--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I've learned is that everybody…" description: "\"What I've learned is that everybody really wants to sell their story. No matter who they are, everybody feels that what they're doing is the right thin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/lawrence-wright-5166_person_what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-real_2299909.jpg" --- # What I've learned is that everybody really wants to sell… ![“What I've learned is that everybody really wants to sell their story. No matter who they are, everybody feels that what they're doing is the right thing, and if they could only explain themselves to a reasonable person that understands them, then maybe they'll listen.” quote by Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/lawrence-wright-5166_person_what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-real_2299909.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/lawrence-wright-5166_person_what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-real_2299909.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/lawrence-wright-5166_person_what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-real_2299909.jpg) > “What I've learned is that everybody really wants to sell their story. No matter who they are, everybody feels that what they're doing is the right thing, and if they could only explain themselves to a reasonable person that understands them, then maybe they'll listen.” [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Everyone wants to sell their story, believing it’s right; explaining it to an understanding listener may foster listening. **In simple terms:** People want to share their story and be understood. Key Takeaway Seek understanding through storytelling. Themes communication storytelling validation Mood empathetic analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - marketing - therapy - public speaking Key Concepts sociology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What makes a listener truly understand? - How can you convey your story without bias? A Different Perspective May assume listeners are always reasonable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a label that wants to sell. I believe in clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giambattista-valli/i-m-a-label-that-wants-to-sell-i-believe-in-clothes/) [Giambattista Valli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giambattista-valli/) > [I can tell you that nobody in my family wants to sell the Knicks and Rangers. As a majority owner, I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-dolan/i-can-tell-you-that-nobody-in-my-family-wants-to-sell-the-knicks-and/) [James L. Dolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-dolan/) > [Akshay Kumar is a senior in the industry, and I consider myself lucky to be working with him. Each film of his opens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajal-aggarwal/akshay-kumar-is-a-senior-in-the-industry-and-i-consider-myself-lucky/) [Kajal Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajal-aggarwal/) > [The easiest story to sell is the story we want to buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-van-pelt/the-easiest-story-to-sell-is-the-story-we-want-to-buy/) Scott Van Pelt > [You have to tell a story before you can sell a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-comstock/you-have-to-tell-a-story-before-you-can-sell-a-story/) [Beth Comstock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-comstock/) > [Don't sell your story, just tell your story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/don-t-sell-your-story-just-tell-your-story/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [Return to the fundamentals of politics - sell our story door to door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-daley/return-to-the-fundamentals-of-politics-sell-our-story-door-to-door/) [Richard J. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-daley/) > [If I made an album just to sell you a story about how I'm the man, it really doesn't show any human side to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/if-i-made-an-album-just-to-sell-you-a-story-about-how-i-m-the-man-it/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I said all along I would not sell my story. I don't think it would be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-woodward/i-said-all-along-i-would-not-sell-my-story-i-don-t-think-it-would-be/) [Louise Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-woodward/) > [With everything that's happened since I was exposed as a scammer, I can't lie, it's been good for business. Now I can sell my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-calloway/with-everything-that-s-happened-since-i-was-exposed-as-a-scammer-i/) [Caroline Calloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-calloway/) > [“On the basis of this information, it would be possible to argue that if everybody spoke English (or Chinese or Esperanto for that matter)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dalby/on-the-basis-of-this-information-it-would-be-possible-to-argue-that/) [Andrew Dalby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dalby/) > [What do you mean, what's the matter with him? Nothing's the matter with him, everything's the matter with him, the same as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/what-do-you-mean-what-s-the-matter-with-him-nothing-s-the-matter-with/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [“No matter who you are, not everybody is going to like what you do, so as long as you’re armed with that knowledge, you’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-altman/no-matter-who-you-are-not-everybody-is-going-to-like-what-you-do-so/) [Mara Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-altman/) > [“That’s the beauty aboot being polis: it doesnae really matter whether or not everybody hates you, as long as they’re civil tae your face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/that-s-the-beauty-aboot-being-polis-it-doesnae-really-matter-whether/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [It's about being fair. It's about Black Lives Matter. Yes, they matter. Everybody counts or nobody counts, and I think if more cops had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/it-s-about-being-fair-it-s-about-black-lives-matter-yes-they-matter/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) ## More by Lawrence Wright > [Every medium has its advantages and weaknesses and there are many things I can put down on paper that I might not be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/every-medium-has-its-advantages-and-weaknesses-and-there-are-many/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Contempt for men pervades the most obscure strata of our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/contempt-for-men-pervades-the-most-obscure-strata-of-our-society/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Look at what Jimmy Carter did. Look at the risks he took for a country that wasn't his. Israel has benefited unbelievably from that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/look-at-what-jimmy-carter-did-look-at-the-risks-he-took-for-a-country/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Hubbard set up the Church of Scientology in Hollywood in 1954 for a reason. He understood that celebrity was increasingly a feature of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/hubbard-set-up-the-church-of-scientology-in-hollywood-in-1954-for-a/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Religions prosper in large part because of the communities that they create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/religions-prosper-in-large-part-because-of-the-communities-that-they/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [If you have great characters, then your reader becomes emotionally invested in those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/if-you-have-great-characters-then-your-reader-becomes-emotionally/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [“However, twelve former Sea Org members told me that Miscavige had assaulted them; twenty-one have told me or testified in court that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/however-twelve-former-sea-org-members-told-me-that-miscavige-had/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [I don't want to constantly be writing about terrorism and strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/i-don-t-want-to-constantly-be-writing-about-terrorism-and-strife/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [The Israelis and the Palestinians don't know each other. They live right there, but they've become strangers. And it makes it much more difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/the-israelis-and-the-palestinians-don-t-know-each-other-they-live/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [“Miscavige keeps a number of dogs, including five beagles. He had blue vests made up for each of them, with four stripes on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/miscavige-keeps-a-number-of-dogs-including-five-beagles-he-had-blue/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Every form has its merits. And I like to work in a lot of different forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/every-form-has-its-merits-and-i-like-to-work-in-a-lot-of-different/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [To me the notion that Palestinians are actually Jews is, I think, quite revelatory and very radical and a possible bridge that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/to-me-the-notion-that-palestinians-are-actually-jews-is-i-think-quite/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [Science fiction invites the writer to grandly explore alternative worlds and pose questions about meaning and destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/science-fiction-invites-the-writer-to-grandly-explore-alternative/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [“Undersheriff McClanahan was so worried about the mental health of his investigative team that he assembled a team of psychologists to debrief them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/undersheriff-mcclanahan-was-so-worried-about-the-mental-health-of-his/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [I was in Austin on 9/11, and there were no flights, so I couldn't get to New York to cover the story, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/i-was-in-austin-on-9-11-and-there-were-no-flights-so-i-couldn-t-get/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) [Explore all 103 Lawrence Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) ## More Person quotes > [“Always resemble yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-white/always-resemble-yourself/) Cynthia White > [“They're threatened by you,' she said. 'You chose to do something they'd never have the gumption to choose for themselves. Being their own person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-chamberlain/they-re-threatened-by-you-she-said-you-chose-to-do-something-they-d/) [Diane Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-chamberlain/) > [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Sometimes, the person you trust most is the one who trusts you the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-person-you-trust-most-is-the-one-who-trusts-you-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I sound New York. I sound East Coast much more than a blonde person from L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kavner/i-sound-new-york-i-sound-east-coast-much-more-than-a-blonde-person/) [Julie Kavner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kavner/) > [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [I always wanted to make sure that within my unit that I was never the weak person. So I made sure that my physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carmouche/i-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-within-my-unit-that-i-was-never-the/) [Liz Carmouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carmouche/) > [I'd love to talk to myself at 40 and see what I've achieved and what I feel... but I will just be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/i-d-love-to-talk-to-myself-at-40-and-see-what-i-ve-achieved-and-what/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [I'm not the sort of person who would want to just lie on the sofa watching TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kvitova/i-m-not-the-sort-of-person-who-would-want-to-just-lie-on-the-sofa/) [Petra Kvitova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kvitova/) > [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“if you act (and dress) as if you have a fascinating inner life, you may soon find that you actually do—and that you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/if-you-act-and-dress-as-if-you-have-a-fascinating-inner-life-you-may/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) Browse all 19,722 Person quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I've learned is that everybody really wants to sell their story. No matter who they are, everybody feels that what they're doing is the right thing, and if they could only explain themselves to a reasonable person that understands them, then maybe they'll listen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lawrence Wright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-really-wants-to-sell-their-story/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Person" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-really-wants-to-sell-their-story/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/lawrence-wright-5166_person_what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-real_2299909.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/lawrence-wright-5166_person_what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-real_2299909.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/lawrence-wright-5166_person_what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-real_2299909.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I've learned is that everybody really wants to sell their story. No matter who they are, everybody…” — Lawrence Wright", "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": "Lawrence Wright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I've learned is that everybody...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-really-wants-to-sell-their-story/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-everybody-really-wants-to-sell-their-story/#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 } } ] } ```