--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stories can actually rearrange continents…" description: "\"“Stories can actually rearrange continents if they're told long enough.”\" — Scott McClanahan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/scott-mcclanahan-14739_appendix_stories-can-actually-rearrange-continent_3047502.png" --- # Stories can actually rearrange continents if they're told… ![“Stories can actually rearrange continents if they're told long enough.” quote by Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/scott-mcclanahan-14739_appendix_stories-can-actually-rearrange-continent_3047502.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/scott-mcclanahan-14739_appendix_stories-can-actually-rearrange-continent_3047502.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/scott-mcclanahan-14739_appendix_stories-can-actually-rearrange-continent_3047502.png) > ““Stories can actually rearrange continents if they're told long enough.”” [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories, when repeated long enough, can reshape perceptions and even alter reality, metaphorically moving continents. **In simple terms:** Stories can change minds and worlds over time. Key Takeaway Use storytelling to influence change. Themes narrative power culture transformation Mood creative motivational Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigning - brand storytelling - social movements Key Concepts psychology media studies mythology Questions to Reflect On - What story could shift your worldview? - How long does a story need to be told to effect change? A Different Perspective Impact may be gradual, not immediate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appendix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appendix/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [I'm sure we're going to find out one day that the brain is as worthless as the appendix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-m-sure-we-re-going-to-find-out-one-day-that-the-brain-is-as/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“I told you this long ago, and it is still true. I am a man with but one heart to give, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-haeger/i-told-you-this-long-ago-and-it-is-still-true-i-am-a-man-with-but-one/) [Diane Haeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-haeger/) > [Figure out where you're going before you go there: he was told that a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/figure-out-where-you-re-going-before-you-go-there-he-was-told-that-a/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I have been involved in lots of crossover and event books, and the truth is, I dearly love them. I love stories that actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simone/i-have-been-involved-in-lots-of-crossover-and-event-books-and-the/) [Gail Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simone/) > [ It seems that's where Bill Clinton came in last night because he told this long story about how they met \[with Hillary Clinton\], how… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/it-seems-that-s-where-bill-clinton-came-in-last-night-because-he-told/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) > [I love those sorts of stories where you actually see the consequences of what violence does physically to people as well as psychologically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hillcoat/i-love-those-sorts-of-stories-where-you-actually-see-the-consequences/) [John Hillcoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hillcoat/) > [My parents always told me I could do anything, but never told me how long it would take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-anything-but-never-told-me-how/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [“Our eventual fate will be the sum of the stories we told ourselves long enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-woods/our-eventual-fate-will-be-the-sum-of-the-stories-we-told-ourselves/) [Crystal Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-woods/) > [What bugs me is that you believe what you're saying. What bothers me is that you don't know how you feel. What scares me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-bugs-me-is-that-you-believe-what-you-re-saying-what-bothers-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love when someone remembers something I told them a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-love-when-someone-remembers-something-i-told-them-a-long-time-ago/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [My mom told me a long time ago, 'Never get in a fight with a lady.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/my-mom-told-me-a-long-time-ago-never-get-in-a-fight-with-a-lady/) [Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/) > [For English assignments I was constantly coming up with these strange adventure stories... But I actually wanted to be an artist, or maybe work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kane/for-english-assignments-i-was-constantly-coming-up-with-these-strange/) [Paul Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kane/) > [It's not fun telling people they have to turn their stories in. But you can't actually have a creative work environment if there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/it-s-not-fun-telling-people-they-have-to-turn-their-stories-in-but/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) > [When I finally invent a time machine you will already know about it because I'll have told you a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/when-i-finally-invent-a-time-machine-you-will-already-know-about-it/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [When you're telling stories, you are actually trying to illuminate some portion of the truth in an artful way. The story may immediately seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/when-you-re-telling-stories-you-are-actually-trying-to-illuminate/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) ## More by Scott McClanahan > [I'm shocked and surprised by people that are shocked and surprised that certain things in life are made up or not as true as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-m-shocked-and-surprised-by-people-that-are-shocked-and-surprised/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [The things that I have loved have always been those extremes where there has been some kind of apocalypse in the person's life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/the-things-that-i-have-loved-have-always-been-those-extremes-where/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [I have no interest in being a trained ballerina. People should dance how they want to dance. I want to be the funky chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-have-no-interest-in-being-a-trained-ballerina-people-should-dance/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [We like something because someone else liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/we-like-something-because-someone-else-liked-it/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [Most of the answers to the world could be answered with our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/most-of-the-answers-to-the-world-could-be-answered-with-our-bodies/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“I thought about what my mom always said about this part of Texas, “Oh Godforsaken land. I don’t know why anybody would want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-thought-about-what-my-mom-always-said-about-this-part-of-texas-oh/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [I think a pretty good modus operandi is to believe that everything we know is wrong. The stomach will be the key to depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-think-a-pretty-good-modus-operandi-is-to-believe-that-everything-we/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“I walked up to the side of the mountain like I used to do when I was a little boy. I looked out over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-walked-up-to-the-side-of-the-mountain-like-i-used-to-do-when-i-was/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [The only hope we have are our bodies. We're all trapped in them and we all hate them, and it's this reason why we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/the-only-hope-we-have-are-our-bodies-we-re-all-trapped-in-them-and-we/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [With my stuff, I think I've tried. I've been courted. I don't want to sound like an asshole, but I've been courted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/with-my-stuff-i-think-i-ve-tried-i-ve-been-courted-i-don-t-want-to/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [The whole exploitation thing is funny, too. Exploitation is the nature of the world, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/the-whole-exploitation-thing-is-funny-too-exploitation-is-the-nature/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [ There's always tons of crap music people are trying to sell us - \[it's\] the same way with publishers and galleries. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/there-s-always-tons-of-crap-music-people-are-trying-to-sell-us-it-s/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [I guess the things I have always loved are from people who were just being themselves. They were doing these things because they couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-guess-the-things-i-have-always-loved-are-from-people-who-were-just/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“There was one face that looked like another face before it and then another face that looked like the face before it. This went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/there-was-one-face-that-looked-like-another-face-before-it-and-then/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [“I knew he believed in something that none of us ever do anymore. He believed in the nastiest word in the world. He believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-knew-he-believed-in-something-that-none-of-us-ever-do-anymore-he/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) [Explore all 45 Scott McClanahan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) ## More Appendix quotes > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [\*Appendix usually means "small outgrowth from large intestine," but in this case it means "additional information accompanying main text." Or are those really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pseudonymous-bosch/appendix-usually-means-small-outgrowth-from-large-intestine-but-in/) [Pseudonymous Bosch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pseudonymous-bosch/) > [Everything before Jesus is preface. Everything after Jesus is appendix. Jesus is the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/everything-before-jesus-is-preface-everything-after-jesus-is-appendix/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“There are only two perfectly useless things in the world,” he quipped. “One is an appendix and the other is Poincaré!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-macmillan/there-are-only-two-perfectly-useless-things-in-the-world-he-quipped/) [Margaret MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-macmillan/) > [“Appendix, Number 23. The Rutter circular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/appendix-number-23-the-rutter-circular/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had my appendix out when I was 11, and that was the last time I was in a hospital. That was a one-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-had-my-appendix-out-when-i-was-11-and-that-was-the-last-time-i-was/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The thinnest I've ever been was after I had my appendix out, during the London run of The Seagull. I went down to 112…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/the-thinnest-i-ve-ever-been-was-after-i-had-my-appendix-out-during/) [Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/) > [In the appendix to my History of the Russian Revolution I give a detailed and documented study of the ideas of the Bolshevik party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/in-the-appendix-to-my-history-of-the-russian-revolution-i-give-a/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) > [Idleness is an appendix to nobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/idleness-is-an-appendix-to-nobility/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) > [It should be done with the same degree of alacrity and nonchalance that you would display in authorizing a highly intelligent trained bear to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-s-greenberg-2/it-should-be-done-with-the-same-degree-of-alacrity-and-nonchalance/) Daniel S Greenberg > [The modern king has become a vermiform appendix: useless when quiet; when obtrusive, in danger of removal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/the-modern-king-has-become-a-vermiform-appendix-useless-when-quiet/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [There are only two perfectly useless things in this world. One is an appendix and the other is Poincaré.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-clemenceau/there-are-only-two-perfectly-useless-things-in-this-world-one-is-an/) [Georges Clemenceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-clemenceau/) > [A man's life is an appendix to his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/a-man-s-life-is-an-appendix-to-his-heart/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [“Even if we have a reliable criterion for detecting design, and even if that criterion tells us that biological systems are designed, it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/even-if-we-have-a-reliable-criterion-for-detecting-design-and-even-if/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [Indeed, the best books have a use, like sticks and stones, which is above or beside their design, not anticipated in the preface,not concluded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/indeed-the-best-books-have-a-use-like-sticks-and-stones-which-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 33 Appendix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appendix/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Stories can actually rearrange continents if they're told long enough.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott McClanahan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/stories-can-actually-rearrange-continents-if-they-re-told-long-enough/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appendix" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/stories-can-actually-rearrange-continents-if-they-re-told-long-enough/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/scott-mcclanahan-14739_appendix_stories-can-actually-rearrange-continent_3047502.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/scott-mcclanahan-14739_appendix_stories-can-actually-rearrange-continent_3047502.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/scott-mcclanahan-14739_appendix_stories-can-actually-rearrange-continent_3047502.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Stories can actually rearrange continents if they're told long enough.” — Scott McClanahan", "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": "Scott McClanahan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Stories can actually rearrange continents if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/stories-can-actually-rearrange-continents-if-they-re-told-long-enough/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/stories-can-actually-rearrange-continents-if-they-re-told-long-enough/#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 } } ] } ```