Advantage Quote by Margaret Atwood
“Storytelling is a very old human skill that gives us an evolutionary advantage. If you can tell young people how you kill an emu, acted out in song or dance, or that Uncle George was eaten by a croc over there, don't go there to swim, then those young people don't have to find out by trial and error.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Power of Storytelling, 2010
Storytelling conveys dangerous knowledge safely, allowing learning without direct harm, giving an evolutionary edge.
In simple terms: Stories teach safely without risk.
Key Takeaway
Use stories to share risky lessons.
Themes
education
evolution
storytelling
learning
risk
Mood
thoughtful
instructive
Type
cultural
educational
When to use this quote
- teaching children
- public health campaigns
- team training
Key Concepts
cognitive anthropology
cultural transmission
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure accuracy in cautionary tales?
- When is direct experience preferable?
A Different Perspective
Stories may oversimplify complex realities.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
