--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stories build cultures by answering the…" description: "\"Stories build cultures by answering the big questions.\" — Robert McKee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/robert-mckee-8479_big-questions_stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the_1873131.jpg" --- # Stories build cultures by answering the big questions. ![“Stories build cultures by answering the big questions.” quote by Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/robert-mckee-8479_big-questions_stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the_1873131.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/robert-mckee-8479_big-questions_stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the_1873131.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/robert-mckee-8479_big-questions_stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the_1873131.jpg) > “Stories build cultures by answering the big questions.” [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories shape culture by confronting fundamental human questions and offering meaning. **In simple terms:** Stories answer big questions and build culture. Key Takeaway Use narrative to explore core values. Themes culture storytelling meaning Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - advertising campaigns - educational curricula - community events Key Concepts mythology collective consciousness Questions to Reflect On - What big question does your story address? - How can narratives foster inclusive culture? A Different Perspective Stories can oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answering Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answering-big-2597367/) [Big questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-questions/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Build Cultures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-cultures-2597368/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Cultures Answering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultures-answering-2597366/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-build-2577830/) ## Related quotes > [“When society puts some small fraction of its wealth into asking and answering big questions, it reminds us all of the curiosity we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-carroll/when-society-puts-some-small-fraction-of-its-wealth-into-asking-and/) [Sean Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-carroll/) > [I spend a lot of my time trying to help leaders build cultures of productive givers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/i-spend-a-lot-of-my-time-trying-to-help-leaders-build-cultures-of/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [We really spend a lot of time on building relationships. And so when everyone is like, 'How do you break so many stories?' it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/we-really-spend-a-lot-of-time-on-building-relationships-and-so-when/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [I've seen novels that have grown out of one story in a collection. But it hasn't occurred to me to take any of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhumpa-lahiri/i-ve-seen-novels-that-have-grown-out-of-one-story-in-a-collection-but/) [Jhumpa Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhumpa-lahiri/) > [“Just stories? Stories can build up an empire, or strike down a people. You can spell the most powerful spell, ease a friend’s hurt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-s-buckell/just-stories-stories-can-build-up-an-empire-or-strike-down-a-people/) [Tobias S. Buckell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-s-buckell/) > [There are stories you build and there are stories you construct; then there are the stories that you hack out of rock removing all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/there-are-stories-you-build-and-there-are-stories-you-construct-then/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I do find that I tend to write about big questions. Why are we here? What are we doing? How do we relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/i-do-find-that-i-tend-to-write-about-big-questions-why-are-we-here/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > ['Why are we here?' 'What is our purpose? 'Is there an afterlife?' 'Is there a God?' 'Is it all about science?' Those are big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/why-are-we-here-what-is-our-purpose-is-there-an-afterlife-is-there-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/do-those-things-that-incline-you-toward-the-big-questions-and-avoid/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I like the big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-turlington/i-like-the-big-questions/) [Christy Turlington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-turlington/) > [Religion gives you a sense of certainty. It makes you feel that you have the right answers to really big questions and that youve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/religion-gives-you-a-sense-of-certainty-it-makes-you-feel-that-you/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [I love Big Themes. Films that ask big questions about technology, society, mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/i-love-big-themes-films-that-ask-big-questions-about-technology/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [I have no doubt, if people are really seeking the big questions, it will lead them to the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/i-have-no-doubt-if-people-are-really-seeking-the-big-questions-it/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Many people in their teens wonder about these big questions - what's the meaning of life, what are we doing here - then somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/many-people-in-their-teens-wonder-about-these-big-questions-what-s/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > ['SoulPancake' is a website that I founded with a couple of friends, and it is for exploring life's big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/soulpancake-is-a-website-that-i-founded-with-a-couple-of-friends-and/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) ## More by Robert McKee > [Story isn't a flight from reality but a vehicle that carries us on our search for reality,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/story-isn-t-a-flight-from-reality-but-a-vehicle-that-carries-us-on/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Don't be didactic - don't write about poverty. Write about poor people. When you dramatize their lives and let life and characters be your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/don-t-be-didactic-don-t-write-about-poverty-write-about-poor-people/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [To connect to people at the deepest level, you need stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/to-connect-to-people-at-the-deepest-level-you-need-stories/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Talent without craft is like fuel without an engine, it burns wildly but accomplishes nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/talent-without-craft-is-like-fuel-without-an-engine-it-burns-wildly/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [“If the story you're telling, is the story you're telling, you're in deep shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/if-the-story-you-re-telling-is-the-story-you-re-telling-you-re-in/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Classical design is a mirror of the human mind. It's how we see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/classical-design-is-a-mirror-of-the-human-mind-it-s-how-we-see-the/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [To get the truth, you want to get your own heart to pound while you write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/to-get-the-truth-you-want-to-get-your-own-heart-to-pound-while-you/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [What happens is fact, not truth. Truth is what we think about what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/what-happens-is-fact-not-truth-truth-is-what-we-think-about-what/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [The universal erosion of values has lead to the universal erosion of story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/the-universal-erosion-of-values-has-lead-to-the-universal-erosion-of/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [In a world of lies and liars, an honest work of art is always an act of social responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/in-a-world-of-lies-and-liars-an-honest-work-of-art-is-always-an-act/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Influence is just persuasion in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/influence-is-just-persuasion-in-slow-motion/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Good story' means something worth telling that the world wants to hear. Finding this is your lonely task...But the love of a good story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/good-story-means-something-worth-telling-that-the-world-wants-to-hear/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Most of life's actions are within our reach, but decisions take willpower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/most-of-life-s-actions-are-within-our-reach-but-decisions-take/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [We realize we can't go around saying and doing what we're actually thinking and feeling. If we all did that, life would be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/we-realize-we-can-t-go-around-saying-and-doing-what-we-re-actually/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Oh, by the way, I tend to use a lot of profanities. I do that for a reason: I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/oh-by-the-way-i-tend-to-use-a-lot-of-profanities-i-do-that-for-a/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) [Explore all 78 Robert McKee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) ## More Big questions quotes > ['SoulPancake' is a website that I founded with a couple of friends, and it is for exploring life's big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/soulpancake-is-a-website-that-i-founded-with-a-couple-of-friends-and/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [Many people in their teens wonder about these big questions - what's the meaning of life, what are we doing here - then somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/many-people-in-their-teens-wonder-about-these-big-questions-what-s/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [I have no doubt, if people are really seeking the big questions, it will lead them to the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/i-have-no-doubt-if-people-are-really-seeking-the-big-questions-it/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [I love Big Themes. Films that ask big questions about technology, society, mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/i-love-big-themes-films-that-ask-big-questions-about-technology/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [Religion gives you a sense of certainty. It makes you feel that you have the right answers to really big questions and that youve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/religion-gives-you-a-sense-of-certainty-it-makes-you-feel-that-you/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [I like the big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-turlington/i-like-the-big-questions/) [Christy Turlington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-turlington/) > [Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/do-those-things-that-incline-you-toward-the-big-questions-and-avoid/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > ['Why are we here?' 'What is our purpose? 'Is there an afterlife?' 'Is there a God?' 'Is it all about science?' Those are big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/why-are-we-here-what-is-our-purpose-is-there-an-afterlife-is-there-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I do find that I tend to write about big questions. Why are we here? What are we doing? How do we relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/i-do-find-that-i-tend-to-write-about-big-questions-why-are-we-here/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [I've always been into asking the big questions; I'm the last guy out the door at closing time cuz I was sittin' around 'til…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kowalczyk/i-ve-always-been-into-asking-the-big-questions-i-m-the-last-guy-out/) [Ed Kowalczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kowalczyk/) > [In a very small way, painting addresses the 'Big Questions' to which we'll never find the answers. You do what you have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-messer/in-a-very-small-way-painting-addresses-the-big-questions-to-which-we/) [Sam Messer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-messer/) > [The world of money, of numbers and stock markets and interest rates and credit cards, seems on the surface about as far as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/the-world-of-money-of-numbers-and-stock-markets-and-interest-rates/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I started asking the big questions that I had asked in college, that my compatriots the Greek philosophers had asked, like 'what is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/i-started-asking-the-big-questions-that-i-had-asked-in-college-that/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I first started asking big questions when I was 12, and by big questions, I mean, 'Why are we here? What is this business?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/i-first-started-asking-big-questions-when-i-was-12-and-by-big/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [“There are big questions science doesn’t answer, such as why is there something rather than nothing? There can’t be a scientific answer to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/there-are-big-questions-science-doesn-t-answer-such-as-why-is-there/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) [Browse all 142 Big questions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-questions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Stories build cultures by answering the big questions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert McKee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the-big-questions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big questions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the-big-questions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/robert-mckee-8479_big-questions_stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the_1873131.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/robert-mckee-8479_big-questions_stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the_1873131.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/robert-mckee-8479_big-questions_stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the_1873131.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Stories build cultures by answering the big questions.” — Robert McKee", "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": "Robert McKee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Stories build cultures by answering the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the-big-questions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/stories-build-cultures-by-answering-the-big-questions/#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 } } ] } ```