--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In employing fiction to make truth clear…" description: "\"In employing fiction to make truth clear and goodness attractive, we are only following the example which every Christian ought to propose to himself.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_attractive_in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear_596030.png" --- # In employing fiction to make truth clear and goodness… ![“In employing fiction to make truth clear and goodness attractive, we are only following the example which every Christian ought to propose to himself.” quote by Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_attractive_in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear_596030.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_attractive_in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear_596030.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_attractive_in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear_596030.png) > “In employing fiction to make truth clear and goodness attractive, we are only following the example which every Christian ought to propose to himself.” [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using stories to illustrate moral truths makes them more relatable and compelling. **In simple terms:** Stories help convey moral truths. Key Takeaway Tell moral stories to inspire virtue. Themes morality storytelling religion Mood reflective inspirational Type didactic inspirational When to use this quote - teaching children - public sermons - media campaigns Key Concepts Christian ethics didactic literature Questions to Reflect On - How can narrative simplify without distorting? - What moral lessons resonate most? A Different Perspective Stories may oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attractive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attractive/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-ought-290368/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Employing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employing/) [Employing Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employing-fiction-4867747/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Example Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example-christian-1238072/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Make Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-truth-615723/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propose/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [It is absolutely essential to have a living visible example of what a Christian ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-smith/it-is-absolutely-essential-to-have-a-living-visible-example-of-what-a/) [Judah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judah-smith/) > [My mother was a huge influence on me. She was a living example of what a Christian should be. Her conviction, her discipline. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sanders/my-mother-was-a-huge-influence-on-me-she-was-a-living-example-of-what/) [Barry Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sanders/) > [“It is just the same with the so-called criminals living in our midst. To bring these people under the sway of Christianity there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/it-is-just-the-same-with-the-so-called-criminals-living-in-our-midst/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The love, loyalty, and dedication of Mary and Joseph are an example for all Christian couples, who are neither the friends nor masters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-xvi/the-love-loyalty-and-dedication-of-mary-and-joseph-are-an-example-for/) [Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-xvi/) > [By poetry we mean the art of employing of words in such a manner as to produce an illusion on the imagination; the art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/by-poetry-we-mean-the-art-of-employing-of-words-in-such-a-manner-as/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [A Christian ought to realize what the weights laid on his spirit are. If he encounters it in the morning and does not deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/a-christian-ought-to-realize-what-the-weights-laid-on-his-spirit-are/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Indeed, a Christian ought to be disposed and prepared to keep in mind that he has to reckon with God every moment of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/indeed-a-christian-ought-to-be-disposed-and-prepared-to-keep-in-mind/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“Although you be, as I am, one of those Who feel a Christian ought to write in prose, For poetry is magic: born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/although-you-be-as-i-am-one-of-those-who-feel-a-christian-ought-to/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [As a Christian, you ought to be less concerned about where God is bringing you out from, rather, focus on where He's taking you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/as-a-christian-you-ought-to-be-less-concerned-about-where-god-is/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [The Christian ought not to say anything behind his brother's back with the object of calumniating him, for this is slander, even if what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/the-christian-ought-not-to-say-anything-behind-his-brother-s-back/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [All places are places of worship to a Christian. Wherever he is, he ought to be in a worshiping frame of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/all-places-are-places-of-worship-to-a-christian-wherever-he-is-he/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I think every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-think-every-good-christian-ought-to-kick-falwell-right-in-the-ass/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [A Christian ought to speak kindly even when given the opportunity to retaliate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/a-christian-ought-to-speak-kindly-even-when-given-the-opportunity-to/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Some of the best people that ever lived have been as destitute as I am; and if you are a Christian, you ought not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/some-of-the-best-people-that-ever-lived-have-been-as-destitute-as-i/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I believe that every Christian ought to be joined to some visible church; that is his plain duty, according to the Scriptures. God’s people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-believe-that-every-christian-ought-to-be-joined-to-some-visible/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) ## More by Thomas B. Macaulay > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [We must judge a government by its general tendencies and not by its happy accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/we-must-judge-a-government-by-its-general-tendencies-and-not-by-its/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/none-of-the-modes-by-which-a-magistrate-is-appointed-popular-election/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Our estimate of a character always depends much on the manner in which that character affects our own interests and passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/our-estimate-of-a-character-always-depends-much-on-the-manner-in/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Re: Robert Montgomery's Poems His writing bears the same relation to poetry which a Turkey carpet bears to a picture. There are colours in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/re-robert-montgomery-s-poems-his-writing-bears-the-same-relation-to/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Highest among those who have exhibited human nature by means of dialogue stands Shakespeare. His variety is like the variety of nature,--endless diversity, scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/highest-among-those-who-have-exhibited-human-nature-by-means-of/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The most beautiful object in the world, it will be allowed, is a beautiful woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-most-beautiful-object-in-the-world-it-will-be-allowed-is-a/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The passages in which Milton has alluded to his own circumstances are perhaps read more frequently, and with more interest, than any other lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-passages-in-which-milton-has-alluded-to-his-own-circumstances-are/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Oh, wherefore come ye forth in triumph from the north, With your hands, and your feet, and your raiment all red? And wherefore doth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/oh-wherefore-come-ye-forth-in-triumph-from-the-north-with-your-hands/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [It is, I believe, no exaggeration to say that all the historical information which has been collected in the Sanskrit language is less valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/it-is-i-believe-no-exaggeration-to-say-that-all-the-historical/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Ambrose Phillips . . . who had the honor of bringing into fashion a species of composition which has been called, after his name, Namby Pamby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/ambrose-phillips-who-had-the-honor-of-bringing-into-fashion-a-species/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [In the infancy of civilization, when our island was as savage as New Guinea, when letters and arts were still unknown to Athens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-the-infancy-of-civilization-when-our-island-was-as-savage-as-new/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [In truth it may be laid down as an almost universal rule that good poets are bad critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-truth-it-may-be-laid-down-as-an-almost-universal-rule-that-good/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [He had a head which statuaries loved to copy, and a foot the deformity of which the beggars in the streets mimicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/he-had-a-head-which-statuaries-loved-to-copy-and-a-foot-the-deformity/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The Spartan, smiting and spurning the wretched Helot, moves our disgust. But the same Spartan, calmly dressing his hair, and uttering his concise jests,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-spartan-smiting-and-spurning-the-wretched-helot-moves-our-disgust/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) [Explore all 193 Thomas B. Macaulay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) ## More Attractive quotes > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [A beautiful woman must expect to be more accountable for her steps, than one less attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/a-beautiful-woman-must-expect-to-be-more-accountable-for-her-steps/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [We are Bay Aryans from Berkeley: prepare to be reengineered in an attractive range of color schemes for your safety and comfort!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/we-are-bay-aryans-from-berkeley-prepare-to-be-reengineered-in-an/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [I was unusual looking - I didn't have the look of that time. If you look at 'Lucas' - and, basically, my first five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-was-unusual-looking-i-didn-t-have-the-look-of-that-time-if-you-look/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Violence is what people do when they run out of good ideas. It's attractive because it's simple, it's direct, it's almost always available as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/violence-is-what-people-do-when-they-run-out-of-good-ideas-it-s/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [I hated grunge. No one’s more feminist than me, but you don’t have to look as if you don’t give a - you know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-hated-grunge-no-one-s-more-feminist-than-me-but-you-don-t-have-to/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [Web users ultimately want to get at data quickly and easily. They don't care as much about attractive sites and pretty design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/web-users-ultimately-want-to-get-at-data-quickly-and-easily-they-don/) [Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/) > [Just be confident. Confidence is the most attractive part of a person. Because if they're not confident enough to show you who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/just-be-confident-confidence-is-the-most-attractive-part-of-a-person/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [It is very pleasant to scratch an itching ring-worm, but the sensation one gets afterwards is very painful and intolerable. In the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/it-is-very-pleasant-to-scratch-an-itching-ring-worm-but-the-sensation/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [I think it's sort of the hypothetical point where communism and fascism meet. They love tragedy, and they love surface beauty. You just watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/i-think-it-s-sort-of-the-hypothetical-point-where-communism-and/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [My dad had a personal style which was very attractive. It was quite reserved and quite elegant, and it was infectious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/my-dad-had-a-personal-style-which-was-very-attractive-it-was-quite/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [When you consider the sheer magnitude of investable equities to choose from in the world's emerging markets, you realize that finding one that looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mobius/when-you-consider-the-sheer-magnitude-of-investable-equities-to/) [Mark Mobius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mobius/) > [“Are pervs only pervs if you don't find them attractive?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancy/are-pervs-only-pervs-if-you-don-t-find-them-attractive/) [Rick Yancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancy/) > [I've tried to stay true, in my own fashion, to the ideas of The Sex Pistols, even while I was working with bands like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-temple/i-ve-tried-to-stay-true-in-my-own-fashion-to-the-ideas-of-the-sex/) [Julien Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-temple/) > [I remember the early 1980s, when I first got one of these fabulous film critic jobs. The downside was sitting through 'Splatteria III: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunter/i-remember-the-early-1980s-when-i-first-got-one-of-these-fabulous/) [Stephen Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunter/) [Browse all 1,796 Attractive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attractive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In employing fiction to make truth clear and goodness attractive, we are only following the example which every Christian ought to propose to himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas B. Macaulay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear-and-goodness-attractive-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attractive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear-and-goodness-attractive-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_attractive_in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear_596030.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_attractive_in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear_596030.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/thomas-b-macaulay-1980_attractive_in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear_596030.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In employing fiction to make truth clear and goodness attractive, we are only following the example which…” — Thomas B. Macaulay", "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": "Thomas B. Macaulay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In employing fiction to make truth...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear-and-goodness-attractive-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-employing-fiction-to-make-truth-clear-and-goodness-attractive-we/#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 } } ] } ```