---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that stories are incredibly…"
description: "\"I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don't understand, in allowing us to make sense of our lives, in allowing us to esc..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/neil-gaiman-29_allowing_i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-im_646841.jpg"
---

#  I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly…

![“I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don't understand, in allowing us to make sense of our lives, in allowing us to escape our lives, in giving us empathy and in creating the world that we live in.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/neil-gaiman-29_allowing_i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-im_646841.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/neil-gaiman-29_allowing_i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-im_646841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/neil-gaiman-29_allowing_i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-im_646841.jpg)

> “I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don't understand, in allowing us to make sense of our lives, in allowing us to escape our lives, in giving us empathy and in creating the world that we live in.”

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Stories shape our identity, provide escape, foster empathy, and construct our shared reality.

**In simple terms:** Stories help us understand, escape, and connect.

Key Takeaway

Use stories to reflect and build empathy.

Themes

identity empathy escape culture

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- creative writing
- therapy
- education
- media criticism

Key Concepts

narrative theory psychology social construction

Questions to Reflect On

- How do stories influence your self‑view?
- What role does empathy play in your daily life?

A Different Perspective

Stories can oversimplify complex realities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [“So I believe in the redeeming power of stories, I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don't understand, in allowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-i-believe-in-the-redeeming-power-of-stories-i-believe-that-stories/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [Stories have always been incredibly comforting and can help illuminate things that are hard to understand other wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/stories-have-always-been-incredibly-comforting-and-can-help/)

[Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/)

> [If we become skilled in giving ourselves empathy, we often experience in just a few seconds a natural release of energy which then enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/if-we-become-skilled-in-giving-ourselves-empathy-we-often-experience/)

[Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/)

> [When you ride the wave, the thrill is so exhilarating that you forget everything else. You live in the moment where nothing else matters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-ride-the-wave-the-thrill-is-so-exhilarating-that-you-forget/)

[Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/)

> [I don't want to play myself up as a hero, because it would make me unbelievable. I'd rather settle for people thinking that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-don-t-want-to-play-myself-up-as-a-hero-because-it-would-make-me/)

[Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/)

> [“I believe stories have a will of their own, one that surpasses in volition that of their teller. In realms of Storytelling, stories control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibraheem-hamdi/i-believe-stories-have-a-will-of-their-own-one-that-surpasses-in/)

[Ibraheem Hamdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibraheem-hamdi/)

> [I don't blame you for writing of me as you have. You had to believe other stories, but then I don't know if any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-the-kid/i-don-t-blame-you-for-writing-of-me-as-you-have-you-had-to-believe/)

[Billy the Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-the-kid/)

> [“As long as all Sapiens living in a particular locality believe in the same stories, they all follow the same rules,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/as-long-as-all-sapiens-living-in-a-particular-locality-believe-in-the/)

[Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/)

> [I am always at a loss at how much to believe of my own stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-am-always-at-a-loss-at-how-much-to-believe-of-my-own-stories/)

[Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/)

> [“And fairy tales are make-believe. They are the stories we tell to small children to make them believe the world is a far better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-vallance/and-fairy-tales-are-make-believe-they-are-the-stories-we-tell-to/)

[J.L. Vallance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-vallance/)

> [My life is storytelling. I believe in stories, in their incredible power to keep people alive, to keep the living alive, and the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/my-life-is-storytelling-i-believe-in-stories-in-their-incredible/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [I still believe in stories. I still forget myself when I am in the middle of a good book. Books are for me, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/i-still-believe-in-stories-i-still-forget-myself-when-i-am-in-the/)

[Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/)

> [I do believe in the power of story. I believe that stories have an important role to play in the formation of human beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayao-miyazaki/i-do-believe-in-the-power-of-story-i-believe-that-stories-have-an/)

[Hayao Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayao-miyazaki/)

> [I believe there are some stories that need to be told and 'Sarbjit' is definitely one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackky-bhagnani/i-believe-there-are-some-stories-that-need-to-be-told-and-sarbjit-is/)

[Jackky Bhagnani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackky-bhagnani/)

> [“I really do believe stories about the struggles of life do help foster resilient and happy children. They make Tips children understand the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iben-dissing-sandahl/i-really-do-believe-stories-about-the-struggles-of-life-do-help/)

[Iben Dissing Sandahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iben-dissing-sandahl/)

## More by Neil Gaiman

> [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/)

[neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

[Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

## More Allowing quotes

> [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Is the minor convenience of allowing the present generation the luxury of doubling its energy consumption every 10 years worth the major hazard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/is-the-minor-convenience-of-allowing-the-present-generation-the/)

[David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/)

> [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [“Once again I was shamelessly allowing myself to be defined by another person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-babcock-kinflicks/once-again-i-was-shamelessly-allowing-myself-to-be-defined-by-another/)

Ginny Babcock Kinflicks

> [Even when I was saying I was Agnostic and trying to figure out my thoughts, I felt God was allowing me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/even-when-i-was-saying-i-was-agnostic-and-trying-to-figure-out-my/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [By allowing multiple partners to contribute, an open platform can nurture an entire ecosystem of developers and apps. Good products integrate and become great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/by-allowing-multiple-partners-to-contribute-an-open-platform-can/)

[Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/)

> [When you ask for patience, what you get is a line at the bank. In other words, life gives you the people, places, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/when-you-ask-for-patience-what-you-get-is-a-line-at-the-bank-in-other/)

[Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/)

> [Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Meditation is actually a very simple exercise in resting in the natural state of your present mind, and allowing yourself to be simply and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/meditation-is-actually-a-very-simple-exercise-in-resting-in-the/)

[Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/)

> [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/)

[Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/)

> [The only reason I would write a break-up song is because my own problem of allowing myself to relate to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zola-jesus/the-only-reason-i-would-write-a-break-up-song-is-because-my-own/)

[Zola Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zola-jesus/)

> [I just think fashion is about enjoying yourself and being comfortable in your skin and allowing you to be you - all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-just-think-fashion-is-about-enjoying-yourself-and-being-comfortable/)

[Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/)

> [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. In fact, I think to stop people from fantasizing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-harm-at-all-in-allowing-a-kid-to-fantasize/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [All I wanted to do was put together one of the best home maths systems in the world, and that's what we've done. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-vorderman/all-i-wanted-to-do-was-put-together-one-of-the-best-home-maths/)

[Carol Vorderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-vorderman/)

> [I want to deal with the homeless situation here in Washington, D.C. I think it is a travesty that we've got men - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-deal-with-the-homeless-situation-here-in-washington-d-c-i/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

Browse all 916 Allowing quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don't understand, in allowing us to make sense of our lives, in allowing us to escape our lives, in giving us empathy and in creating the world that we live in.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neil Gaiman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-important-possibly-in-ways-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Allowing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-important-possibly-in-ways-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/neil-gaiman-29_allowing_i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-im_646841.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/neil-gaiman-29_allowing_i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-im_646841.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/neil-gaiman-29_allowing_i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-im_646841.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don't understand, in allowing us to…” — Neil Gaiman",
                "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": "Neil Gaiman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I believe that stories are incredibly...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-important-possibly-in-ways-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-believe-that-stories-are-incredibly-important-possibly-in-ways-we/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
