--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stories that can be told through language…" description: "\"Stories that can be told through language and words don't need to be filmed.\" — Jiang Wen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/jiang-wen-23000_language_stories-that-can-be-told-through-languag_2558690.jpg" --- # Stories that can be told through language and words don't… ![“Stories that can be told through language and words don't need to be filmed.” quote by Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/jiang-wen-23000_language_stories-that-can-be-told-through-languag_2558690.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/jiang-wen-23000_language_stories-that-can-be-told-through-languag_2558690.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/jiang-wen-23000_language_stories-that-can-be-told-through-languag_2558690.jpg) > “Stories that can be told through language and words don't need to be filmed.” [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories told through language rely on imagination, not visual media, emphasizing the power of words. **In simple terms:** Words can tell stories without film. Key Takeaway Value and develop narrative skills in writing and speech. Themes creativity language storytelling Mood thoughtful inspirational Type literary educational When to use this quote - writing workshops - podcast scripts - theater performances - educational curricula Key Concepts imagination literary art Questions to Reflect On - What story could you tell using only dialogue? - How does imagination fill gaps left by lack of images? A Different Perspective Visual media can convey emotions more instantly than words. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [“Padre always told me me language was sulphurous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-greenwood/padre-always-told-me-me-language-was-sulphurous/) [Kerry Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-greenwood/) > [“I told them this was their language, this English, this most marvellous and expressive cloak of meaning and imagination. This great, exclamatory, illuminating song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill-2/i-told-them-this-was-their-language-this-english-this-most-marvellous/) [A.A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill-2/) > [I suppose there will never be a lack of things to say, of stories to be told and shared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-suppose-there-will-never-be-a-lack-of-things-to-say-of-stories-to/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [My mother told me stories all the time... And in all of those stories she told me who I was, who I was supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/my-mother-told-me-stories-all-the-time-and-in-all-of-those-stories/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) > [“This is a story, told the way you say stories should be told: Somebody grew up, fell in love, and spent a winter with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-beattie/this-is-a-story-told-the-way-you-say-stories-should-be-told-somebody/) [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) > [Stories are told over time, and so they naturally accrue meanings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/stories-are-told-over-time-and-so-they-naturally-accrue-meanings/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [“If I told you just how much I need you, would you stay?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/if-i-told-you-just-how-much-i-need-you-would-you-stay/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) > [Historically, opportunity has been afforded to a limited pool of people, excluding people of color and women. That doesn't diminish the talent or hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/historically-opportunity-has-been-afforded-to-a-limited-pool-of/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [There are stories to be told that are still untold and characters to be portrayed that haven't been portrayed correctly. So there's work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/there-are-stories-to-be-told-that-are-still-untold-and-characters-to/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [“Often, then, the stories came pouring out, and often they were set before us slowly and quietly like tea. These slow stories were told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daoud-hari/often-then-the-stories-came-pouring-out-and-often-they-were-set/) [Daoud Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daoud-hari/) > [“Think of all the different ways that stories get told. I’m working with the James Brown people on a movie that will end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmir-questlove-thompson/think-of-all-the-different-ways-that-stories-get-told-i-m-working/) [Ahmir Questlove Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmir-questlove-thompson/) > [The dead and past stories that I have told again in divers fashions, are not set down without authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-de-france/the-dead-and-past-stories-that-i-have-told-again-in-divers-fashions/) [Marie de France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-de-france/) > [All the stories of the Bible that I know came to me first from my grandfather's lips... He would see stories in everything. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/all-the-stories-of-the-bible-that-i-know-came-to-me-first-from-my/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I have realised there are so many stories which can be told beautifully on screen. It's important to be part of such films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jitendra-kumar/i-have-realised-there-are-so-many-stories-which-can-be-told/) [Jitendra Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jitendra-kumar/) > [“When we change the shape of the Land, we alter the contents and contexts of our collective, familial, and personal memories. Yet, stories can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-berk/when-we-change-the-shape-of-the-land-we-alter-the-contents-and/) [Ari Berk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-berk/) ## More by Jiang Wen > [I've also shot plenty of films with very small audiences - 'The Sun Also Rises.' I love that film, but I didn't capture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-ve-also-shot-plenty-of-films-with-very-small-audiences-the-sun-also/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [Changing people's preconceptions is something you have to do in order to search for truth. Of course normally, that's not done because it also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/changing-people-s-preconceptions-is-something-you-have-to-do-in-order/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I personally don't distinguish between artistic and commercial films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-personally-don-t-distinguish-between-artistic-and-commercial-films/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I turned to historical films because they pass censors more easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-turned-to-historical-films-because-they-pass-censors-more-easily/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I'm especially keen to work with good scriptwriters on stories we have developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-m-especially-keen-to-work-with-good-scriptwriters-on-stories-we/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [From 1911 to 1928, the country was officially called Republic of China, but in reality, it was actually split between different warlords. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/from-1911-to-1928-the-country-was-officially-called-republic-of-china/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I think that as a director, especially when it comes to writing the script, which I also do, and I'm also the first one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-think-that-as-a-director-especially-when-it-comes-to-writing-the/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [As a director, what I'm trying to do is to create interesting stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/as-a-director-what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-to-create-interesting-stories/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I never control a film. The film controls me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-never-control-a-film-the-film-controls-me/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [When I meet a good actor, I would like to be a director. When I meet a good director, I would like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/when-i-meet-a-good-actor-i-would-like-to-be-a-director-when-i-meet-a/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [From now on, I will work with other people's material if it fits where I want to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/from-now-on-i-will-work-with-other-people-s-material-if-it-fits-where/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [Painters who do self-portraits are engaging in a form of narcissism. But it doesn't work like that in movies. A truly narcissistic person wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/painters-who-do-self-portraits-are-engaging-in-a-form-of-narcissism/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [I think that as a Chinese person, nobody will forget that in China's history, there was a war against the Japanese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/i-think-that-as-a-chinese-person-nobody-will-forget-that-in-china-s/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [Other people's films are like a cocktail, a little alcohol with water and juice. My films are like pure vodka.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/other-people-s-films-are-like-a-cocktail-a-little-alcohol-with-water/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) > [No matter how lofty a film is, it becomes a product after entering the market. It has a price. I think no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/no-matter-how-lofty-a-film-is-it-becomes-a-product-after-entering-the/) [Jiang Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) [Explore all 26 Jiang Wen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/) ## More Language quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The words for what I want to say right now don't exist. Everything sounds…so cliché.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/the-words-for-what-i-want-to-say-right-now-don-t-exist-everything/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Words can kill you trust towards someone, mind you language people, every reaction had its consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-can-kill-you-trust-towards-someone-mind-you-language-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis. (To action little, less to words inclinded.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/finxerunt-animi-raro-et-perpauca-loquentis-to-action-little-less-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) [Browse all 21,951 Language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Stories that can be told through language and words don't need to be filmed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jiang Wen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/stories-that-can-be-told-through-language-and-words-don-t-need-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Language" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/stories-that-can-be-told-through-language-and-words-don-t-need-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/jiang-wen-23000_language_stories-that-can-be-told-through-languag_2558690.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/jiang-wen-23000_language_stories-that-can-be-told-through-languag_2558690.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/jiang-wen-23000_language_stories-that-can-be-told-through-languag_2558690.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Stories that can be told through language and words don't need to be filmed.” — Jiang Wen", "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": "Jiang Wen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-wen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Stories that can be told through...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/stories-that-can-be-told-through-language-and-words-don-t-need-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-wen/stories-that-can-be-told-through-language-and-words-don-t-need-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```