--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm always surprised when I read a story…" description: "\"I'm always surprised when I read a story that's reported from a great distance.\" — Jason Rezaian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/jason-rezaian-40859_distance_i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story_2690540.jpg" --- # I'm always surprised when I read a story that's reported… ![“I'm always surprised when I read a story that's reported from a great distance.” quote by Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/jason-rezaian-40859_distance_i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story_2690540.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/jason-rezaian-40859_distance_i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story_2690540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/jason-rezaian-40859_distance_i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story_2690540.jpg) > “I'm always surprised when I read a story that's reported from a great distance.” [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories distant from us feel surprising, highlighting the power of perspective and distance in shaping narrative impact. **In simple terms:** Distance changes how we perceive stories. Key Takeaway Seek diverse perspectives. Themes storytelling perspective distance surprise Mood curious reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - travel writing - historical analysis Key Concepts cognitive bias narrative framing Questions to Reflect On - How does distance affect your empathy? - What stories feel closer to you? A Different Perspective Distance can detach empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Read Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-story/) [Reported Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reported-great-2654118/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Reported](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-reported-2654116/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [Surprised Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised-read-2654117/) ## Related quotes > [When I read something, I want to be surprised. So I read something and go, "Wow, I never, ever would have thought of playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/when-i-read-something-i-want-to-be-surprised-so-i-read-something-and/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [I don't think we're getting the empathy, and identifying with the situations that many African Americans experience. That's the problem with how the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-don-t-think-we-re-getting-the-empathy-and-identifying-with-the/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/when-we-read-a-story-we-inhabit-it-the-covers-of-the-book-are-like-a/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [“IT WOULD BE tempting to read the story of Fordlandia and Belterra as a parable of arrogance,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-grandin/it-would-be-tempting-to-read-the-story-of-fordlandia-and-belterra-as/) [Greg Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-grandin/) > [“Listen," he said one afternoon in the library. "You have to read a book three times before you know it. The first time you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/listen-he-said-one-afternoon-in-the-library-you-have-to-read-a-book/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Until I can read a story physically, with the eyes, it doesn't seem to exist for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/until-i-can-read-a-story-physically-with-the-eyes-it-doesn-t-seem-to/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [So, it's always different. Some stuff, you want to do because it's a part that you've never played. It's always for story. Sometimes there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-d-onofrio/so-it-s-always-different-some-stuff-you-want-to-do-because-it-s-a/) [Vincent D'Onofrio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-d-onofrio/) > [Warning: Do not read this story right after eating. In fact, don't read it right before eating either. In fact, just to be safe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/warning-do-not-read-this-story-right-after-eating-in-fact-don-t-read/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“David could tell, by looking at her face as she read, whether or not the story contained in the book was living inside her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/david-could-tell-by-looking-at-her-face-as-she-read-whether-or-not/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [I think people respond to dystopian stories because they're ways of acting out anxieties that we have and fears that we have about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-think-people-respond-to-dystopian-stories-because-they-re-ways-of/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Between my straw mattress and the bed planks, I had actually found an old scrap of newspaper, yellow and transparent, half-stuck to the canvas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/between-my-straw-mattress-and-the-bed-planks-i-had-actually-found-an/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“If you dare to read this story, you become part of the Experiment. I know that sounds a little mysterious – but it’s all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dare-to-read-this-story-you-become-part-of-the-experiment-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Well, since you're not going to do anything with me—can you at least read me a story? I'd settle for that. I wanted him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/well-since-you-re-not-going-to-do-anything-with-me-can-you-at-least/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [For me, that emotional payoff is what it’s all about. I want you to laugh or cry when you read a story...or do both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/for-me-that-emotional-payoff-is-what-it-s-all-about-i-want-you-to/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Tell the truth and read story books;it will take you to the magical moment in a glory night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tell-the-truth-and-read-story-books-it-will-take-you-to-the-magical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jason Rezaian > [For me, the best journalism is usually the best storytelling, and the best stories are those of real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/for-me-the-best-journalism-is-usually-the-best-storytelling-and-the/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) > [I think that I'm a really optimistic person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-think-that-i-m-a-really-optimistic-person/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) > [I think in any country you have macro situations and micro ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-think-in-any-country-you-have-macro-situations-and-micro-ones/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) > [In terms of how Iranians see the U.S. government, that's a difficult question. But in terms of how Iranians see Americans, there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/in-terms-of-how-iranians-see-the-u-s-government-that-s-a-difficult/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) > [I just found that the knowledge of ordinary Americans about Iran is very small - which is totally expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-just-found-that-the-knowledge-of-ordinary-americans-about-iran-is/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) > [I can just generally say that Iran is a very multilayered, controversial country. There are so many contrasts and controversies that question themselves within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-can-just-generally-say-that-iran-is-a-very-multilayered/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) > [For me, the best journalism is usually the best storytelling, and the best stories are those of real people. Sometimes those real people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/for-me-the-best-journalism-is-usually-the-best-storytelling-and-the-2/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) > [I'm planning on how I want to tell my own story. I feel like my situation and my experiences are unique in some ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-m-planning-on-how-i-want-to-tell-my-own-story-i-feel-like-my/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) > [A lot will have to happen globally and personally before the stars would align.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/a-lot-will-have-to-happen-globally-and-personally-before-the-stars/) [Jason Rezaian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) [Explore all 10 Jason Rezaian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/) ## More Distance quotes > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I raised another shot. "That sound you hear is the heads of moral conservatives spontaneously exploding in the distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thurman/i-raised-another-shot-that-sound-you-hear-is-the-heads-of-moral/) [Rob Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thurman/) > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Distance sometimes endears friendship, and absence sweeteneth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/distance-sometimes-endears-friendship-and-absence-sweeteneth-it/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play-with-george-c-scott-i-m-like/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [She watched the prairies the rivers, the towns slipping past at an untouchable distance below - and she noted that the sense of detachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-watched-the-prairies-the-rivers-the-towns-slipping-past-at-an/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Memories seem to surface in no particular order, with no time attached. Yesterday can seem as distant as last year. My life now consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-olsson/memories-seem-to-surface-in-no-particular-order-with-no-time-attached/) [Linda Olsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-olsson/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) [Frank H. T. Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-h-t-rhodes/) > [To be a champion long-distance runner you have to run on the edge of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toshihiko-seko/to-be-a-champion-long-distance-runner-you-have-to-run-on-the-edge-of/) [Toshihiko Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toshihiko-seko/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Within walking distance of any spot on Earth there's probably more than enough mystery to investigate in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alix-kates-shulman/within-walking-distance-of-any-spot-on-earth-there-s-probably-more/) [Alix Kates Shulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alix-kates-shulman/) > [It takes a little more time to get into the role, but not very much more. In making a record you don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-callas/it-takes-a-little-more-time-to-get-into-the-role-but-not-very-much/) [Maria Callas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-callas/) [Browse all 3,296 Distance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm always surprised when I read a story that's reported from a great distance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jason Rezaian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story-that-s-reported-from-a-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Distance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story-that-s-reported-from-a-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/jason-rezaian-40859_distance_i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story_2690540.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/jason-rezaian-40859_distance_i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story_2690540.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/jason-rezaian-40859_distance_i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story_2690540.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm always surprised when I read a story that's reported from a great distance.” — Jason Rezaian", "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": "Jason Rezaian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-rezaian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm always surprised when I read...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story-that-s-reported-from-a-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-rezaian/i-m-always-surprised-when-i-read-a-story-that-s-reported-from-a-great/#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 } } ] } ```