---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are going to tell a story about a…"
description: "\"If you are going to tell a story about a child going missing, it's going to have similarities with a real life child going missing.\" — James Nesbitt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/james-nesbitt-3995_about_if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a_1655944.jpg"
---

#  If you are going to tell a story about a child going…

![“If you are going to tell a story about a child going missing, it's going to have similarities with a real life child going missing.” quote by James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/james-nesbitt-3995_about_if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a_1655944.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/james-nesbitt-3995_about_if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a_1655944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/james-nesbitt-3995_about_if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a_1655944.jpg)

> “If you are going to tell a story about a child going missing, it's going to have similarities with a real life child going missing.”

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

## About This Quote

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

Stories about missing children often echo real tragedies, highlighting how fiction mirrors painful reality.

**In simple terms:** Fiction mirrors real missing children.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the impact of storytelling on public awareness.

Themes

empathy media tragedy

Mood

somber reflective

Type

cautionary ethical

When to use this quote

- journalism
- documentary filmmaking
- advocacy campaigns
- public policy discussions

Key Concepts

narrative ethics social responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can storytellers balance truth and sensitivity?
- What responsibilities do creators have to victims?

A Different Perspective

Stories may sensationalize trauma, risking exploitation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/)

## Related quotes

> [You've got to remember that men are men and women are women. And although a lot of similarities, there are some real differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/you-ve-got-to-remember-that-men-are-men-and-women-are-women-and/)

[Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/)

> [No matter what you do or where you are, you're going to be missing out on something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/no-matter-what-you-do-or-where-you-are-you-re-going-to-be-missing-out/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [“If you want to feel important and indispensable, read a story to the child on your lap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gustafson/if-you-want-to-feel-important-and-indispensable-read-a-story-to-the/)

[David Gustafson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gustafson/)

> [If you worry about the ones you missed, you are going to keep missing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-hagen/if-you-worry-about-the-ones-you-missed-you-are-going-to-keep-missing/)

[Walter Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-hagen/)

> [Tell me a story, Pew. What kind of story, child? A story with a happy ending. There’s no such thing in all the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/tell-me-a-story-pew-what-kind-of-story-child-a-story-with-a-happy/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [“No time is more precious and well rewarded than those few moments you spend reading a story to a child”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-harris/no-time-is-more-precious-and-well-rewarded-than-those-few-moments-you/)

Robert D. Harris

> [...even saying good-bye isn’t enough. There’s always one more thing you should have had the time to say, or do, or ask. There’s always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/even-saying-good-bye-isn-t-enough-there-s-always-one-more-thing-you/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Every single character and every single person in real life can all be 16 or 17 years old and maybe live in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-sweeney/every-single-character-and-every-single-person-in-real-life-can-all/)

[Sydney Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-sweeney/)

> [Ralph Angel, for me, was about getting in touch with the similarities between the characters. I felt like he was a human being that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-siriboe/ralph-angel-for-me-was-about-getting-in-touch-with-the-similarities/)

[Kofi Siriboe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-siriboe/)

> [Philadelphia might not want to hear this, but I grew up in Cleveland, and I think there are really a lot of similarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/philadelphia-might-not-want-to-hear-this-but-i-grew-up-in-cleveland/)

[Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/)

> [ It's so funny, all the similarities that we have \[with David Copperfield\] of being obsessed young people and finding a way to be around… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/it-s-so-funny-all-the-similarities-that-we-have-with-david/)

[Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/)

> [We are fantastic and awesome in our own way. similarities in others make the differences of us from them special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pheonysia-biden-missgerrard88/we-are-fantastic-and-awesome-in-our-own-way-similarities-in-others/)

Pheonysia Biden á¦â« (@missgerrard88

> [There are a lot of similarities between Jonathan Higgins and Juliet Higgins: they're both British, they both come from military backgrounds, and they're both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perdita-weeks/there-are-a-lot-of-similarities-between-jonathan-higgins-and-juliet/)

[Perdita Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perdita-weeks/)

> [“Understanding languages and other cultures builds bridges. It is the fastest way to bring the world closer together and to Truth. Through understanding, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/understanding-languages-and-other-cultures-builds-bridges-it-is-the/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [“I’m not like her. I don’t steal people.” Mr. Tibbalt watched her, saying nothing. The silence made Victoria bristle. “Well, I don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/i-m-not-like-her-i-don-t-steal-people-mr-tibbalt-watched-her-saying/)

[Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/)

## More by James Nesbitt

> [I'm not very good at standard English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/i-m-not-very-good-at-standard-english/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [When I went to university, I was already working professionally with the Ulster Actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/when-i-went-to-university-i-was-already-working-professionally-with/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [You can get a bit world-weary in this job, and 'The Passion' reminded me of what a fantastic job acting is and how lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/you-can-get-a-bit-world-weary-in-this-job-and-the-passion-reminded-me/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [It's hard to make a film in Britain. It's hard to raise money. The best stuff that is shot on film in Britain is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/it-s-hard-to-make-a-film-in-britain-it-s-hard-to-raise-money-the-best/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [I went to India with UNICEF in connection with Manchester United to raise money for children's education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/i-went-to-india-with-unicef-in-connection-with-manchester-united-to/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [When you're brought up in a Unionist culture, you can't help but feel Unionist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/when-you-re-brought-up-in-a-unionist-culture-you-can-t-help-but-feel/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [When you see a tumour in the brain, it's an ugly looking thing. It's kind of black, grisly and messy. Or it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/when-you-see-a-tumour-in-the-brain-it-s-an-ugly-looking-thing-it-s/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [When I was at drama school, I was totally broke, and a lot of my mates had jobs and were financially very good to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/when-i-was-at-drama-school-i-was-totally-broke-and-a-lot-of-my-mates/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [My nightmare is that I don't want to be OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/my-nightmare-is-that-i-don-t-want-to-be-ok/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [Because I grew up with women, I have a certain amount of charm, and I'm all right to get on with, kind enough, funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/because-i-grew-up-with-women-i-have-a-certain-amount-of-charm-and-i-m/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [There's no such thing as unwanted attention for an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/there-s-no-such-thing-as-unwanted-attention-for-an-actor/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [Drama asks some uncomfortable questions at times... It goes to pretty dark places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/drama-asks-some-uncomfortable-questions-at-times-it-goes-to-pretty/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [Belfast is a city which, while not forgetting its past, is living comfortably with its present and looking forward to its future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/belfast-is-a-city-which-while-not-forgetting-its-past-is-living/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [I started a French degree at university, but packed it in when I realised I really wanted to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/i-started-a-french-degree-at-university-but-packed-it-in-when-i/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

> [Acting was a godsend. I found myself because I loved acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/acting-was-a-godsend-i-found-myself-because-i-loved-acting/)

[James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

[Explore all 118 James Nesbitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you are going to tell a story about a child going missing, it's going to have similarities with a real life child going missing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Nesbitt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a-child-going-missing-it-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a-child-going-missing-it-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/james-nesbitt-3995_about_if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a_1655944.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/james-nesbitt-3995_about_if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a_1655944.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/james-nesbitt-3995_about_if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a_1655944.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you are going to tell a story about a child going missing, it's going to have similarities with a real…” — James Nesbitt",
                "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": "James Nesbitt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you are going to tell...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a-child-going-missing-it-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/if-you-are-going-to-tell-a-story-about-a-child-going-missing-it-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
