--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned to love stories by listening to…" description: "\"I learned to love stories by listening to them.\" — John Dufresne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/john-dufresne-11991_listening_i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-t_318355.png" --- # I learned to love stories by listening to them. ![“I learned to love stories by listening to them.” quote by John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/john-dufresne-11991_listening_i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-t_318355.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/john-dufresne-11991_listening_i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-t_318355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/john-dufresne-11991_listening_i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-t_318355.png) > “I learned to love stories by listening to them.” [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listening to stories teaches empathy and appreciation for narrative. **In simple terms:** Stories teach love through listening. Key Takeaway Listen to understand, not just hear. Themes empathy storytelling learning Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - media consumption - personal development Key Concepts narrative listening growth Questions to Reflect On - What stories have changed your view? - How does listening deepen connection? A Different Perspective Overexposure to stories may dilute personal experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-stories/) [Love story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-story/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it’s an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/long-before-i-wrote-stories-i-listened-for-stories-listening-for-them/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [For girls and women, storytelling has a double and triple importance. Because the stories of our lives have been marginalized and ignored by history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/for-girls-and-women-storytelling-has-a-double-and-triple-importance/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/long-before-i-wrote-stories-i-listened-for-stories-listening-for-them-2/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [In western countries, there are roles written for older actors. Films are made on them, including love stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/om-puri/in-western-countries-there-are-roles-written-for-older-actors-films/) [Om Puri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/om-puri/) > [The affair between Margot Asquith and Margot Asquith will live as one of the prettiest love stories in all literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/the-affair-between-margot-asquith-and-margot-asquith-will-live-as-one/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [I believe all stories are love stories, and there are kinds and kinds of love, so I will always write about love, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-pritchard/i-believe-all-stories-are-love-stories-and-there-are-kinds-and-kinds/) [Melissa Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-pritchard/) > [“I’m afraid of this. It’s insane that I’m here. You’re the last person I should fall for.” His big hand cupped the side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/i-m-afraid-of-this-it-s-insane-that-i-m-here-you-re-the-last-person-i/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“Their love story had ended long ago, and yet one smile from him brought it all back, the joy, the heartache, everything. True love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-snopek/their-love-story-had-ended-long-ago-and-yet-one-smile-from-him/) [Roxanne Snopek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxanne-snopek/) > [“It is perhaps in reading a love story (or in writing one) that we can simultaneously partake of the ecstasy and agony of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/it-is-perhaps-in-reading-a-love-story-or-in-writing-one-that-we-can/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [We all have love stories that go terribly wrong; we all have horribly broken hearts. And somehow we endure. We're not destroyed by it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/we-all-have-love-stories-that-go-terribly-wrong-we-all-have-horribly/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“I wasn’t perfect, and I made mistakes; but I learned from them and became a better person for it. I always followed my heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-cole/i-wasn-t-perfect-and-i-made-mistakes-but-i-learned-from-them-and/) [Sebastian Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-cole/) > [I love stories that frame that: This is what life is about - you don't have a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcpherson/i-love-stories-that-frame-that-this-is-what-life-is-about-you-don-t/) [Conor McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcpherson/) > [The problem with most love stories in my opinion is that they're too simplistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-shainberg/the-problem-with-most-love-stories-in-my-opinion-is-that-they-re-too/) [Steven Shainberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-shainberg/) > [“Honesty Is Soul Of Love" Laila Majnu,Shirin Farhad,Romeo Juliet,These love stories are immortal,ideal love stories ,not because of love but because of honesty,honesty which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/honesty-is-soul-of-love-laila-majnu-shirin-farhad-romeo-juliet-these/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [What on earth did you say to Isola? She stopped in on her way to pick up Pride and Prejudice and to berate me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-shaffer/what-on-earth-did-you-say-to-isola-she-stopped-in-on-her-way-to-pick/) [Mary Ann Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-shaffer/) ## More by John Dufresne > [You lose a wallet or keys or something and you notice in a second, but your life can go missing and you don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/you-lose-a-wallet-or-keys-or-something-and-you-notice-in-a-second-but/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [“At 9:15 on Thursday morning, June 4, while Jordan Delreese was bludgeoning his two young children to death, I was sitting in Dr. Hamburger's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/at-9-15-on-thursday-morning-june-4-while-jordan-delreese-was/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [We all sleep with the corpses of our dead lovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/we-all-sleep-with-the-corpses-of-our-dead-lovers/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [You will feel discouraged; you will lose confidence in your abilities; you will be bored with the characters–and the only way to overcome these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/you-will-feel-discouraged-you-will-lose-confidence-in-your-abilities/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [There were the fairy tales my father told to me at bedtime. All the standards. I thought my father invented wolves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/there-were-the-fairy-tales-my-father-told-to-me-at-bedtime-all-the/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [If you think about it, fiction is nothing more than gossip about the people you've made up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/if-you-think-about-it-fiction-is-nothing-more-than-gossip-about-the/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [I revise like crazy. I start revising before the pen hits the paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-revise-like-crazy-i-start-revising-before-the-pen-hits-the-paper/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [“I loved her for what I couldn't understand about her. Love searches for the mystery in the beloved, seeks the unknowable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-loved-her-for-what-i-couldn-t-understand-about-her-love-searches/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [“I told her how I thought you could always revise your life, how you could work and work on it, finesse the details, see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-told-her-how-i-thought-you-could-always-revise-your-life-how-you/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [A lack of narrative structure, as you know, will cause anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/a-lack-of-narrative-structure-as-you-know-will-cause-anxiety/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [I write with a fountain pen. And then revise word by word and line by line so that the first draft of a scene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-write-with-a-fountain-pen-and-then-revise-word-by-word-and-line-by/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [With each draft, the work gets better, and usually that means tighter. It means getting the precise word, not the approximate word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/with-each-draft-the-work-gets-better-and-usually-that-means-tighter/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [Novels are written, not wished into existence. You have to sit your ass in the chair or nothing gets done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/novels-are-written-not-wished-into-existence-you-have-to-sit-your-ass/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [In revision, your imagination becomes deeply engaged with your material. It's when you come to know your characters and begin to perceive their motivations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/in-revision-your-imagination-becomes-deeply-engaged-with-your/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [Writing a story, you understand, is not done by consensus. But we do learn from each other, and we remind ourselves how important this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/writing-a-story-you-understand-is-not-done-by-consensus-but-we-do/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) [Explore all 57 John Dufresne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) ## More Listening quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [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/) > [“The only problem is the heart is quiet. It takes a very special kind of person to hear what the heart says. Most can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/the-only-problem-is-the-heart-is-quiet-it-takes-a-very-special-kind/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“Listening isn't just about being quiet. It's about listening to what is said, what is unsaid, and what is meant with your eyes, ears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani-wordions/listening-isn-t-just-about-being-quiet-it-s-about-listening-to-what/) [Drishti Bablani, Wordions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani-wordions/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [ He \[ the son\]'s grown up listening to all types of music, and the natural form of rebellion is to find the one genre… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-knowles/he-the-son-s-grown-up-listening-to-all-types-of-music-and-the-natural/) [Solange Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-knowles/) > [“Listening is an essential part of praying. Answers from the Lord come quietly—ever so quietly. In fact, few hear his answers audibly with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/listening-is-an-essential-part-of-praying-answers-from-the-lord-come/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [Getting older doesn't help you in the fact that you might have covered some of this ground before. So you're listening to a song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/getting-older-doesn-t-help-you-in-the-fact-that-you-might-have/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) Browse all 6,237 Listening quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned to love stories by listening to them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dufresne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-to-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Listening" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-to-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/john-dufresne-11991_listening_i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-t_318355.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/john-dufresne-11991_listening_i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-t_318355.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/john-dufresne-11991_listening_i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-t_318355.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned to love stories by listening to them.” — John Dufresne", "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": "John Dufresne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned to love stories by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-to-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-learned-to-love-stories-by-listening-to-them/#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 } } ] } ```