Fable Quote by John Berwick Harwood
““Our house was an old Tudor mansion. My father was very particular in keeping the smallest peculiarities of his home unaltered. Thus the many peaks and gables, the numerous turrets, and the mullioned windows with their quaint lozenge panes set in lead, remained very nearly as they had been three centuries back. Over and above the quaint melancholy of our dwelling, with the deep woods of its park and the sullen waters of the mere, our neighborhood was thinly peopled and primitive, and the people round us were ignorant, and tenacious of ancient ideas and traditions. Thus it was a superstitious atmosphere that we children were reared in, and we heard, from our infancy, countless tales of horror, some mere fables doubtless, others legends of dark deeds of the olden time, exaggerated by credulity and the love of the marvelous. ("Horror: A True Tale")””
About This Quote
Source Book: Horror: A True Tale by John Berwick Harwood, 1905
A childhood surrounded by an ancient, isolated manor fostered superstition through stories of horror and legend.
In simple terms: Old house and eerie tales shaped a superstitious upbringing.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how environment influences belief.
Themes
tradition
superstition
isolation
storytelling
heritage
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
eerie
Type
literary
cultural
psychological
When to use this quote
- family life in rural estate
- children listening to legends
- community gatherings
- preserving historic homes
Key Concepts
Folklore
psychology of fear
cultural memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a setting shape your worldview?
- Do you still feel the echo of old stories?
A Different Perspective
Modern rationalism may challenge these beliefs, but nostalgia can preserve them.
