--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you tell a true story, you can't be…" description: "\"If you tell a true story, you can't be wrong.\" — Jack Kerouac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/jack-kerouac-182_inspirational_if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wr_2767497.jpg" --- # If you tell a true story, you can't be wrong. ![“If you tell a true story, you can't be wrong.” quote by Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/jack-kerouac-182_inspirational_if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wr_2767497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/jack-kerouac-182_inspirational_if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wr_2767497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/jack-kerouac-182_inspirational_if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wr_2767497.jpg) > “If you tell a true story, you can't be wrong.” [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truthful storytelling is inherently accurate; honesty guides narrative. **In simple terms:** Truth tells itself. Key Takeaway Tell truthfully. Themes authenticity storytelling truth Mood reflective inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - journalism Key Concepts literature philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you define truth? - What biases affect your story? A Different Perspective Truth can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-wrong-1185665/) [Tell True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-true-331063/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [True story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-story/) ## Related quotes > [Tell them stories. They need the truth you must tell them true stories, and everything will be well, just tell them stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/tell-them-stories-they-need-the-truth-you-must-tell-them-true-stories/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Don't tell me a true story, tell me a story of truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-al-dred/don-t-tell-me-a-true-story-tell-me-a-story-of-truth/) [Rob Al'dred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-al-dred/) > [“I tell you this true story just to prove that I can. That my frailty has not yet reached a point at which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-tell-you-this-true-story-just-to-prove-that-i-can-that-my-frailty/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“It's not an easy thing to tell a true story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-morris-jones/it-s-not-an-easy-thing-to-tell-a-true-story/) [Allen Morris Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-morris-jones/) > [“...that's the way to tell a true story from a made-up one. A made-up story always has a neat and tidy end. But true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elspeth-huxley/that-s-the-way-to-tell-a-true-story-from-a-made-up-one-a-made-up/) [Elspeth Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elspeth-huxley/) > [My responsibility is to try to tell true stories. To me a true story is always hopeful, but never simply, uncomplicatedly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/my-responsibility-is-to-try-to-tell-true-stories-to-me-a-true-story/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [All fiction is based on truth - 'Madame Bovary' is based on a true story!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/all-fiction-is-based-on-truth-madame-bovary-is-based-on-a-true-story/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > ['Peter Pan' is tried and true - it's a story that everybody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-louderman/peter-pan-is-tried-and-true-it-s-a-story-that-everybody-knows/) [Taylor Louderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-louderman/) > [Sometimes I get the story wrong, or it's the wrong story, and then things don't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/sometimes-i-get-the-story-wrong-or-it-s-the-wrong-story-and-then/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [“This doesn't feel like my story, but may be the wrong page still leads to the right chapter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-shrestha/this-doesn-t-feel-like-my-story-but-may-be-the-wrong-page-still-leads/) [Susan Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-shrestha/) > [Accents can be a great tool to tell a story - but if you do it wrong, it pulls you right out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/accents-can-be-a-great-tool-to-tell-a-story-but-if-you-do-it-wrong-it/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [“He thought I was the hero of our story. How wrong he was. He had been the hero all along.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/he-thought-i-was-the-hero-of-our-story-how-wrong-he-was-he-had-been/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [“There are two sides to every story, as if that explains and justifies everything! You know what I say when someone tells me that?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sex/there-are-two-sides-to-every-story-as-if-that-explains-and-justifies/) [Nikki Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sex/) > [Believe not each accusing tongue, As most weak persons do; But still believe that story wrong, Which ought not to be true!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/believe-not-each-accusing-tongue-as-most-weak-persons-do-but-still/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > ['Noah' doesn't merely get the story wrong; like all Biblical adaptations, it's bound to do that (although some aspects of the film are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/noah-doesn-t-merely-get-the-story-wrong-like-all-biblical-adaptations/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) ## More by Jack Kerouac > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“For when you realized that God is Everything you know that you've got to love everything no matter how bad it is, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/for-when-you-realized-that-god-is-everything-you-know-that-you-ve-got/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“I'm an idealist who has outgrown my idealism I have nothing to do the rest of my life but do it and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-an-idealist-who-has-outgrown-my-idealism-i-have-nothing-to-do-the/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“Most of them were running away from something―usually the law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/most-of-them-were-running-away-from-something-usually-the-law/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“Non lo so, non importa e non fa nessuna differenza.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/non-lo-so-non-importa-e-non-fa-nessuna-differenza/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“And in the flush of the first few days of joy I confidently tell myself (not expecting what I'll do in three weeks only)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/and-in-the-flush-of-the-first-few-days-of-joy-i-confidently-tell/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I want a blaze of light to flame in me forever in a timeless, dear love of everything. And why should I pretend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-want-a-blaze-of-light-to-flame-in-me-forever-in-a-timeless-dear/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“For the next week that was all I heard - manana, a lovely word and one that probably means heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/for-the-next-week-that-was-all-i-heard-manana-a-lovely-word-and-one/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“O how wonderful life is, how miraculous, God made this and God made that", "how do you know he doesn't hate what He did:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/o-how-wonderful-life-is-how-miraculous-god-made-this-and-god-made/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Notoriety and public confession in the literary form is a frazzler of the heart you were born with, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/notoriety-and-public-confession-in-the-literary-form-is-a-frazzler-of/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I promise I shall never give up, and that I'll die yelling & laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-promise-i-shall-never-give-up-and-that-i-ll-die-yelling-laughing/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“The hot water pools are steaming, Fagan and Monsanto and the others are all sitting peacefully up to their necks, they're all naked, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-hot-water-pools-are-steaming-fagan-and-monsanto-and-the-others/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) [Explore all 936 Jack Kerouac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) ## More Inspirational 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/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [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/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you tell a true story, you can't be wrong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Kerouac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wrong/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wrong/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/jack-kerouac-182_inspirational_if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wr_2767497.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/jack-kerouac-182_inspirational_if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wr_2767497.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/jack-kerouac-182_inspirational_if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wr_2767497.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you tell a true story, you can't be wrong.” — Jack Kerouac", "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": "Jack Kerouac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you tell a true story,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wrong/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/if-you-tell-a-true-story-you-can-t-be-wrong/#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 } } ] } ```