Assertion Quote by O. Henry
“Not very long ago some one invented the assertion that there were only "Four Hundred" people in New York City who were really worth noticing. But a wiser man has arisen - the census taker - and his larger estimate of human interest has been preferred in marking out the field of these little stories of the "Four Million.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Four Million”, 1906
He jokes that many more people are interesting than a select few.
In simple terms: Everyone has a story worth noticing.
Key Takeaway
Look for stories in everyday people.
Themes
humanity
storytelling
diversity
Mood
humorous
observational
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- urban life
- journalism
- creative writing
Key Concepts
literature
social observation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which stories matter?
- What biases affect our perception of “worth”?
A Different Perspective
Not all stories are equally compelling.
