Ancient rome Quote by Jess Walter
““Stories are bulls. Writers come of age full of vigor, and they feel the need to drive the old stories from the herd. One bull rules the herd awhile but then he loses his vigor and the young bulls take over. Stories are nations, empires. They can last as long as ancient Rome or as short as the Third Reich. Story-nations rise and decline. Governments change, trends rise, and they go on conquering their neighbors. Stories are people. I'm a story, you're a story . . . your father is a story. Our stories go in every direction, but sometimes, if we're lucky, our stories join into one, and for a while, we're less alone.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “The Power of Storytelling”, 2015
Stories function like living entities that dominate, evolve, and eventually give way to new narratives, shaping cultures and personal identities.
In simple terms: Stories act like living, influencing cultures and and. and
Recognize and nurture new narratives while honoring old ones.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- family histories
- brand building
- community activism
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which old stories to preserve?
- What new narratives can you champion today?
New stories may struggle against entrenched narratives and resistance to change.