--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a common theme, though, in the…" description: "\"There is a common theme, though, in the stories I have told, which are usually associations of characters or families that are formed outside of a fami..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/gus-van-sant-5023_association_there-is-a-common-theme-though-in-the-st_2924899.png" --- # There is a common theme, though, in the stories I have… ![“There is a common theme, though, in the stories I have told, which are usually associations of characters or families that are formed outside of a family circle.” quote by Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/gus-van-sant-5023_association_there-is-a-common-theme-though-in-the-st_2924899.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/gus-van-sant-5023_association_there-is-a-common-theme-though-in-the-st_2924899.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/gus-van-sant-5023_association_there-is-a-common-theme-though-in-the-st_2924899.png) > “There is a common theme, though, in the stories I have told, which are usually associations of characters or families that are formed outside of a family circle.” [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories often explore relationships formed outside traditional family structures, highlighting alternative bonds. **In simple terms:** Non‑family ties shape narratives. Key Takeaway Value chosen families. Themes family relationships identity Mood reflective nostalgic Type narrative philosophical When to use this quote - adoption - friendship groups - online communities Key Concepts sociology film studies anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How do you define family? - What role do chosen families play in your life? A Different Perspective Some may view non‑family bonds as less authentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [“They talked about each others’ houses, and characters, and families--just as the Joneses do about the Smiths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/they-talked-about-each-others-houses-and-characters-and-families-just/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [“The way a story is told is as important as the story being told, although the way that the story is told is usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-way-a-story-is-told-is-as-important-as-the-story-being-told/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I started to see this common theme with the songs that I was writing or co-writing, and it all had this really strong, independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-morris/i-started-to-see-this-common-theme-with-the-songs-that-i-was-writing/) [Maren Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-morris/) > [When you've written long enough, you see that there's a common theme in your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/when-you-ve-written-long-enough-you-see-that-there-s-a-common-theme/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [While I've had so many different jobs - I've worked in law, I've worked in government, I've run for office - there's a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/while-i-ve-had-so-many-different-jobs-i-ve-worked-in-law-i-ve-worked/) [Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/) > [For my art, there is a common theme most of the time: it is using the things we can see to search for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cai-guo-qiang/for-my-art-there-is-a-common-theme-most-of-the-time-it-is-using-the/) [Cai Guo-Qiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cai-guo-qiang/) > [I suppose all of my films have a common theme. If I think about it, though, the only theme I can think of is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/i-suppose-all-of-my-films-have-a-common-theme-if-i-think-about-it/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [“The common theme of common sense is that it’s commonly rejected as uncommonly demanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-common-theme-of-common-sense-is-that-it-s-commonly-rejected-as/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [It's a common theme around the city of New Orleans; we're resilient people because we have to be. We love this place with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-landrieu/it-s-a-common-theme-around-the-city-of-new-orleans-we-re-resilient/) [Mitch Landrieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-landrieu/) > [Facebook, Google, Apple, Yahoo - there's a common theme. None of these companies ever sold. By staying independent, they were able to build a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-koum/facebook-google-apple-yahoo-there-s-a-common-theme-none-of-these/) [Jan Koum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-koum/) > [The dead and past stories that I have told again in divers fashions, are not set down without authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-de-france/the-dead-and-past-stories-that-i-have-told-again-in-divers-fashions/) [Marie de France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-de-france/) > [My mother told me stories all the time... And in all of those stories she told me who I was, who I was supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/my-mother-told-me-stories-all-the-time-and-in-all-of-those-stories/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) > [All the stories of the Bible that I know came to me first from my grandfather's lips... He would see stories in everything. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/all-the-stories-of-the-bible-that-i-know-came-to-me-first-from-my/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I have realised there are so many stories which can be told beautifully on screen. It's important to be part of such films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jitendra-kumar/i-have-realised-there-are-so-many-stories-which-can-be-told/) [Jitendra Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jitendra-kumar/) > [“When we change the shape of the Land, we alter the contents and contexts of our collective, familial, and personal memories. Yet, stories can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-berk/when-we-change-the-shape-of-the-land-we-alter-the-contents-and/) [Ari Berk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-berk/) ## More by Gus Van Sant > [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I mean, I think I'm pretty sentimental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-mean-i-think-i-m-pretty-sentimental/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [Usually people just hire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/usually-people-just-hire-me/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [My family moved a lot as a kid. We started in Colorado, where I lived for five years. We moved to Chicago for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/my-family-moved-a-lot-as-a-kid-we-started-in-colorado-where-i-lived/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [No construction stiff working overtime takes more stress and straining than we did just to stay high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/no-construction-stiff-working-overtime-takes-more-stress-and/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I've told people who have just started to make a film that the one thing you might experience is this feeling that everybody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-ve-told-people-who-have-just-started-to-make-a-film-that-the-one/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [A lot of times, I relied on connections through my agency, just for financing and things like that. Even when I'm looking for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/a-lot-of-times-i-relied-on-connections-through-my-agency-just-for/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I'm a junkie. I like drugs, I like the whole lifestyle, but it just didn't pay off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-m-a-junkie-i-like-drugs-i-like-the-whole-lifestyle-but-it-just-didn/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [There are all kinds of ways that people present their films, but that's kind of a good feeling, if you can make it seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/there-are-all-kinds-of-ways-that-people-present-their-films-but-that/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I find it interesting, the different rules that apply to journalism and drama, even though journalism has become more and more about entertainment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-find-it-interesting-the-different-rules-that-apply-to-journalism/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [As I do with most films, I try and find some music that you could use throughout, not just a sampling of lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/as-i-do-with-most-films-i-try-and-find-some-music-that-you-could-use/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [When you're on a film and you're doubting something, it's usually because you don't think the audience is going to like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/when-you-re-on-a-film-and-you-re-doubting-something-it-s-usually/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I don't usually direct actors in the classic sense of that word. Instead, I try to remind the characters before the shoot what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-don-t-usually-direct-actors-in-the-classic-sense-of-that-word/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [When you get to be 23, 24 or 25, you start to freeze up and become an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/when-you-get-to-be-23-24-or-25-you-start-to-freeze-up-and-become-an/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [The artist himself is actually the subject in everything after, say, 1900. Eventually, art becomes so removed from the community that you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-artist-himself-is-actually-the-subject-in-everything-after-say/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) [Explore all 102 Gus Van Sant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) ## More Association quotes > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [So few men are really worth knowing, that it seems a shameful waste to let an anthropoid prejudice stand in the way of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/so-few-men-are-really-worth-knowing-that-it-seems-a-shameful-waste-to/) [H. L. 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