-objects-i-think-out-of/) [Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/) > [Here is the world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, the age of chivalry, magic and make-believe are reborn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/here-is-the-world-of-imagination-hopes-and-dreams-in-this-timeless/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [In his anti-Darwinian book... (and eponymously named The Neck of the Giraffe ), Francis Hitching tells the story... "The need to survive by reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/in-his-anti-darwinian-book-and-eponymously-named-the-neck-of-the/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Look at Jane Austen. Her characters derive in a reasonably straight line from fairy tales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davies/look-at-jane-austen-her-characters-derive-in-a-reasonably-straight/) [Andrew Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davies/) > [Letters crossing in the post, unfamiliar tunes heard three times in one day, the way that blows of fate descend upon the same bowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/letters-crossing-in-the-post-unfamiliar-tunes-heard-three-times-in/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [I grew up watching monster movies and horror movies, which I felt were like fairy tales and I think this always spoke to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/i-grew-up-watching-monster-movies-and-horror-movies-which-i-felt-were/) [Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/) [Browse all 1,977 Fairy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like that 'once upon a time' quality, where the telling of a tale has an elevated sense of story. 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