--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I consider a story merely as a frame on…" description: "\"I consider a story merely as a frame on which to stretch my materials.\" — Washington Irving" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/washington-irving-1386_frame_i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on_1088984.png" --- # I consider a story merely as a frame on which to stretch… ![“I consider a story merely as a frame on which to stretch my materials.” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/washington-irving-1386_frame_i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on_1088984.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/washington-irving-1386_frame_i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on_1088984.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/washington-irving-1386_frame_i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on_1088984.png) > “I consider a story merely as a frame on which to stretch my materials.” [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories serve as frameworks to showcase the author's ideas and creativity. **In simple terms:** Stories are frames for ideas. Key Takeaway Use stories to organize thoughts. Themes creativity writing structure Mood reflective analytical Type literary educational When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - marketing - personal reflection Key Concepts narrative theory literary technique Questions to Reflect On - How does a frame shape the story? - When is a rigid structure beneficial? A Different Perspective Frames can limit narrative depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consider Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider-story-2804904/) [Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frame/) [Frame Stretch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frame-stretch-2804905/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Merely Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-frame-2804903/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-merely-2116409/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“To those of us who pride ourselves on being “informal,” I’d encourage us to consider what story we could possibly be telling without form.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/to-those-of-us-who-pride-ourselves-on-being-informal-i-d-encourage-us/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [“I consider myself more of a story teller than a writer. My readers constantly say that reading one of my stories is like watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-a-morris/i-consider-myself-more-of-a-story-teller-than-a-writer-my-readers/) [P.A. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-a-morris/) > [Tell the readers a story! Because without a story, you are merely using words to prove you can string them together in logical sentences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/tell-the-readers-a-story-because-without-a-story-you-are-merely-using/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [The pictures do not lie, but neither do they tell the whole story. They are merely a record of time passing, the outward evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/the-pictures-do-not-lie-but-neither-do-they-tell-the-whole-story-they/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [Life's story is as quick as the wink of an eye...love's story is merely hello and goodbye...until we meet again...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/life-s-story-is-as-quick-as-the-wink-of-an-eye-love-s-story-is-merely/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Hypotheses non fingo. I frame no hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/hypotheses-non-fingo-i-frame-no-hypotheses/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [As a player all we can do is prepare well, build a good frame of mind and work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-agarwal/as-a-player-all-we-can-do-is-prepare-well-build-a-good-frame-of-mind/) [Mayank Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-agarwal/) > ['Happy girls are the prettiest,' and to be in the camera frame makes me happy. I just want myself to keep working. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditi-rao-hydari/happy-girls-are-the-prettiest-and-to-be-in-the-camera-frame-makes-me/) [Aditi Rao Hydari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditi-rao-hydari/) > [When I go on set, it's very important, the lenses I choose, what I choose to frame or not frame and that's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/when-i-go-on-set-it-s-very-important-the-lenses-i-choose-what-i/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [Roy Keane can talk eloquently about the game. I was hoping he would take the Sunderland job when he was last in the frame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/roy-keane-can-talk-eloquently-about-the-game-i-was-hoping-he-would/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My job as an editor is to gently prod the attention of the audience to look at various parts of the frame. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-murch/my-job-as-an-editor-is-to-gently-prod-the-attention-of-the-audience/) [Walter Murch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-murch/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The BBC called me 'defiant' in a caption. I plan to frame and put it on my wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/the-bbc-called-me-defiant-in-a-caption-i-plan-to-frame-and-put-it-on/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [“Christmas isn't just a day. It's a frame of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christmas-isn-t-just-a-day-it-s-a-frame-of-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I will say that when it comes to the horror genre, for me, the scariest thing is when something is actually in the frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-will-say-that-when-it-comes-to-the-horror-genre-for-me-the-scariest/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## More by Washington Irving > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Language gradually varies, and with it fade away the writings of authors who have flourished their allotted time; otherwise, the creative powers of genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/language-gradually-varies-and-with-it-fade-away-the-writings-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's life is a history of the affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Over no nation does the press hold a more absolute control than over the people of America, for the universal education of the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/over-no-nation-does-the-press-hold-a-more-absolute-control-than-over/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I have never found, in anything outside of the four walls of my study, an enjoyment equal to sitting at my writing desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-have-never-found-in-anything-outside-of-the-four-walls-of-my-study/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-no-character-in-the-comedy-of-human-life-more-difficult-to/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-proportion-to-his-thoughts-he/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/redundancy-of-language-is-never-found-with-deep-reflection-verbiage/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is a majestic grandeur in tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-majestic-grandeur-in-tranquillity/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There rise authors now and then, who seem proof against the mutability of language, because they have rooted themselves in the unchanging principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-rise-authors-now-and-then-who-seem-proof-against-the-mutability/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-nothing-in-england-that-exercises-a-more-delightful-spell/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities between two nations; there exists, more commonly, a previous jealousy and ill will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/it-is-but-seldom-that-any-one-overt-act-produces-hostilities-between/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) [Explore all 244 Washington Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More Frame quotes > [I will say that when it comes to the horror genre, for me, the scariest thing is when something is actually in the frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-will-say-that-when-it-comes-to-the-horror-genre-for-me-the-scariest/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [“Christmas isn't just a day. It's a frame of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christmas-isn-t-just-a-day-it-s-a-frame-of-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The BBC called me 'defiant' in a caption. I plan to frame and put it on my wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/the-bbc-called-me-defiant-in-a-caption-i-plan-to-frame-and-put-it-on/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [My job as an editor is to gently prod the attention of the audience to look at various parts of the frame. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-murch/my-job-as-an-editor-is-to-gently-prod-the-attention-of-the-audience/) [Walter Murch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-murch/) > [Roy Keane can talk eloquently about the game. I was hoping he would take the Sunderland job when he was last in the frame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/roy-keane-can-talk-eloquently-about-the-game-i-was-hoping-he-would/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [When I go on set, it's very important, the lenses I choose, what I choose to frame or not frame and that's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/when-i-go-on-set-it-s-very-important-the-lenses-i-choose-what-i/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > ['Happy girls are the prettiest,' and to be in the camera frame makes me happy. I just want myself to keep working. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditi-rao-hydari/happy-girls-are-the-prettiest-and-to-be-in-the-camera-frame-makes-me/) [Aditi Rao Hydari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditi-rao-hydari/) > [As a player all we can do is prepare well, build a good frame of mind and work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-agarwal/as-a-player-all-we-can-do-is-prepare-well-build-a-good-frame-of-mind/) [Mayank Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-agarwal/) > [Hypotheses non fingo. I frame no hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/hypotheses-non-fingo-i-frame-no-hypotheses/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [When you get a typical injury, you're given a time frame; you're gradually working towards getting back. With concussions, there is not generally a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-crosby/when-you-get-a-typical-injury-you-re-given-a-time-frame-you-re/) [Sidney Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-crosby/) > [I don't know the time frame exactly, but it's clear they're all going to want to start spending money again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gould/i-don-t-know-the-time-frame-exactly-but-it-s-clear-they-re-all-going/) [Andrew Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gould/) > [I love Hitchcock's films because even though you knew who did it right at the beginning, he still kept the audience engaged till the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-kulkarni/i-love-hitchcock-s-films-because-even-though-you-knew-who-did-it/) [Atul Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-kulkarni/) > [I really enjoy dance workouts. I do enjoy weights and stuff, but I have to be in the right frame of mind for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-bridge/i-really-enjoy-dance-workouts-i-do-enjoy-weights-and-stuff-but-i-have/) [Frankie Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-bridge/) > [You can change the frame, but the picture will always remain the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sianlouise/you-can-change-the-frame-but-the-picture-will-always-remain-the-same/) [Sianlouise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sianlouise/) [Browse all 379 Frame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frame/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I consider a story merely as a frame on which to stretch my materials.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Washington Irving" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on-which-to-stretch-my-materials/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Frame" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on-which-to-stretch-my-materials/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/washington-irving-1386_frame_i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on_1088984.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/washington-irving-1386_frame_i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on_1088984.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/washington-irving-1386_frame_i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on_1088984.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I consider a story merely as a frame on which to stretch my materials.” — Washington Irving", "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": "Washington Irving", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I consider a story merely as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on-which-to-stretch-my-materials/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-consider-a-story-merely-as-a-frame-on-which-to-stretch-my-materials/#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 } } ] } ```