--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But to those who can’t see it yet…" description: "\"“But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight.”\" — Eugene H. Peterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/eugene-h-peterson-1745_wisdom_but-to-those-who-can-t-see-it-yet-everyt_1112160.png" --- # But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in… ![“But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight.” quote by Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/eugene-h-peterson-1745_wisdom_but-to-those-who-can-t-see-it-yet-everyt_1112160.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/eugene-h-peterson-1745_wisdom_but-to-those-who-can-t-see-it-yet-everyt_1112160.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/eugene-h-peterson-1745_wisdom_but-to-those-who-can-t-see-it-yet-everyt_1112160.png) > ““But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight.”” [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories shape understanding, preparing people for insight before they can consciously grasp it. **In simple terms:** Stories ready us for insight. Key Takeaway Use narratives to foster readiness. Themes storytelling learning spiritual growth Mood inspirational thoughtful Type educational motivational When to use this quote - teaching - mentorship - personal development - faith formation Key Concepts cognitive readiness narrative psychology education Questions to Reflect On - What story has prepared you for a breakthrough? - How can we ensure stories remain authentic? A Different Perspective Stories can oversimplify complex truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comes Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-stories-572242/) [Creating Readiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-readiness-2967701/) [Readiness Nudging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readiness-nudging-2967702/) [Receptive Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receptive-insight-2967700/) [Stories Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-creating-746127/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/that-s-why-i-tell-stories-to-create-readiness-to-nudge-the-people/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [I like to be fulfilled in telling stories and in creating, but I'm just a curious person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-ellis/i-like-to-be-fulfilled-in-telling-stories-and-in-creating-but-i-m/) [Jay Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-ellis/) > [“We may be in the modern digital age, but when it comes to stories, we are still antediluvian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-niles/we-may-be-in-the-modern-digital-age-but-when-it-comes-to-stories-we/) [Calvin Niles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-niles/) > [Telling purposeful stories is interactive. It's not a monolog. Ultimately, purposeful tellers must surrender control of their stories, creating a gap for the listener(s)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-guber/telling-purposeful-stories-is-interactive-it-s-not-a-monolog/) [Peter Guber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-guber/) > [What we know about who we are comes from stories. It's the agents of our imagination who really shape who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-abani/what-we-know-about-who-we-are-comes-from-stories-it-s-the-agents-of/) [Chris Abani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-abani/) > [I love telling stories. Creating a character, a world, a whole universe out of nothing. That part I can't get enough of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/i-love-telling-stories-creating-a-character-a-world-a-whole-universe/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [There has been a tendency only to deal with a certain social class when it comes to stories more than 100 years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/there-has-been-a-tendency-only-to-deal-with-a-certain-social-class/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Many of our ideas of what love is comes from stories... these are extremely powerful shapers of our attitudes towards love, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/many-of-our-ideas-of-what-love-is-comes-from-stories-these-are/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [There's no such thing as complete when it comes to stories. Stories are infinite. They are as infinite as worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-barnhill/there-s-no-such-thing-as-complete-when-it-comes-to-stories-stories/) [Kelly Barnhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-barnhill/) > [Ralph Lauren is about creating stories, creating concepts that consumers want to live in. We are about creating dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lauren/ralph-lauren-is-about-creating-stories-creating-concepts-that/) [David Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lauren/) > [What's fascinating to me is the way that multiple stories go into creating any world - a fictional world, but certainly the world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/what-s-fascinating-to-me-is-the-way-that-multiple-stories-go-into/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [Whether it's foreign money or hiding emails, these stories are creating a narrative about Hillary Clinton trying to be above everyone else and operating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/whether-it-s-foreign-money-or-hiding-emails-these-stories-are/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I write what needs to be written the way that seems genuinely right. If what comes out of it are stories, then it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-write-what-needs-to-be-written-the-way-that-seems-genuinely-right/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Eugene H. Peterson > [“Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/forget-about-deciding-what-s-right-for-each-other-here-s-what-you/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Liturgy gathers the holy community as it reads the Holy Scriptures into the sweeping tidal rhythms of the church year in which the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-gathers-the-holy-community-as-it-reads-the-holy-scriptures/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“The core message of the gospel is that God invades us with new life, but the setting for this is most often in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-core-message-of-the-gospel-is-that-god-invades-us-with-new-life/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Liturgy puts us to work along with all the others who have been and are being put to work in the world by and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-puts-us-to-work-along-with-all-the-others-who-have-been-and/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, For you, GOD, have put my life back together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/at-day-s-end-i-m-ready-for-sound-sleep-for-you-god-have-put-my-life/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [I think pastors are the worst listeners. We're so used to speaking, teaching, giving answers. We must learn to be quiet, quit being so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/i-think-pastors-are-the-worst-listeners-we-re-so-used-to-speaking/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“When I look for help in developing my pastoral craft and nurturing my pastoral vocation, the one century that has the least to commend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/when-i-look-for-help-in-developing-my-pastoral-craft-and-nurturing-my/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Religion is a very scary thing, because a pastor is in a position of power. And if you use that power badly, you ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/religion-is-a-very-scary-thing-because-a-pastor-is-in-a-position-of/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [The vocation of pastor(s) has been replaced by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-vocation-of-pastor-s-has-been-replaced-by-the-strategies-of/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/repentance-is-a-realization-that-what-god-wants-from-you-and-what-you/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [It's essential for us to develop an imagination that is participatory. Art is the primary way in which this happens. It's the primary way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/it-s-essential-for-us-to-develop-an-imagination-that-is-participatory/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“My uncle Ernie didn't believe in God. At least that's what he said. But he always Went to church on Christmas. Which I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/my-uncle-ernie-didn-t-believe-in-god-at-least-that-s-what-he-said-but/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/you-don-t-make-your-words-true-by-embellishing-them-with-religious/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“And the remainder of the Message details God’s intricate and loving plan to redeem, restore, and reconcile creation back to himself after what happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/and-the-remainder-of-the-message-details-god-s-intricate-and-loving/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) [Explore all 210 Eugene H. Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) ## More Wisdom quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [“Your mind has the intellect to lift the world, your heart has the wisdom to better the world, and your soul has the genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-mind-has-the-intellect-to-lift-the-world-your-heart-has-the/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [If I meet a wise person, I think, 'Yes, tell me more about parenting, about marriage, about how to stay in love. 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