Authentic stories make us feel safe and connected. It’s a simple truth that separates brands that build tribes from those that just make noise. When you get this right, everything changes.
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Meaning
At its core, this is about human psychology. Authentic stories build trust and community, while inauthentic ones do the exact opposite—they create barriers.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out a hundred times. When you tell a story that’s genuine, that comes from a real place of understanding your customer’s worldview, you’re not just selling. You’re connecting. You’re building a safe space. That’s the “feeling safe and connected” part. It’s a primal thing. Our brains are wired for it.
But the second you try to fake it? Oh, people know. Maybe not consciously, not right away, but they get this gut feeling. A skepticism. And that creates distance. It’s the fastest way to kill a relationship, whether it’s with a customer, a user, or even a colleague. The story isn’t just the message, it’s the foundation of the entire relationship.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Relationship (329) |
| Topics | authenticity (101), connection (265), trust (147) |
| Literary Style | balanced (59), simple (291) |
| Emotion / Mood | empathetic (29) |
| Overall Quote Score | 78 (178) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is straight from Seth Godin’s 2005 book, All Marketers Are Liars. Now, the title is a bit of a hook—he later clarified it to “All Marketers Tell Stories.” The core idea, born in the early 2000s US marketing landscape, was a direct response to the rising tide of consumer distrust.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Seth Godin (100) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World (57) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Seth Godin writes and teaches about marketing, leadership, and creative work. After earning an MBA from Stanford, he founded Yoyodyne, sold it to Yahoo!, and later launched ventures like Squidoo and the altMBA. He has authored bestsellers such as Permission Marketing, Purple Cow, Tribes, Linchpin, and This Is Marketing. He posts daily at seths.blog and speaks globally about making work that matters. If you’re starting with the Seth Godin book list, expect insights on trust, storytelling, and shipping creative projects that change culture.
| Official Website | Facebook | X
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Authentic stories make us feel safe and connected. Fake stories make us skeptical and distant |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2005; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781591841009; Last edition: Portfolio Penguin 2012; Number of pages: 240. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 7: The Authentic Story, page 63, 2012 edition |