--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fundamental purpose of storytelling…" description: "\"“The fundamental purpose of storytelling is to pass the time, which is infinite, slow, and weighs heavy in our hands. When the first storyteller, havin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/michael-chabon-627_storytelling_the-fundamental-purpose-of-storytelling_1342207.png" --- # The fundamental purpose of storytelling is to pass the… ![“The fundamental purpose of storytelling is to pass the time, which is infinite, slow, and weighs heavy in our hands. When the first storyteller, having told the first story, fell silent, somebody sitting there by the fire said, "Then what happened?" and the Age of Sequels began.” quote by Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/michael-chabon-627_storytelling_the-fundamental-purpose-of-storytelling_1342207.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/michael-chabon-627_storytelling_the-fundamental-purpose-of-storytelling_1342207.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/michael-chabon-627_storytelling_the-fundamental-purpose-of-storytelling_1342207.png) > ““The fundamental purpose of storytelling is to pass the time, which is infinite, slow, and weighs heavy in our hands. When the first storyteller, having told the first story, fell silent, somebody sitting there by the fire said, "Then what happened?" and the Age of Sequels began.”” [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Storytelling exists to fill endless time, giving meaning to moments and prompting endless continuation. **In simple terms:** Stories fill time and spark new tales. Key Takeaway Embrace storytelling to give purpose to moments. Themes creativity time continuity Mood reflective inspired Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - campfire gatherings - writing workshops - family storytelling sessions - film script development Key Concepts narrative purpose infinite time cultural transmission Questions to Reflect On - How does a story change your perception of time? - What makes a sequel feel necessary? A Different Perspective Stories may oversimplify complex histories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fundamental Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-purpose-585448/) [Purpose Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-storytelling-4538853/) [Story Fell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-fell-1126169/) [Storyteller Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller-having-4538855/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Storytelling Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling-pass-4538854/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The Shawshank Redemption' isn't a movie about a black guy and a white guy who become friends - it's a movie about freedom. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/the-shawshank-redemption-isn-t-a-movie-about-a-black-guy-and-a-white/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [If you're short on time, that would be the two-word version of our story: we fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/if-you-re-short-on-time-that-would-be-the-two-word-version-of-our/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [“The thread of the story fell to the ground, so I went down on my hands and knees to hunt for it." –”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-mersal/the-thread-of-the-story-fell-to-the-ground-so-i-went-down-on-my-hands/) [Iman Mersal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-mersal/) > [ \[On the Adam and Eve story:\] They both fell from innocence, and consequently from happiness, but not from equality. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moore-grimke/on-the-adam-and-eve-story-they-both-fell-from-innocence-and/) [Sarah Moore Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moore-grimke/) > [I think every girl needs a good lip split story, I have one. 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At least I am not at the moment, but we are making an effort to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-keitel/well-we-are-not-doing-that-film-actually-at-least-i-am-not-at-the/) [Harvey Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-keitel/) > [If your basic premise about the fundamental purpose of our government is that it must provide for the common defense, then no other position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/if-your-basic-premise-about-the-fundamental-purpose-of-our-government/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [The fundamental purpose of government is to protect its citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/the-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is-to-protect-its-citizens/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [The fundamental purpose of design thinking is to produce something that does not now exist. 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Start with the descriptive statement We make X products or We deliver X…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/one-powerful-method-for-getting-at-purpose-is-the-five-whys-start/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [The fundamental purpose of school is learning, not teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dufour/the-fundamental-purpose-of-school-is-learning-not-teaching/) [Richard DuFour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dufour/) > [The whole notion of journalism being an institution whose fundamental purpose is to educate and inform and even, one might say, elevate, has altered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-whole-notion-of-journalism-being-an-institution-whose-fundamental/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More by Michael Chabon > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Anyway, it's a pretty good story," I said. "You have to admit." "Yeah?" He crumpled up the Kleenex, having dispatched the solitary tear. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/anyway-it-s-a-pretty-good-story-i-said-you-have-to-admit-yeah-he/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [There were so many Pittsburgh poets in my hallway that if, at that instant, a meteorite had come smashing through my roof, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/there-were-so-many-pittsburgh-poets-in-my-hallway-that-if-at-that/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Badass.'" My grandfather sampled the flavor of the word. It did not seem to revolt him, but it was nothing he needed ever to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/badass-my-grandfather-sampled-the-flavor-of-the-word-it-did-not-seem/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [See you in the funny papers," he said. Jaunty, he reminded himself; always jaunty. In my panache is their hope for salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/see-you-in-the-funny-papers-he-said-jaunty-he-reminded-himself-always/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“I didn't want to be left alone with Timothy, not because I was afraid of him but because I was afraid that somebody would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-didn-t-want-to-be-left-alone-with-timothy-not-because-i-was-afraid/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“He had already seized this particular day once, but he was prepared, if need be, to go ahead and seize the motherfucker all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/he-had-already-seized-this-particular-day-once-but-he-was-prepared-if/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“We figure he must have let him out. The perpetrator, I mean. He's blind and we figure he just wandered off and maybe got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/we-figure-he-must-have-let-him-out-the-perpetrator-i-mean-he-s-blind/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Then I reminded myself that I was always willing to listen to arguments in favor of avoiding an unpleasant chore, and I shook my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/then-i-reminded-myself-that-i-was-always-willing-to-listen-to/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Love great first lines and paragraphs. From The Yiddish Policemen's Union: Nine months Landsman's been flopping at the Hotel Zamenhof without any of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/love-great-first-lines-and-paragraphs-from-the-yiddish-policemen-s/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Life blew in gusts from the hole in the side of the elephant with a rank smell and a comic flatulence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/life-blew-in-gusts-from-the-hole-in-the-side-of-the-elephant-with-a/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Not only would I never want to belong to any club that would have me for a member--if elected I would wear street shoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/not-only-would-i-never-want-to-belong-to-any-club-that-would-have-me/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [That's the best thing about writing, when you're in that zone, you're porous, ready to absorb the solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/that-s-the-best-thing-about-writing-when-you-re-in-that-zone-you-re/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Most science fiction seemed to be written for people who already liked science fiction; I wanted to write stories for anyone, anywhere, living at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/most-science-fiction-seemed-to-be-written-for-people-who-already/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [ “For as long as I could remember, I'd been making vague and confident assurances that any day I would finish the thing \[my book\].… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/for-as-long-as-i-could-remember-i-d-been-making-vague-and-confident/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) [Explore all 436 Michael Chabon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) ## More Storytelling quotes > [“Anyway, it's a pretty good story," I said. "You have to admit." "Yeah?" He crumpled up the Kleenex, having dispatched the solitary tear. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/anyway-it-s-a-pretty-good-story-i-said-you-have-to-admit-yeah-he/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“A disproportionate number of stories are love stories – and what is homosexuality but a special narrative of love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bram/a-disproportionate-number-of-stories-are-love-stories-and-what-is/) [Christopher Bram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bram/) > [If you do weave one-liners into a story, you have to have an overall story as well, otherwise it doesn't really count as narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/if-you-do-weave-one-liners-into-a-story-you-have-to-have-an-overall/) [Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/) > [I have always been fascinated by the supernatural elements in stories, whether fairy tales, myths, film or literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/i-have-always-been-fascinated-by-the-supernatural-elements-in-stories/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/when-we-read-a-story-we-inhabit-it-the-covers-of-the-book-are-like-a/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [We can never tell what is in store for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-can-never-tell-what-is-in-store-for-us/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [“Societies everywhere have a tendency to construct a genealogically useful past for themselves in which desirable versions of their history are favored and unwanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tudor-parfitt/societies-everywhere-have-a-tendency-to-construct-a-genealogically/) [Tudor Parfitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tudor-parfitt/) > [Some stories, you use up. Others use you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/some-stories-you-use-up-others-use-you-up/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I'm not a fan of endless mystery in storytelling - I like to know where the mythology's going; I like to get there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/i-m-not-a-fan-of-endless-mystery-in-storytelling-i-like-to-know-where/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [“We take creative license with the fictional narratives that become our memories. Anthologized, these are the tales that become the story of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ganek/we-take-creative-license-with-the-fictional-narratives-that-become/) [Danielle Ganek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ganek/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [I make no distinction between writing and storytelling; I've always wanted to tell stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-make-no-distinction-between-writing-and-storytelling-i-ve-always/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) [Browse all 5,638 Storytelling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The fundamental purpose of storytelling is to pass the time, which is infinite, slow, and weighs heavy in our hands. 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