--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know not whether the remark is to our…" description: "\"I know not whether the remark is to our honour or otherwise, that lessons of wisdom have never such power over us, as when they are wrought into the he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/966/laurence-sterne-1405_fiction_i-know-not-whether-the-remark-is-to-our_2540890.jpg" --- # I know not whether the remark is to our honour or… ![“I know not whether the remark is to our honour or otherwise, that lessons of wisdom have never such power over us, as when they are wrought into the heart, through the ground-work of a story which engages the passions: Is it that we are like iron, and must first be heated before we can be wrought…” quote by Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/966/laurence-sterne-1405_fiction_i-know-not-whether-the-remark-is-to-our_2540890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/966/laurence-sterne-1405_fiction_i-know-not-whether-the-remark-is-to-our_2540890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/966/laurence-sterne-1405_fiction_i-know-not-whether-the-remark-is-to-our_2540890.jpg) > “I know not whether the remark is to our honour or otherwise, that lessons of wisdom have never such power over us, as when they are wrought into the heart, through the ground-work of a story which engages the passions: Is it that we are like iron, and must first be heated before we can be wrought upon?” [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wisdom is most effective when embedded in stories that stir emotions, shaping hearts like heated iron ready for forging. **In simple terms:** Stories make lessons stick. Key Takeaway Use narratives to teach. Themes education storytelling emotions Mood reflective inspirational Type didactic philosophical When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - leadership - personal growth - marketing Key Concepts psychology learning metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed lessons in compelling narratives? - What emotions help you remember a lesson? A Different Perspective Stories may be misinterpreted or oversimplify complex ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Honour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honour/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Maxims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxims/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/lessons-of-wisdom-have-the-most-power-over-us-when-they-capture-the/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [“In the challenges of life lie the lessons of wisdom; the wise are those who have endured many challnges”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keagana-thuso/in-the-challenges-of-life-lie-the-lessons-of-wisdom-the-wise-are/) Keagana 'Thuso > [“Being rich or famous is the only profound thing that some people have ever said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/being-rich-or-famous-is-the-only-profound-thing-that-some-people-have/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [An Associated Press report called the President's antics 'Bible-thumping politics.' Clinton's message was decidedly religious and partisan, as was Governor's Cuomo's remarks as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-demar/an-associated-press-report-called-the-president-s-antics-bible/) [Gary DeMar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-demar/) > [Hey listen -- I've proved a lot of things. That's how I pay my rent. Theories and little observations. A puckish remark now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/hey-listen-i-ve-proved-a-lot-of-things-that-s-how-i-pay-my-rent/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Always carry it in thy mind, and act upon it, as a sure maxim: "That women are timid:" And 'tis well they are--else there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/always-carry-it-in-thy-mind-and-act-upon-it-as-a-sure-maxim-that/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [“Where the human knowledge ends, God's wisdom and power begins to manifest in abundance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/where-the-human-knowledge-ends-god-s-wisdom-and-power-begins-to/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [If God had sufficient wisdom and power to construct such a beautiful world as this, then we must admit that his wisdom and power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-pratt/if-god-had-sufficient-wisdom-and-power-to-construct-such-a-beautiful/) [Orson Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-pratt/) > [Wisdom is the power to put our time and our knowledge to the proper use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-watson/wisdom-is-the-power-to-put-our-time-and-our-knowledge-to-the-proper/) [Thomas J. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-watson/) > [Wisdom, Power and Goodness meet In the bounteous field of wheat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-flagg-gould/wisdom-power-and-goodness-meet-in-the-bounteous-field-of-wheat/) Hannah Flagg Gould > [The knowledge of the causal power of thought is the basis of all their (Hebrew) prophecies, as it is the basis of all real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/the-knowledge-of-the-causal-power-of-thought-is-the-basis-of-all/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [The opportunity should not be lost, which is afforded by the occasion, for illustrating and enforcing the thought that the universe, its creation, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-draper/the-opportunity-should-not-be-lost-which-is-afforded-by-the-occasion/) Andrew S. Draper > [Whatever is at the center of our life will be the source of our security, guidance, wisdom, and power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-is-at-the-center-of-our-life-will-be-the-source-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you experience your wisdom and the power of things as they are, together, as one, then you have access to tremendous vision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/when-you-experience-your-wisdom-and-the-power-of-things-as-they-are/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [“In knowledge there is strength, in understanding there is might, and in wisdom there is power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/in-knowledge-there-is-strength-in-understanding-there-is-might-and-in/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by Laurence Sterne > [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The world is ashamed of being virtuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-world-is-ashamed-of-being-virtuous/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/digressions-incontestably-are-the-sunshine-they-are-the-life-the-soul/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [I was acquainted once with a gallant soldier who assured me that his only measure of courage was this: upon the first fire, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/i-was-acquainted-once-with-a-gallant-soldier-who-assured-me-that-his/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [A man's body and his mind, with the utmost reverence to both I speak it, are exactly like a jerkin and a jerkin's lining;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/a-man-s-body-and-his-mind-with-the-utmost-reverence-to-both-i-speak/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [When the affections so kindly break loose, Joy, is another name for Religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/when-the-affections-so-kindly-break-loose-joy-is-another-name-for/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Sweet pliability of man's spirit, that can at once surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments! - long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/sweet-pliability-of-man-s-spirit-that-can-at-once-surrender-itself-to/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Philosophy has a fine saying for everything.-For Death it has an entire set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/philosophy-has-a-fine-saying-for-everything-for-death-it-has-an/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Dear sensibility! Source inexhausted of all that's precious in our joys, or costly in our sorrows! Eternal fountain of our feelings! 'tis here I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/dear-sensibility-source-inexhausted-of-all-that-s-precious-in-our/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The best friends in the world may differ sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-best-friends-in-the-world-may-differ-sometimes/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Beauty has so many charms, one knows not how to speak against it; and when it happens that a graceful figure is the habitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/beauty-has-so-many-charms-one-knows-not-how-to-speak-against-it-and/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The best hearts are ever the bravest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-best-hearts-are-ever-the-bravest/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Hail! the small courtesies of life, for smooth do ye make the road of it, like grace and beauty, which beget inclinations to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/hail-the-small-courtesies-of-life-for-smooth-do-ye-make-the-road-of/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [There are a thousand unnoticed openings, continued my father, which let penetrating eye at once into a man's soul; and I maintain it, added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/there-are-a-thousand-unnoticed-openings-continued-my-father-which-let/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [“Button-holes! there is something lively in the very idea of 'em - and trust me, when I get amongst 'em - you gentry with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/button-holes-there-is-something-lively-in-the-very-idea-of-em-and/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) [Explore all 244 Laurence Sterne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) ## More Fiction quotes > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn > [Fiction is a way of exploring possibilities present but undreamt of in the living of a single life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/fiction-is-a-way-of-exploring-possibilities-present-but-undreamt-of/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [I love writing fiction and can do it anywhere - I once even missed a flight because I was so engrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-love-writing-fiction-and-can-do-it-anywhere-i-once-even-missed-a/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) Coheed and Cambria > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. 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