--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live vicariously through stories…" description: "\"“We live vicariously through stories, because our own lives provide so few opportunities for high-stakes adventure and noble sacrifice.”\" — Sarah Cross" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/sarah-cross-12393_adventure_we-live-vicariously-through-stories-beca_2732537.jpg" --- # We live vicariously through stories, because our own lives… ![“We live vicariously through stories, because our own lives provide so few opportunities for high-stakes adventure and noble sacrifice.” quote by Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/sarah-cross-12393_adventure_we-live-vicariously-through-stories-beca_2732537.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/sarah-cross-12393_adventure_we-live-vicariously-through-stories-beca_2732537.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/759/sarah-cross-12393_adventure_we-live-vicariously-through-stories-beca_2732537.jpg) > ““We live vicariously through stories, because our own lives provide so few opportunities for high-stakes adventure and noble sacrifice.”” [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We experience vicariously through stories because our lives lack high‑stakes adventure and noble sacrifice. **In simple terms:** Stories let us live adventures we miss. Key Takeaway Embrace storytelling for vicarious growth. Themes stories adventure vicarious living Mood curious inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - reading - film - gaming Key Concepts literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - What adventure do you crave? - How do stories shape your values? A Different Perspective Stories can detach us from real action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [“In a fractured age, when cynicism is god, here is a possible heresy: we live by stories, we also live in them. One way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/in-a-fractured-age-when-cynicism-is-god-here-is-a-possible-heresy-we/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [“True horror is not in our stories, it's in our lives. Stories help us process it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-anske/true-horror-is-not-in-our-stories-it-s-in-our-lives-stories-help-us/) [Ksenia Anske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-anske/) > [The stories in 'Parenthood' are so much the stories of our lives. And the people who have worked on the show feel very connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-katims/the-stories-in-parenthood-are-so-much-the-stories-of-our-lives-and/) [Jason Katims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-katims/) > [I'm very interested in how we take ownership of our own stories and our own lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derren-brown/i-m-very-interested-in-how-we-take-ownership-of-our-own-stories-and/) [Derren Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derren-brown/) > [Everyone's always telling themselves stories about their lives, writers or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/everyone-s-always-telling-themselves-stories-about-their-lives/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [The Nigerian storyteller Ben Okri says that ‘In a fractured age, when cynicism is god, here is a possible heresy: we live by stories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/the-nigerian-storyteller-ben-okri-says-that-in-a-fractured-age-when/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [As we tell stories about the lives of others, we learn how to imagine what another creature might feel in response to various events.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/as-we-tell-stories-about-the-lives-of-others-we-learn-how-to-imagine/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [How we remember changes how we have lived. Time runs both ways. We make stories of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/how-we-remember-changes-how-we-have-lived-time-runs-both-ways-we-make/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“Our stories have lives of their own-and it's up to us to make them mean something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-zappia/our-stories-have-lives-of-their-own-and-it-s-up-to-us-to-make-them/) [Francesca Zappia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-zappia/) > [“Like life, what gives a story its meaning is the fact that it ends. Our stories have lives of their own—and it’s up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-zappia/like-life-what-gives-a-story-its-meaning-is-the-fact-that-it-ends-our/) [Francesca Zappia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-zappia/) > [“Lists, she thought, are the stories of our lives; they give a picture of who we are and what we do every day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/lists-she-thought-are-the-stories-of-our-lives-they-give-a-picture-of/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [If you're a good journalist, what you do is live a lot of things vicariously, and report them for other people who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reasoner/if-you-re-a-good-journalist-what-you-do-is-live-a-lot-of-things/) [Harry Reasoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reasoner/) > [“The social network, the only place that doesn’t physically exist but u can still live vicariously through someone who is only virtual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-henegan/the-social-network-the-only-place-that-doesn-t-physically-exist-but-u/) [Carl Henegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-henegan/) > [Drug dealers live vicariously through me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/drug-dealers-live-vicariously-through-me/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“Sometimes I scare myself at how easily I slip inside my mind and live vicariously through these characters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/sometimes-i-scare-myself-at-how-easily-i-slip-inside-my-mind-and-live/) [Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/) ## More by Sarah Cross > [“It was hard to be honest, to open up, and reveal something that sounded crazy. 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She thought of the fabled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/mira-moved-into-the-light-like-a-sleepwalker-leaving-blue-behind-in/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) > [“She never felt nervous around Blue. She could hold her own with him, laugh at him, and, if necessary, slap him. There was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/she-never-felt-nervous-around-blue-she-could-hold-her-own-with-him/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) > [“The razor blade hanging from her neck made her feel brave. Honest. A naked blade hid nothing, feared nothing. She wanted to be like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/the-razor-blade-hanging-from-her-neck-made-her-feel-brave-honest-a/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) > [“I'm starting to think it was a mistake to introduce you to the whole gang," he said. Rafe was still hitting on Layla; Layla…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/i-m-starting-to-think-it-was-a-mistake-to-introduce-you-to-the-whole/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) > [“As an artist, her imagination isn't fettered by the constraints of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/as-an-artist-her-imagination-isn-t-fettered-by-the-constraints-of/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) > [“You crazy liar," he said breathlessly. "You knew I was lying." "Not to - that degree." "Okay, so maybe I like you a little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/you-crazy-liar-he-said-breathlessly-you-knew-i-was-lying-not-to-that/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) > [“And at that age, the only boys I didn’t think were gross were dead scientists – and it’s not like I wanted to kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/and-at-that-age-the-only-boys-i-didn-t-think-were-gross-were-dead/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) [Explore all 55 Sarah Cross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. 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You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. 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In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. 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