You know, “The truth is elusive, but a great story can be trusted” is one of those lines that completely reframes how you think about communication. It’s not about facts; it’s about the narrative that feels true.
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Meaning
It means that people don’t connect with raw data; they connect with a story that aligns with their existing worldview and feels authentic to them.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. We’re all bombarded with information, right? The “truth” is often complicated, full of nuance, and frankly, a bit boring. But a great story? A great story simplifies the world into something we can understand and, more importantly, feel. It’s not about lying. It’s about framing. It’s about finding a core truth and wrapping it in a narrative that resonates so deeply it becomes the trusted reality for your audience. That’s the real power here.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Wisdom (385) |
| Topics | perception (39), trust (147), truth (77) |
| Literary Style | minimalist (442), poetic (635) |
| Emotion / Mood | provocative (175) |
| Overall Quote Score | 78 (178) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Seth Godin’s 2005 book, All Marketers Are Liars, which he later subtitled Tell Stories Anyway. It was published in the United States. Sometimes people think this is about outright deception, but that’s a misreading—Godin is talking about the subjective “lies” of storytelling that help people believe.
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 | The truth is elusive, but a great story can be trusted |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2005; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781591841009; Last edition: Portfolio Penguin 2012; Number of pages: 240. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 22: The Trusted Story, page 203, 2012 edition |