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Never let the truth get in the way of a good story

English translation: if there's a good story, let it be, don't spoil it with the truth

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Never let the truth get in the way of a good story
Selected answer:if there's a good story, let it be, don't spoil it with the truth

14:44 Mar 25, 2015
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2015-03-28 19:54:08 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / witty saying by Mark Twain
English term or phrase: Never let the truth get in the way of a good story
A quote from Mark Twain. Could you explain what exactly does it mean?
Rahi Moosavi
Canada
Local time: 18:18
if there's a good story, let it be, don't spoil it with the truth
Explanation:
in essence, I read it as: you may even lie/twist the truth/omit the truth for a good story.

Selected response from:

Lirka
Austria
Local time: 00:18
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +7if there's a good story, let it be, don't spoil it with the truth
Lirka
4 +4Don't let the facts stop you from telling a good story
eski
4 +1don't hesitate to twist the truth as long as it improves your story
Mikhail Kropotov
4Make it up as you go along, the truth is frequently boring.
Yorkshireman


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
never let the truth get in the way of a good story
if there's a good story, let it be, don't spoil it with the truth


Explanation:
in essence, I read it as: you may even lie/twist the truth/omit the truth for a good story.



Lirka
Austria
Local time: 00:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge: yes, it doesn't matter if you exaggerate a little or brush something under the carpet if it doesn't further the story
16 mins
  -> Thanks, Carol!
agree  Mikhail Kropotov
25 mins
  -> Thanks, Mikhail!
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: if the story is good (=interesting) don't worry about whether it's true or not...
29 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Eckhard Boehle
29 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  magdadh
40 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  Gemma Collinge
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Gemma!
agree  AllegroTrans
8 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
never let the truth get in the way of a good story
don't hesitate to twist the truth as long as it improves your story


Explanation:
Would be another way to put it

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Note added at 20 mins (2015-03-25 15:04:29 GMT)
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Making a story interesting/good is more important than being truthful.

I hope he was talking about fiction, not newsmaking!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2015-03-25 15:13:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

He *could* be ironic if talking about newspapers and journalists.

Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 00:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Carol Gullidge: I think this is duplicating what llrka suggested at 3 mins :) (see his/her explanation)// I believe you! And, no, I like your subsequent comment! But you could always post an Agree on IIrka's answer, since you clearly must agree at least with that part
3 mins
  -> Not on purpose. Should I withdraw my answer? OK, I just did. And we're all just rehashing each other now. There's not much of a mystery here, as far as quotes go.
agree  Eckhard Boehle
14 mins
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
never let the truth get in the way of a good story
Don't let the facts stop you from telling a good story


Explanation:
The Fortunate Life of a Vindicatrix Boy - Page 56 - Google Books Result
https://books.google.com.mx/books?isbn=1921019212
John Williams - 2005 - ‎Biography & Autobiography
Reading my few succinct paragraphs in the stop press, I thought I must have been at the ... “You don't just write what you see,” they said. ... Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. You'd better learn quick or you won't last in this game.

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Note added at 28 mins (2015-03-25 15:13:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story - Barry Popik
www.barrypopik.com/.../never_let_the_facts_get_in_the_way_o...
Jan 8, 2007 - “Don't let a little matter of family trees stand in the way of a good story! ... Lawrence Lader's writing in Sunday's Parade Magazine on the bail system ... and other times he says, “If you've already heard this story, don't stop me, ...

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Note added at 29 mins (2015-03-25 15:13:54 GMT)
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Hope this helps you.
eski :))

eski
Mexico
Local time: 16:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway
9 mins
  -> Thanks writeaway: btw-love your handle. :))
agree  ElenaW
1 hr
  -> Thanks for your confirmation, ElenaW. :))
agree  Phoenix III: excellent!
1 hr
  -> Thanks Phoenix III! :))
agree  katsy
4 hrs
  -> Hi katsy: thanks for your confirmation! :))
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
never let the truth get in the way of a good story
Make it up as you go along, the truth is frequently boring.


Explanation:
Ma take on it

Yorkshireman
Germany
Local time: 00:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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