Ability Quote by Walter Benjamin
“Less and less frequently do we encounter people with the ability to tell a tale properly. More and more often there is embarrassment all around when the wish to hear a story is expressed. It is as if something that seemed inalienable to us, the securest among our possessions, were taken from us: the ability to exchange our experiences...Experience has fallen in value. And it looks as if it is continuing to fall into bottomlessness.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, 1935
He laments the loss of storytelling skill, noting that personal narratives are devalued and fading from culture.
In simple terms: Storytelling is disappearing, losing its cultural value.
Key Takeaway
Revive oral storytelling traditions.
Themes
culture
communication
memory
loss
Mood
critical
nostalgic
Type
cultural
reflective
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- education
- media production
- community events
Key Concepts
narrative skill
social cohesion
cultural decay
Questions to Reflect On
- What can we do to preserve personal narratives?
- How might technology reshape storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Digital media may also create new storytelling forms.
