--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Know the story before you fall in love…" description: "\"Know the story before you fall in love with your first sentence. If you don’t know the story before you begin the story, what kind of a storyteller are..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8df/john-irving-337_common_know-the-story-before-you-fall-in-love-w_2043347.jpg" --- # Know the story before you fall in love with your first… ![“Know the story before you fall in love with your first sentence. If you don’t know the story before you begin the story, what kind of a storyteller are you? Just an ordinary kind, just a mediocre kind – making it up as you go along, like a common liar.” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8df/john-irving-337_common_know-the-story-before-you-fall-in-love-w_2043347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8df/john-irving-337_common_know-the-story-before-you-fall-in-love-w_2043347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8df/john-irving-337_common_know-the-story-before-you-fall-in-love-w_2043347.jpg) > “Know the story before you fall in love with your first sentence. If you don’t know the story before you begin the story, what kind of a storyteller are you? Just an ordinary kind, just a mediocre kind – making it up as you go along, like a common liar.” [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. Understanding the full narrative before committing to a story ensures depth and honesty. **In simple terms:** Know the whole story first. Key Takeaway Read or research before writing. Themes storytelling integrity preparation Mood thoughtful instructive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - teaching Key Concepts literature narrative theory Questions to Reflect On - What does a story lack without context? - How can you balance research and spontaneity? A Different Perspective Time constraints may limit research. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a worst-case scenario person. 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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. 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