We are the stories we tell

So true:

“To poison a nation, poison its stories. A demoralised nation tells demoralised stories to itself. Beware of the storytellers who are not fully conscious of the importance of their gifts, and who are irresponsible in the application of their art: they could unwittingly help along the psychic destruction of their people.” [1, 2]

This quote originates from the book ++A Way of Being Free++ (1997), a collection of essays and aphorisms written by the Booker Prize-winning Nigerian author ++Sir Ben Okri++.

Hat tip to Jim O’Shaughnessy:

Jim O'Shaughnessy @jposhaughnessy · September 7, 2026 ↗"To poison a nation, poison its stories. A demoralised nation tells demoralised stories to itself." ~Ben Okri