--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The story is the first thing and the last…" description: "\"The story is the first thing and the last thing,\" — Norman Rockwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/norman-rockwell-14034_firsts_the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-las_330041.png" --- # The story is the first thing and the last thing, ![“The story is the first thing and the last thing,” quote by Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/norman-rockwell-14034_firsts_the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-las_330041.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/norman-rockwell-14034_firsts_the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-las_330041.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/norman-rockwell-14034_firsts_the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-las_330041.png) > “The story is the first thing and the last thing,” [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrative frames both the beginning and the ending of an experience. **In simple terms:** Story defines start and finish. Key Takeaway Craft compelling narratives. Themes storytelling art communication Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - marketing campaigns - educational materials - film scripts Key Concepts narrative structure visual art Questions to Reflect On - What story do you want to tell? - How does the ending reinforce the beginning? A Different Perspective A weak story can undermine impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-thing-1657886/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-thing/) ## Related quotes > [“One thing? One thing I like? Okay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/one-thing-one-thing-i-like-okay/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [A story is not the same thing when it ends as it was when it began.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/a-story-is-not-the-same-thing-when-it-ends-as-it-was-when-it-began/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [I really want to have a really, really strong, one-sided opinion on something, and be connected to it and tell that story. Until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-really-want-to-have-a-really-really-strong-one-sided-opinion-on/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Many things make the ideal magazine story . But one thing is that it calls attention to the reader to something that they never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rosenbaum/many-things-make-the-ideal-magazine-story-but-one-thing-is-that-it/) [Ron Rosenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rosenbaum/) > [“Without people hurting one another, there’s no such thing as story. There’s no such thing as history. The entire record of human myth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-badham/without-people-hurting-one-another-there-s-no-such-thing-as-story/) [Van Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-badham/) > [The goal is always about the next story. It's always about the thing I haven't done before. It's about learning, or it's about becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/the-goal-is-always-about-the-next-story-it-s-always-about-the-thing-i/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [The story is the only thing that's important. Everything else will take care of itself. It's like what bowlers say. You hear writers talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-story-is-the-only-thing-that-s-important-everything-else-will/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Nevertheless, the book gave Jack a feeling he had never had before, that the past was like a story, in which one thing led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/nevertheless-the-book-gave-jack-a-feeling-he-had-never-had-before/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [I don't have the energy or the mental security to get involved with all that. I think it's a good idea to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-northam/i-don-t-have-the-energy-or-the-mental-security-to-get-involved-with/) [Jeremy Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-northam/) > [I decided that I would write one story about each thing that I knew about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-decided-that-i-would-write-one-story-about-each-thing-that-i-knew/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [It's one thing to narrate a story and another thing to execute it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-antony/it-s-one-thing-to-narrate-a-story-and-another-thing-to-execute-it/) [Vijay Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-antony/) > [I think because "Dollhouse" was the first story that I put out. It was the first thing that people were able to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-think-because-dollhouse-was-the-first-story-that-i-put-out-it-was/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [“The news is just the story of the same thing happening to different people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whiskey-britches/the-news-is-just-the-story-of-the-same-thing-happening-to-different/) [Whiskey Britches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whiskey-britches/) > [Is falling in love with someone's story the same thing as falling in love with the person himself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/is-falling-in-love-with-someone-s-story-the-same-thing-as-falling-in/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“I love the story of a thing. I love a thing for what it means a thousand times more than for what it's worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/i-love-the-story-of-a-thing-i-love-a-thing-for-what-it-means-a/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) ## More by Norman Rockwell > [I unconsciously decided that, even if it wasn't an ideal world, it should be. So I painted only the ideal aspects of it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/i-unconsciously-decided-that-even-if-it-wasn-t-an-ideal-world-it/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [“Commonplaces never become tiresome. It is we who become tired when we cease to be curious and appreciative. We find that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/commonplaces-never-become-tiresome-it-is-we-who-become-tired-when-we/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/without-thinking-too-much-about-it-in-specific-terms-i-was-showing/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [I keep the pornographic stuff in a bus station locker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/i-keep-the-pornographic-stuff-in-a-bus-station-locker/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/i-ll-never-have-enough-time-to-paint-all-the-pictures-i-d-like-to/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [I'm tired, but proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/i-m-tired-but-proud/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [You must first spend some time getting your model to relax. Then you'll get a natural expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/you-must-first-spend-some-time-getting-your-model-to-relax-then-you/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [A face in the picture would bother me, so I'd rub it out with the turpentine and do it over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/a-face-in-the-picture-would-bother-me-so-i-d-rub-it-out-with-the/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [I had a couple of million dollars' worth of... stock once. And now it's not worth much more than wallpaper. I guess I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/i-had-a-couple-of-million-dollars-worth-of-stock-once-and-now-it-s/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [“I unconsciously decided that, even if it wasn't an ideal world, it should be so and painted only the ideal aspects of it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/i-unconsciously-decided-that-even-if-it-wasn-t-an-ideal-world-it-2/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [It wouldn't be right for me to clown around when I'm painting a president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/it-wouldn-t-be-right-for-me-to-clown-around-when-i-m-painting-a/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [Very interesting for an old duffer like me to try his hand at something new. If I don't do that once in a while,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/very-interesting-for-an-old-duffer-like-me-to-try-his-hand-at/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [ The Balopticon \[a machine that projects photos on canvas to trace the lines\] is an evil, inartistic, habit-forming, lazy and vicious machine! It also… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/the-balopticon-a-machine-that-projects-photos-on-canvas-to-trace-the/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [No man with a conscience can just bat out illustrations. He's got to put all his talent and feeling into them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/no-man-with-a-conscience-can-just-bat-out-illustrations-he-s-got-to/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [Some people have been kind enough to call me a fine artist. I've always called myself an illustrator. I'm not sure what the difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/some-people-have-been-kind-enough-to-call-me-a-fine-artist-i-ve/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) [Explore all 48 Norman Rockwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) ## More Firsts quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [You sort of can't talk about the post production unless you talk about what comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-sort-of-can-t-talk-about-the-post-production-unless-you-talk/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) [Browse all 32,432 Firsts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The story is the first thing and the last thing,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Rockwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-last-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Firsts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-last-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/norman-rockwell-14034_firsts_the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-las_330041.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/norman-rockwell-14034_firsts_the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-las_330041.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/norman-rockwell-14034_firsts_the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-las_330041.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The story is the first thing and the last thing,” — Norman Rockwell", "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": "Norman Rockwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The story is the first thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-last-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-last-thing/#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 } } ] } ```