Always Quote by Nicolas Roeg
“When my sister and I were very young, my father used to tell us fairy stories that he'd made up. My mother was always telling him that he should write them down, but he would say, 'Well, they've all been done before. There are so many blooming books in the world - why should I write another one?'”
About This Quote
The quote reflects on the tension between oral storytelling tradition and the perceived redundancy of written narratives, highlighting a reluctance to create new works when existing literature feels abundant.
In simple terms: Oral tales vs. written literature
Key Takeaway
Storytelling is valuable even if similar stories exist
Themes
creativity
tradition
authorial doubt
literary abundance
family dynamics
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
contemplative
Type
anecdote
personal reflection
cultural commentary
When to use this quote
- parents encouraging children to write
- authors doubting their ideas
- family sharing myths
- creative blocks
- discussions on originality
Key Concepts
storytelling
originality
cultural transmission
literary criticism
Practical Applications
- inspire writers to value personal narratives
- use as a prompt for workshops on oral tradition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal storytelling differ from published works?
- What value does oral tradition hold in a world of abundant literature?
