--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm old-fashioned, a storyteller. I'm not…" description: "\"I'm old-fashioned, a storyteller. I'm not an analyst and I'm not an intellectual.\" — John Irving" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/john-irving-337_analysts_i-m-old-fashioned-a-storyteller-i-m-not_143909.png" --- # I'm old-fashioned, a storyteller. I'm not an analyst and… ![“I'm old-fashioned, a storyteller. I'm not an analyst and I'm not an intellectual.” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/john-irving-337_analysts_i-m-old-fashioned-a-storyteller-i-m-not_143909.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/john-irving-337_analysts_i-m-old-fashioned-a-storyteller-i-m-not_143909.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/john-irving-337_analysts_i-m-old-fashioned-a-storyteller-i-m-not_143909.png) > “I'm old-fashioned, a storyteller. I'm not an analyst and I'm not an intellectual.” [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author identifies as a traditional storyteller, rejecting analytical or intellectual labels. **In simple terms:** I am a storyteller, not an analyst. Key Takeaway Stay true to your narrative identity. Themes storytelling identity self‑definition Mood thoughtful confident Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - public speaking - creative projects Key Concepts narrative craft personal branding literary style Questions to Reflect On - How does storytelling shape your worldview? - What value do you find in rejecting analytical labels? A Different Perspective Risk of being pigeonholed as non‑analytical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Analysts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysts/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Old fashioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-fashioned/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I am an old-fashioned storyteller. I try to make people laugh and cry. A fiction writer's duty is to entertain. If you can sneak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-p-kinsella/i-am-an-old-fashioned-storyteller-i-try-to-make-people-laugh-and-cry/) [W. P. Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-p-kinsella/) > [I do see myself as an old-fashioned storyteller. But there's always a touch of the political in my plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/i-do-see-myself-as-an-old-fashioned-storyteller-but-there-s-always-a/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [I'm not a twentieth-century novelist, I'm not modern, and certainly not postmodern. I follow the form of the nineteenth-century novel; that was the century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-m-not-a-twentieth-century-novelist-i-m-not-modern-and-certainly-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Life," Garp wrote, "is sadly not structured like a good old-fashioned novel. Instead an end occurs when those who are meant to peter out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/life-garp-wrote-is-sadly-not-structured-like-a-good-old-fashioned/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I'm a very old-fashioned novelist. I write 19th-century novels, where a lot of rules apply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-m-a-very-old-fashioned-novelist-i-write-19th-century-novels-where-a/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I'm not at all contemporary, not even modern, and the fact that I would be so quaintly attracted to that wrestling rule makes me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-m-not-at-all-contemporary-not-even-modern-and-the-fact-that-i-would/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I feel genuinely sorry for those who are so blinded by narrow partisanship that they cannot appreciate Limbaugh's energy, intelligence and satiric skill. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-feel-genuinely-sorry-for-those-who-are-so-blinded-by-narrow/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I go to an analyst not because I need to but because I choose to and maybe that's the difference. I don't think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-tyler-moore/i-go-to-an-analyst-not-because-i-need-to-but-because-i-choose-to-and/) [Mary Tyler Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-tyler-moore/) > [This is what analysts have calculated. It's a number that's out there and we're not arguing with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edward-kirk/this-is-what-analysts-have-calculated-it-s-a-number-that-s-out-there/) David Edward Kirk > [“analysts were more likely to maintain their star performance if they worked with high-quality colleagues in their teams and departments. The star analysts relied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/analysts-were-more-likely-to-maintain-their-star-performance-if-they/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [There was an analyst who came out the other day who's had a long track record of projecting presidential campaigns based on the economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/there-was-an-analyst-who-came-out-the-other-day-who-s-had-a-long/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I respect the astute and rigorously unsentimental David Horowitz as one of America's most original and courageous political analysts. He has the true 1960s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-respect-the-astute-and-rigorously-unsentimental-david-horowitz-as/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [In the corporate world, if you have analysts, due diligence, and no horse sense, you've just described hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/in-the-corporate-world-if-you-have-analysts-due-diligence-and-no/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Freud pointed out, in his Problem of Lay Analysis, that it is extremely unlikely that a young man who would throw the best years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/freud-pointed-out-in-his-problem-of-lay-analysis-that-it-is-extremely/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [In Hollywood, not to have an analyst is virtually an admission of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-vanderbilt/in-hollywood-not-to-have-an-analyst-is-virtually-an-admission-of/) [Amy Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-vanderbilt/) ## More by John Irving > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean––make sure they know what they mean!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/watch-out-for-people-who-call-themselves-religious-make-sure-you-know/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-had-been-a-student-in-vienna-and-one-of-the-neat-little-things-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/god-i-think-i-just-hit-a-high-e-flat-and-i-really-held-it-esmeralda/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Nostalgia!" Miss Frost cried. "You´re nostalgic!" She repeated. "Just how old are you, William?" She asked. "Seventeen, " I told her. "Seventeen!" Miss Frost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/nostalgia-miss-frost-cried-you-re-nostalgic-she-repeated-just-how-old/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [ “JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" \[Owen Meany\] said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-better-writers-than-the-guys-who/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-is-much-easier-to-be-flexible-about-where-a-story-begins-than-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [You're nice,' Cushie told him, squeezing his hand. 'And you're my oldest friend.' But they both must have known that you can know someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-re-nice-cushie-told-him-squeezing-his-hand-and-you-re-my-oldest/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Because of A Prayer for Owen Meany, many of my readers assume I am “religious.” I go to church only occasionally—like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/because-of-a-prayer-for-owen-meany-many-of-my-readers-assume-i-am/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/did-anyone-who-was-in-love-and-was-unsatisfied-with-how-he-was-loved/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-trust-that-god-will-help-me-because-what-i-m-supposed-to-do-looks/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Explore all 641 John Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More Analysts quotes > [In Hollywood, not to have an analyst is virtually an admission of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-vanderbilt/in-hollywood-not-to-have-an-analyst-is-virtually-an-admission-of/) [Amy Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-vanderbilt/) > [Freud pointed out, in his Problem of Lay Analysis, that it is extremely unlikely that a young man who would throw the best years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/freud-pointed-out-in-his-problem-of-lay-analysis-that-it-is-extremely/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [In the corporate world, if you have analysts, due diligence, and no horse sense, you've just described hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/in-the-corporate-world-if-you-have-analysts-due-diligence-and-no/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I respect the astute and rigorously unsentimental David Horowitz as one of America's most original and courageous political analysts. He has the true 1960s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-respect-the-astute-and-rigorously-unsentimental-david-horowitz-as/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [There was an analyst who came out the other day who's had a long track record of projecting presidential campaigns based on the economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/there-was-an-analyst-who-came-out-the-other-day-who-s-had-a-long/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [“analysts were more likely to maintain their star performance if they worked with high-quality colleagues in their teams and departments. The star analysts relied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/analysts-were-more-likely-to-maintain-their-star-performance-if-they/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [This is what analysts have calculated. It's a number that's out there and we're not arguing with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edward-kirk/this-is-what-analysts-have-calculated-it-s-a-number-that-s-out-there/) David Edward Kirk > [I go to an analyst not because I need to but because I choose to and maybe that's the difference. I don't think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-tyler-moore/i-go-to-an-analyst-not-because-i-need-to-but-because-i-choose-to-and/) [Mary Tyler Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-tyler-moore/) > [I feel genuinely sorry for those who are so blinded by narrow partisanship that they cannot appreciate Limbaugh's energy, intelligence and satiric skill. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-feel-genuinely-sorry-for-those-who-are-so-blinded-by-narrow/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [At nineteen I was pretty sure I was going to be a professional soccer player. At that time I played for one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/at-nineteen-i-was-pretty-sure-i-was-going-to-be-a-professional-soccer/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [Analysts may be correct that the presidential election won't primarily turn on entitlements reform, but by choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-limbaugh/analysts-may-be-correct-that-the-presidential-election-won-t/) [David Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-limbaugh/) > [The correct attitude of the security analyst toward the stock market might well be that of a man toward his wife. He shouldn't pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-correct-attitude-of-the-security-analyst-toward-the-stock-market/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [When we started Skype, if you look at analyst reports, no one forecasted it as a big business. 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