The one who tells the stories rules the world
Meaning: Whoever controls the narratives shapes beliefs, cultures, and civilizations.
Origin: Popularly called a Hopi proverb, and also credited to Plato, but no source in Hopi tradition or in Plato's works has been identified. Its origin is unknown.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: Celui qui raconte les histoires gouverne le monde (literally: The one who tells the stories rules the world)
- Spanish: El que cuenta las historias domina el mundo (literally: The one who tells the stories rules the world)
- Japanese: 物語を語る者が世界を支配する (Monogatari wo kataru mono ga sekai wo shihai suru) (literally: The one who tells stories rules the world)
More proverbs about Communication
- Well done is better than well said — Actions and results are far more valuable than promises and fine words.
- A word once spoken can never be recalled — Choose your words carefully, for once said they cannot be unsaid.
- Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see — Acts of kindness transcend words and communicate beyond all physical limitations.
- He who talks much errs much — The more you speak, the more likely you are to make mistakes or say the wrong thing.
- The tongue is the enemy of the neck — Careless speech can bring serious consequences upon the speaker.
- A gentle answer turns away wrath — Responding calmly to anger defuses conflict; harsh replies only escalate it.
From our tongue twisters
- Se la serpe si avvicina alla siepe del serpente, il serpente scappa dalla siepe. — A sibilant 's/se/si/sci' minefield; both words (serpe and serpente) slither through the s…
- Chi è Ciccio Capece? Ciccio Capece è un capocaccia che caccia con la cacciaballa. — A 'c/ci/ccia' onslaught — Italian's hard and soft c in the same sentence, non-stop.
- O rato roeu a roupa do rei de Roma; a rainha com raiva roeu o resto. — An unstoppable 'r' trill drill — every key word begins or ends with the Portuguese r.