Human nature Quote by Ramsay MacMullen
““Last, we may suppose that it gave pleasure both to relate and to hear wonderful stories, because such is human nature; and the pleasure can be increased, at least till the point of incredulity is reached, by exaggerating the wonderful. So some real happening at the base of an account may be reconstructed by shrinking the account down to the physically possible.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Ancient World, 1995
Exaggeration enhances storytelling until it reaches disbelief, after which realism restores credibility.
In simple terms: Exaggeration makes stories exciting, then realism grounds them.
Key Takeaway
Balance drama with plausibility.
Themes
storytelling
exaggeration
credibility
human nature
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- lecture
- writing workshops
- media analysis
Key Concepts
narrative tension
truth vs fiction
Questions to Reflect On
- When does embellishment become harmful?
- How to gauge audience belief limits?
A Different Perspective
Over‑exaggeration can mislead audiences.
