Logo - Feel The Words

Anecdote Quotes

One good story can outlast a whole volume

These quotes treat the anecdote as its own art form, worth more than a full volume of biography and even described as a flat surface built from carefully assembled colours.

One good anecdote is worth a volume of biography.

Quotes by William Ellery Channing

I have one anecdote about the FBI breaking into an embassy in Washington, and under Hoover, they had this sort of ruse whereby they didn't want to recommend a break-in that might be a big flap and cause all kinds...

Quotes by Ronald Kessler

Remember that a painting - before it is a battle horse, a nude model, or some anecdote - is essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a certain order.

Quotes by Maurice Denis

Art to me is an anecdote of the spirit, and the only means of making concrete the purpose of its varied quickness and stillness.

Quotes by Mark Rothko

About Quotes

All the stories I write come from someone I've met or some anecdote I've heard.

Quotes by Edith Pearlman

Voter fraud is a reality in American elections, but it is typical of the candidate to confuse anecdote with data and turn allegation into conspiracy.

Quotes by Bret Stephens

If you have an anecdote from one source, you file it away. If you hear it again, it may be true. Then the more times you hear it the less likely it is to be true.

Quotes by Anthony Holden

You may also like

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these anecdote quotes focus on?
They explore why a single good anecdote can carry more weight than a full biography, plus how anecdotes connect to art and memory.
Is there a quote comparing anecdotes to biography?
Yes, one line claims a single well-told anecdote can outweigh an entire book of biographical detail, valuing a sharp, specific story over lengthy documentation.
How does one quote connect anecdote to painting?
It argues a painting is essentially a flat surface built from carefully assembled colours, existing before it becomes a battle horse, a nude model, or any anecdote.
Does any quote call art itself an anecdote?
Yes, one speaker describes art as an anecdote of the spirit, tying storytelling directly to creative expression rather than treating them separately.
Is there a specific real-world anecdote mentioned?
Yes, one quote recalls a memorable story from the Hoover era involving federal agents entering an embassy in Washington under a pretext, still worth retelling. See our Art quotes for related themes.

One speaker takes it further, calling art itself an anecdote of the spirit, while another recalls a specific FBI story about breaking into an embassy. See our Art quotes and About quotes.