--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People think that stories are shaped by…" description: "\"“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know that, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/terry-pratchett-19_knowledge-is-power_people-think-that-stories-are-shaped-by_17817.jpg" --- # People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact… ![“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know that, the knowledge is power. Stories, great flapping ribbons of shaped space-time, have been blowing and uncoiling around the universe since the beginning…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/terry-pratchett-19_knowledge-is-power_people-think-that-stories-are-shaped-by_17817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/terry-pratchett-19_knowledge-is-power_people-think-that-stories-are-shaped-by_17817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/terry-pratchett-19_knowledge-is-power_people-think-that-stories-are-shaped-by_17817.jpg) > ““People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know that, the knowledge is power. Stories, great flapping ribbons of shaped space-time, have been blowing and uncoiling around the universe since the beginning of time. And they have evolved. The weakest have died and the strongest have survived and they have grown fat on the retelling . . . stories, twisting and blowing through the darkness. And their very existence overlays a faint but insistent pattern on the chaos that is history.”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories are autonomous forces that shape cultures and histories, persisting beyond individual storytellers and gaining power through retelling. **In simple terms:** Stories drive cultural evolution. Key Takeaway Stories outlive their creators. Themes Narrative agency Cultural evolution Power of myth Storytelling dynamics Mood Awe Mystery Contemplation Type Philosophical Literary Reflective When to use this quote - Analyzing cultural myths - Designing brand narratives - Teaching history through stories - Creating immersive worldbuilding Key Concepts Story as force Retelling amplification Historical patterning Practical Applications - Strategic storytelling for organizations - Educational curricula that use narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing story autonomy change our engagement with history? - What responsibilities arise when we shape retellings? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Knowledge is power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-is-power/) ## Related quotes > [People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-think-that-stories-are-shaped-by-people-in-fact-it-s-the-other-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I don't necessarily think stories have functions any more than diamonds have functions, or the sky has a function... Stories exist. They keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-don-t-necessarily-think-stories-have-functions-any-more-than/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“It's the shape of the stories that matters, the way belief forms around it. The story has real weight', He pointed at himself. 'Patupaiarehe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-healey/it-s-the-shape-of-the-stories-that-matters-the-way-belief-forms/) [Karen Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-healey/) > [I think it's why we're able to look at with comic book stories or origin stories, why is it that we can keep retelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-peirce/i-think-it-s-why-we-re-able-to-look-at-with-comic-book-stories-or/) [Kimberly Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-peirce/) > [I've never had any interest in retelling stories from my youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-ve-never-had-any-interest-in-retelling-stories-from-my-youth/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I used to be like "Why are we doing a remake? What are remakes being done for?" But then, we do that all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-used-to-be-like-why-are-we-doing-a-remake-what-are-remakes-being/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [I realize the importance of retelling those stories is so that, one, we don't forget what our ancestors had to do so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-realize-the-importance-of-retelling-those-stories-is-so-that-one-we/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [One of the core ideas of the Bible is that meaning can be found in history. The sheer act of telling and retelling stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/one-of-the-core-ideas-of-the-bible-is-that-meaning-can-be-found-in/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [“Do ghosts exist? We do not know. Perhaps we can never really know. But yes, ghost stories do exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minakshi-chaudhry/do-ghosts-exist-we-do-not-know-perhaps-we-can-never-really-know-but/) Minakshi Chaudhry > [Stories are living and dynamic. Stories exist to be exchanged. They are the currency of Human Growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/stories-are-living-and-dynamic-stories-exist-to-be-exchanged-they-are/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [But that's what we all are-just stories. We only exist by how people remember us, by the stories we make of our lives. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/but-that-s-what-we-all-are-just-stories-we-only-exist-by-how-people/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [I believe these stories exist because we sometimes need to create unreal monsters and bogies to stand in for all the things we fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-believe-these-stories-exist-because-we-sometimes-need-to-create/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I like stories that exist both in the naturalistic world and in our imaginative lives, films are so immersive in that sense, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/i-like-stories-that-exist-both-in-the-naturalistic-world-and-in-our/) [Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/) > [There are characters in some short stories who exist as people, and there are other characters in different short stories who exist as purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/there-are-characters-in-some-short-stories-who-exist-as-people-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I love stories that exist in this amped-up, personal world - sort of like 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday,' actually. That world really only exists inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beatriz/i-love-stories-that-exist-in-this-amped-up-personal-world-sort-of/) [Stephanie Beatriz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beatriz/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Knowledge is power quotes > [Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyce/knowledge-is-power-knowledge-shared-is-power-multiplied/) Robert Boyce > [“Purity culture often functions by shaming us for seeking knowledge about our own bodies. Studying even the scientific elements of sexual intercourse can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-anderson/purity-culture-often-functions-by-shaming-us-for-seeking-knowledge/) [Dianna Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-anderson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power and enthusiasm pulls the switch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-droke/knowledge-is-power-and-enthusiasm-pulls-the-switch/) Steve Droke > [Most people aren't unsuccessful in life because they don't know what to do. They are unsuccessful because they don't DO what they know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-duncan/most-people-aren-t-unsuccessful-in-life-because-they-don-t-know-what/) [Al Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-duncan/) > [It is a common sentence that knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of ignorance? Knowledge slowly builds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/it-is-a-common-sentence-that-knowledge-is-power-but-who-hath-duly/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I think in the NFL knowledge is power, and you try to get the knowledge by whatever means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sabol/i-think-in-the-nfl-knowledge-is-power-and-you-try-to-get-the/) [Steve Sabol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-sabol/) > [“Knowledge is power. Oleh karena itu, perwira harus berpengetahuan luas. Asahlah pengetahuan dan wawasan kalian. Sekarang ini di banyak negara, di militer yang modern,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sbyudhoyono/knowledge-is-power-oleh-karena-itu-perwira-harus-berpengetahuan-luas/) [SBYudhoyono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sbyudhoyono/) > [It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of Ignorance? Knowledge slowly builds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/it-is-a-common-sentence-that-knowledge-is-power-but-who-hath-duly-2/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Knowledge is Power, Power provides Information; Information leads to Education, Education breeds Wisdom; Wisdom is Liberation. People are not liberated because of lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/knowledge-is-power-power-provides-information-information-leads-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I am convinced that knowledge is power - to overcome the past, to change our own situations, to fight new obstacles, to make better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-convinced-that-knowledge-is-power-to-overcome-the-past-to-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some say knowledge is power, but that is not true. Character is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/some-say-knowledge-is-power-but-that-is-not-true-character-is-power/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Knowledge is power-and power of one sort or another is the secret lust of human souls; and here is, beside the sense of exploration,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sheridan-le-fanu/knowledge-is-power-and-power-of-one-sort-or-another-is-the-secret/) [Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sheridan-le-fanu/) > [“Knowledge is power, but how you use that power defines whether you're good, or evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jackson/knowledge-is-power-but-how-you-use-that-power-defines-whether-you-re/) [Daniel Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jackson/) > [Knowledge is power. Information is power. The secreting or hoarding of knowledge or information may be an act of tyranny camouflaged as humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/knowledge-is-power-information-is-power-the-secreting-or-hoarding-of/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) [Browse all 195 Knowledge is power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-is-power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know that, the knowledge is power. Stories, great flapping ribbons of shaped space-time, have been blowing and uncoiling around the universe since the beginning of time. And they have evolved. The weakest have died and the strongest have survived and they have grown fat on the retelling . . . stories, twisting and blowing through the darkness. 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