---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truth is not exciting enough to those who…"
description: "\"Truth is not exciting enough to those who depend on the characters and lives of their neighbors for all their amusement.\" — George Bancroft"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/george-bancroft-20473_amusement_truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-wh_2508760.png"
---

#  Truth is not exciting enough to those who depend on the…

![“Truth is not exciting enough to those who depend on the characters and lives of their neighbors for all their amusement.” quote by George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/george-bancroft-20473_amusement_truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-wh_2508760.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/george-bancroft-20473_amusement_truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-wh_2508760.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/george-bancroft-20473_amusement_truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-wh_2508760.png)

> “Truth is not exciting enough to those who depend on the characters and lives of their neighbors for all their amusement.”

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

## About This Quote

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

People often seek drama in others' lives, making ordinary truth feel dull and unappealing.

**In simple terms:** Truth can seem boring compared to neighborly drama.

Key Takeaway

Find meaning in everyday reality.

Themes

boredom media human nature

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

- social media consumption
- gossip
- personal storytelling

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we gravitate toward sensational stories?
- How can we appreciate ordinary truths?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on spectacle can obscure important facts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Neighbors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbors/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/neighbors-bring-food-with-death-and-flowers-with-sickness-and-little/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [Gettting to know your characters is so much more important than plotting. Working out every detail of your story in advance, especially when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/gettting-to-know-your-characters-is-so-much-more-important-than/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [I love meeting booksellers and readers and hearing how they've read and received my stories. Often I'm surprised by which characters they've loved best,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/i-love-meeting-booksellers-and-readers-and-hearing-how-they-ve-read/)

[Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/)

> [A good novelist loves all of his characters, he lives in them, even in those who commit or must commit terrible acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liao-yiwu/a-good-novelist-loves-all-of-his-characters-he-lives-in-them-even-in/)

[Liao Yiwu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liao-yiwu/)

> [Most stories in 'True Blood' take place over a short amount of time. I think the entire three seasons of the show have only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcmillian/most-stories-in-true-blood-take-place-over-a-short-amount-of-time-i/)

[Michael McMillian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcmillian/)

> [“My favorite part of books and movies is almost always the 'before.' The beginning, before whatever upends the characters' lives has happened—before she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianna-baer/my-favorite-part-of-books-and-movies-is-almost-always-the-before-the/)

[Marianna Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianna-baer/)

> [I've sort of dealt with the characters' lives more; particularly the women characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-hernandez/i-ve-sort-of-dealt-with-the-characters-lives-more-particularly-the/)

Gilbert Hernandez

> [No, none of us seem so very real. We're only supporting characters in the lives of each other. Any real truth, any precious fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/no-none-of-us-seem-so-very-real-we-re-only-supporting-characters-in/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“The characters' lives were so much more interesting than the lonely hearbeat of my own”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-sepetys/the-characters-lives-were-so-much-more-interesting-than-the-lonely/)

Ruth Sepetys

> [“An author is similar to an actor. They play many characters in their lives—photographer, nurse, dancer, doctor, writer, etc. As an author, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mischa-temaul/an-author-is-similar-to-an-actor-they-play-many-characters-in-their/)

Mischa Temaul

> [The characters have their own lives and their own logic, and you have to act accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-characters-have-their-own-lives-and-their-own-logic-and-you-have/)

[Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/)

> [ “A great number of elements in the characters’ lives, both psychic and factual, are not communicated to us. \[…\] These characters, I believe, enjoy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bayard/a-great-number-of-elements-in-the-characters-lives-both-psychic-and/)

[Pierre Bayard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayard/)

> [I leapt eagerly into books. The characters’ lives were so much more interesting than the lonely heartbeat of my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-leapt-eagerly-into-books-the-characters-lives-were-so-much-more/)

[Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/)

> [I think of the biopics I've written as exploring a more grown-up side of myself, through other characters' lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-think-of-the-biopics-i-ve-written-as-exploring-a-more-grown-up-side/)

[Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/)

> [“In fiction, the characters have their own lives. They may start as a gloss on the author’s life, but they move on from there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/in-fiction-the-characters-have-their-own-lives-they-may-start-as-a/)

[Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/)

## More by George Bancroft

> [“The disturbances in the country grew not out of anything republican, but out of slavery, which is a part of the system of hereditary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/the-disturbances-in-the-country-grew-not-out-of-anything-republican/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [The measure of progress of civilization is the progress of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/the-measure-of-progress-of-civilization-is-the-progress-of-the-people/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [Not in vain has Lincoln lived, for he has helped to make this republic an example of justice, with no caste but the caste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/not-in-vain-has-lincoln-lived-for-he-has-helped-to-make-this-republic/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [Ennui is the desire of activity without the fit means of gratifying the desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/ennui-is-the-desire-of-activity-without-the-fit-means-of-gratifying/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [By common consent gray hairs are a crown of glory; the only object of respect that can never excite envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/by-common-consent-gray-hairs-are-a-crown-of-glory-the-only-object-of/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [Style is the gossamer on which the seeds of truth float through the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/style-is-the-gossamer-on-which-the-seeds-of-truth-float-through-the/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [Dishonesty is so grasping it would deceive God himself, were it possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/dishonesty-is-so-grasping-it-would-deceive-god-himself-were-it/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [The charities of life are scattered everywhere, enameling the vales of human beings as the flowers paint the meadows. They are not the fruit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/the-charities-of-life-are-scattered-everywhere-enameling-the-vales-of/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [Institutions may crumble and governments fall, but it is only that they may renew a better youth, and mount upwards like the eagle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/institutions-may-crumble-and-governments-fall-but-it-is-only-that/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [The prejudices of ignorance are more easily removed than the prejudices of interest; the first are all blindly adopted, the second willfully preferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/the-prejudices-of-ignorance-are-more-easily-removed-than-the/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [Sedition is bred in the lap of luxury and its chosen emissaries are the beggared spendthrift and the impoverished libertine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/sedition-is-bred-in-the-lap-of-luxury-and-its-chosen-emissaries-are/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [In 1688 England contracted to the Netherlands the highest debt that one nation can owe to another. Herself not knowing how to recover her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/in-1688-england-contracted-to-the-netherlands-the-highest-debt-that/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [ It \[Calvinism\] established a religion without a prelate, a government without a king. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/it-calvinism-established-a-religion-without-a-prelate-a-government/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [“Palmerston did nothing that will endure; LINCOLN finished a work which all time cannot overthrow. Palmerston”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/palmerston-did-nothing-that-will-endure-lincoln-finished-a-work-which/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

> [Where the people possess no authority, their rights obtain no respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/where-the-people-possess-no-authority-their-rights-obtain-no-respect/)

[George Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

[Explore all 30 George Bancroft quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/)

## More Amusement quotes

> [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/)

[Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/)

> [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

> [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/)

[Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/)

> [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/)

[Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/)

> [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/)

[Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/)

> [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/)

[Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/)

> [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/)

[Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/)

> [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/)

[Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/)

> [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

[Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Truth is not exciting enough to those who depend on the characters and lives of their neighbors for all their amusement.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Bancroft"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-who-depend-on-the-characters/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Amusement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-who-depend-on-the-characters/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/george-bancroft-20473_amusement_truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-wh_2508760.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/george-bancroft-20473_amusement_truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-wh_2508760.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/george-bancroft-20473_amusement_truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-wh_2508760.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Truth is not exciting enough to those who depend on the characters and lives of their neighbors for all…” — George Bancroft",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "George Bancroft",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bancroft/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Truth is not exciting enough to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-who-depend-on-the-characters/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bancroft/truth-is-not-exciting-enough-to-those-who-depend-on-the-characters/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
