--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Personally, speaking as a historian and a…" description: "\"Personally, speaking as a historian and a storyteller, when it comes to inaccuracy in historical fictioneering, I follow the Shakespeare principle: I'm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/rick-perlstein-3637_basically_personally-speaking-as-a-historian-and-a_2654473.jpg" --- # Personally, speaking as a historian and a storyteller… ![“Personally, speaking as a historian and a storyteller, when it comes to inaccuracy in historical fictioneering, I follow the Shakespeare principle: I'm willing to overlook gobs of mistaken detail if the poetic valence is basically correct.” quote by Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/rick-perlstein-3637_basically_personally-speaking-as-a-historian-and-a_2654473.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/rick-perlstein-3637_basically_personally-speaking-as-a-historian-and-a_2654473.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fb/rick-perlstein-3637_basically_personally-speaking-as-a-historian-and-a_2654473.jpg) > “Personally, speaking as a historian and a storyteller, when it comes to inaccuracy in historical fictioneering, I follow the Shakespeare principle: I'm willing to overlook gobs of mistaken detail if the poetic valence is basically correct.” [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical fiction may sacrifice factual accuracy for poetic impact. **In simple terms:** Poetry can outweigh factual errors. Key Takeaway Value emotional truth over detail. Themes history fiction poetry Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - museum exhibits - educational curricula Key Concepts narrative truth artistic license Questions to Reflect On - When is artistic license acceptable? - How do you verify facts without stifling creativity? A Different Perspective Historical misinformation can mislead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basically/) [Correct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correct/) [Detail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detail/) [Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow/) [Follow Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-shakespeare-2376235/) [Historian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian/) [Historian Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian-storyteller-2376233/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Inaccuracy Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inaccuracy-historical-2376232/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Mistaken Poetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken-poetic-2376234/) [Overlook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overlook/) [Personally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personally/) [Poetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetic/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Shakespeare Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare-principle-2376231/) [Speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My aunt Geraldine was the unofficial historian and storyteller. 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