--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing I would want to say is…" description: "\"The only thing I would want to say is that storytelling is ancient; it's something that everybody does. Kids mustn't be in awe of it. Reading should be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/natalie-babbitt-7335_ancient_the-only-thing-i-would-want-to-say-is-th_770522.jpg" --- # The only thing I would want to say is that storytelling is… ![“The only thing I would want to say is that storytelling is ancient; it's something that everybody does. Kids mustn't be in awe of it. Reading should be a joy - fun, fun, fun - not a responsibility, not something you do because society demands it, but something you do because it's a pleasure.” quote by Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/natalie-babbitt-7335_ancient_the-only-thing-i-would-want-to-say-is-th_770522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/natalie-babbitt-7335_ancient_the-only-thing-i-would-want-to-say-is-th_770522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/natalie-babbitt-7335_ancient_the-only-thing-i-would-want-to-say-is-th_770522.jpg) > “The only thing I would want to say is that storytelling is ancient; it's something that everybody does. Kids mustn't be in awe of it. Reading should be a joy - fun, fun, fun - not a responsibility, not something you do because society demands it, but something you do because it's a pleasure.” [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Storytelling is a universal, innate activity that should be enjoyed rather than forced, especially for children. **In simple terms:** Stories are natural and should be fun. Key Takeaway Encourage playful reading. Themes creativity joy education Mood playful inspired Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - classroom reading - family bedtime stories - creative writing workshops Key Concepts Narrative instinct intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can we make reading feel like play? - What activities spark a child's love for stories? A Different Perspective Children may still feel pressure to meet academic standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Awe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) [Awe Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe-reading-5956800/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-joy-351978/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Storytelling Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling-ancient-2357127/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [“Storytelling is an ancient art. The lucent vibes of stories express what we cannot articulate directly. When we hear someone’s story, we respond to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/storytelling-is-an-ancient-art-the-lucent-vibes-of-stories-express/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“Storytelling is an ancient art that rarely receives the respect it deserves. Is it even possible to find someone these days with the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-eichenseer/storytelling-is-an-ancient-art-that-rarely-receives-the-respect-it/) [Erika Eichenseer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-eichenseer/) > [Storytelling is an ancient and honorable act. An essential role to play in the community or tribe. It's one that I embrace wholeheartedly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/storytelling-is-an-ancient-and-honorable-act-an-essential-role-to/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [Reading is a joy for my kids, and to swing in a hammock on a lazy summer day reading a good book just goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/reading-is-a-joy-for-my-kids-and-to-swing-in-a-hammock-on-a-lazy/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [“Then I thought of reading—the nice and subtle happiness of reading. This was enough, this joy not dulled by Age, this polite and unpunishable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/then-i-thought-of-reading-the-nice-and-subtle-happiness-of-reading/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [“Then I though of reading -- the nice and subtle happiness of reading ... this joy not dulled by age, this polite and unpunishable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/then-i-though-of-reading-the-nice-and-subtle-happiness-of-reading/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [This nice and subtle happiness of reading, this joy not chilled by age, this polite and unpunished vice, this selfish, serene life-long intoxication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/this-nice-and-subtle-happiness-of-reading-this-joy-not-chilled-by-age/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [My books are not generic. You know when you're reading a Joy Fielding book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-fielding/my-books-are-not-generic-you-know-when-you-re-reading-a-joy-fielding/) [Joy Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-fielding/) > [Reading was a joy, a desperately needed escape -- I didn't read to learn, I was reading to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bauman/reading-was-a-joy-a-desperately-needed-escape-i-didn-t-read-to-learn/) [Christian Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bauman/) > [“The world exists because your mind exists. If your mind didn’t exist, there would be no world. As you look at these words, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/the-world-exists-because-your-mind-exists-if-your-mind-didn-t-exist/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Have you ever had a dream that you were certain was real, only to wake up and realize that everyone and everything in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/have-you-ever-had-a-dream-that-you-were-certain-was-real-only-to-wake/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Because I've never had any higher education of any sort, I've never held in awe those who have had it or have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/because-i-ve-never-had-any-higher-education-of-any-sort-i-ve-never/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) ## More by Natalie Babbitt > [Like all magnificent things, it's very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/like-all-magnificent-things-it-s-very-simple/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“He knows you?” said Mae, her frown deepening. “But you didn’t call out to him, child. Why not?” “I was too scared to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/he-knows-you-said-mae-her-frown-deepening-but-you-didn-t-call-out-to/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“He wasn't crazy. How could he be? He was just -- amazing. But she was struck dumb. All she could do was stare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/he-wasn-t-crazy-how-could-he-be-he-was-just-amazing-but-she-was/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [My mother was an artist, and I was fairly good at art as a child. I was always the best drawer in class, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/my-mother-was-an-artist-and-i-was-fairly-good-at-art-as-a-child-i-was/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Do not fear death... only the unlived life. You don't have to live forever; You just have to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/do-not-fear-death-only-the-unlived-life-you-don-t-have-to-live/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“You can't have living without dying. So you can't call it living, what we got. We just are, we just be, like rocks beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/you-can-t-have-living-without-dying-so-you-can-t-call-it-living-what/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“I’m not exactly sure what I’d do, you know, but something interesting—something that’s all mine. Something that would make some kind of difference in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/i-m-not-exactly-sure-what-i-d-do-you-know-but-something-interesting/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“Miles said softly, “Ma. We’ll get you out right away.” “Sure, Ma,” said Jesse. “Don’t worry about me none,” said Mae in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/miles-said-softly-ma-we-ll-get-you-out-right-away-sure-ma-said-jesse/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [But dying's part of the wheel, right there next to being born. You can't pick out the pieces you like and leave the rest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/but-dying-s-part-of-the-wheel-right-there-next-to-being-born-you-can/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“There’s a pretty good old rowboat. I’ll take you out for a row after supper.” “No, I will,” said Jesse. “Let me . I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/there-s-a-pretty-good-old-rowboat-i-ll-take-you-out-for-a-row-after/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Don't be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don't have to live forever, you just have to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/don-t-be-afraid-of-death-be-afraid-of-an-unlived-life-you-don-t-have/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Readers are lucky - they will never be bored or lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/readers-are-lucky-they-will-never-be-bored-or-lonely/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [“...with white dawns and glaring moons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/with-white-dawns-and-glaring-moons-and-sunsets-smeared-with-too-much/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [in reading ... stories, you can be many different people in many different places, doing things you would never have a chance to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/in-reading-stories-you-can-be-many-different-people-in-many-different/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) > [Time is like a wheel. Turning and turning - never stopping. And the woods are the center; the hub of the wheel. It began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-babbitt/time-is-like-a-wheel-turning-and-turning-never-stopping-and-the-woods/) [Natalie Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) [Explore all 90 Natalie Babbitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-babbitt/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing I would want to say is that storytelling is ancient; it's something that everybody does. Kids mustn't be in awe of it. 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