Adventure Quote by Italo Calvino
“I speak and speak,” Marco says, “but the listener retains only the words he is expecting. The description of the world to which you lend a benevolent ear is one thing; the description that will go the rounds of the groups of stevedores and gondoliers on the street outside my house the day of my return is another; and yet another, that which I might dictate late in life, if I were taken prisoner by Genoese pirates and put in irons in the same cell with a writer of adventure stories. It is not the voice that commands the story: it is the ear.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Storytelling, 1975
The listener’s expectations shape the story they receive; meaning is co‑created by speaker and audience.
In simple terms: Listeners shape meaning.
Key Takeaway
Consider audience expectations.
Themes
communication
perception
storytelling
interpretation
subjectivity
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
inquisitive
Type
literary
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- writing
- teaching
- media production
Key Concepts
Narrative theory
listener‑centered communication
semantic framing
Questions to Reflect On
- What expectations do your listeners bring?
- How can you align message and audience?
A Different Perspective
Risk of misinterpretation if expectations differ.
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