--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before she came ill, David's mother would…" description: "\"“Before she came ill, David's mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren't alive in the way that people were alive, or even dogs o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbf/john-connolly-1479_books_before-she-came-ill-david-s-mother-would_192327.png" --- # Before she came ill, David's mother would often tell him… ![“Before she came ill, David's mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren't alive in the way that people were alive, or even dogs or cats. (...) Stories were different, though: they came alive in the telling. Without a human voice to read them aloud, or a pair of wide eyes…” quote by John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbf/john-connolly-1479_books_before-she-came-ill-david-s-mother-would_192327.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbf/john-connolly-1479_books_before-she-came-ill-david-s-mother-would_192327.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbf/john-connolly-1479_books_before-she-came-ill-david-s-mother-would_192327.png) > ““Before she came ill, David's mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren't alive in the way that people were alive, or even dogs or cats. (...) Stories were different, though: they came alive in the telling. Without a human voice to read them aloud, or a pair of wide eyes following them by torch light beneath a blanket, they had no real existence in our world. (...) They lay dormant, hoping for the chance to emerge. Once someone started to read them, they could begin to change. They could take root in the imagination and transform the reader. Stories wanted to be read, David's mother would whisper. They needed it. It was the reason they forced themselves from their world into ours. They wanted us to give them life.”” [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories gain life only when shared; they influence imagination and transform both teller and listener. **In simple terms:** Stories need a voice to become alive. Key Takeaway Share stories to empower imagination. Themes creativity storytelling imagination Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - family bedtime - public speaking - writing workshops Key Concepts narrative power collective memory transformative art Questions to Reflect On - How do you bring stories to life? - What impact does a told story have on you? A Different Perspective Silent stories remain inert without an audience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive-telling-1730088/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Reader Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-stories-1479931/) [Stories Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-alive-1730085/) [Tell Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-stories-249466/) [Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling/) ## Related quotes > [“Before she became ill, David’s mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren’t alive in the way that people were alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/before-she-became-ill-david-s-mother-would-often-tell-him-that-2/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Stories come alive in the telling. Without a human voice to read them aloud, or a pair of wide eyes following them by flashlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/stories-come-alive-in-the-telling-without-a-human-voice-to-read-them/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [David's mother would often tell him stories were alive. They weren't alive in the way people were alive,or even dogs or cats. People were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/david-s-mother-would-often-tell-him-stories-were-alive-they-weren-t/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Before she became ill, David’s mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren’t alive in the way that people were alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/before-she-became-ill-david-s-mother-would-often-tell-him-that/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [I want to contribute to the culture and keep great writers alive by telling the stories of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-kaplan/i-want-to-contribute-to-the-culture-and-keep-great-writers-alive-by/) [Fred Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-kaplan/) > [“When I was a child, books were everything. And so there is in me, always, a nostalgic yearning for the lost pleasure of books.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/when-i-was-a-child-books-were-everything-and-so-there-is-in-me-always/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [I was never a great reader, but there were two stories I loved best: Kipling's The Elephant's Child and The Jungle Book. Deep down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/i-was-never-a-great-reader-but-there-were-two-stories-i-loved-best/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [With family dramas, it's hard to keep those stories alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-vancamp/with-family-dramas-it-s-hard-to-keep-those-stories-alive/) [Emily VanCamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-vancamp/) > [In a funny way, the stories keep themselves alive by emerging from one another. I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/in-a-funny-way-the-stories-keep-themselves-alive-by-emerging-from-one/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [There is a big difference between storytelling and being alive. Those are the two things that I prefer in life - telling stories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-van-dormael/there-is-a-big-difference-between-storytelling-and-being-alive-those/) [Jaco Van Dormael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-van-dormael/) > [At least the girls in stories were alive before they died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/at-least-the-girls-in-stories-were-alive-before-they-died/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“But don’t you think there some stories that are more alive than that? When you put certain books back on the shelf, don’t you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-kladstrup/but-don-t-you-think-there-some-stories-that-are-more-alive-than-that/) [Kristin Kladstrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-kladstrup/) > [Detective stories keep alive a view of the world which ought to be true. Of course people read them for fun ... But underneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/detective-stories-keep-alive-a-view-of-the-world-which-ought-to-be/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [My life isn't very racy or exciting so I make things up, tell stories. I like telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-stansfield/my-life-isn-t-very-racy-or-exciting-so-i-make-things-up-tell-stories/) [Lisa Stansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-stansfield/) > [“She's right. We would compose poems about love and tell stories that have been heard in some form before. But it would be our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-s-right-we-would-compose-poems-about-love-and-tell-stories-that/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## More by John Connolly > [There is sometimes a feeling in crime fiction that good writing gets in the way of story. I have never felt that way. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/there-is-sometimes-a-feeling-in-crime-fiction-that-good-writing-gets/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [He had quite liked the dwarfs. He often had no idea what they were talking about, but for a group of homicidal, class-obsessed small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/he-had-quite-liked-the-dwarfs-he-often-had-no-idea-what-they-were/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [I'm a ghost," said the small figure, then added, a little uncertainly, "Boo?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/i-m-a-ghost-said-the-small-figure-then-added-a-little-uncertainly-boo/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“There is a price to be paid for everything, and it is a good idea to find out that price before you make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/there-is-a-price-to-be-paid-for-everything-and-it-is-a-good-idea-to/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“She was a round, curvy woman who, for Parker, brought to mind a figure assembled from a selection of soft fruits. Aside”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/she-was-a-round-curvy-woman-who-for-parker-brought-to-mind-a-figure/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Prepare for the worst and you won’t be disappointed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/prepare-for-the-worst-and-you-won-t-be-disappointed/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“When Louis relaxed, it was an indication that a threat was at hand and he was preparing to act, as when an archer releases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/when-louis-relaxed-it-was-an-indication-that-a-threat-was-at-hand-and/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“The presence in the living room called to her, summoning her in a hundred voices and none, a great dissonant harmony alien yet familiar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/the-presence-in-the-living-room-called-to-her-summoning-her-in-a/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Warraner would rather have been the king of nothing than the prince of something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/warraner-would-rather-have-been-the-king-of-nothing-than-the-prince/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“had been like wandering into the wrong carnival sideshow, the kind that left one feeling sick and slightly soiled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/had-been-like-wandering-into-the-wrong-carnival-sideshow-the-kind/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“think you just like tethering goats.” “Well, be sure to tell me when your rope begins”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/think-you-just-like-tethering-goats-well-be-sure-to-tell-me-when-your/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“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/) > [“Stories wanted to be read, David's mother would whisper. They needed it. It was the reason they forced themselves from their world into ours.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/stories-wanted-to-be-read-david-s-mother-would-whisper-they-needed-it/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [She was plump, with dyed red hair and a face so caked with cosmetics that the floor of the Amazon jungle probably saw more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/she-was-plump-with-dyed-red-hair-and-a-face-so-caked-with-cosmetics/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“But he was wounded, and tired, and winter was still upon him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/but-he-was-wounded-and-tired-and-winter-was-still-upon-him/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) [Explore all 232 John Connolly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Before she came ill, David's mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren't alive in the way that people were alive, or even dogs or cats. (...) Stories were different, though: they came alive in the telling. 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