Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story
English answer:
if there's a good story, let it be, don't spoil it with the truth
- 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.)
Mar 25, 2015 14:44
9 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term
Canada
For All Your Farsi Translation Needs
Native in: Persian (Farsi) 
Works in: English to Persian (Farsi), Persian (Farsi) to English, English
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story
English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
witty saying by Mark Twain
A quote from Mark Twain. Could you explain what exactly does it mean?
Responses
Change log
Mar 25, 2015 15:19: writeaway changed "Field (specific)" from "Poetry & Literature" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters" , "Field (write-in)" from "(none)" to "witty saying by Mark Twain"
Responses
+7
3 mins
Selected
if there's a good story, let it be, don't spoil it with the truth
in essence, I read it as: you may even lie/twist the truth/omit the truth for a good story.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
+1
19 mins
Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Germany
Works in field
Germany
US-educated, precise & thorough
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
28
don't hesitate to twist the truth as long as it improves your story
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!
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Note added at 29 mins (2015-03-25 15:13:25 GMT)
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He *could* be ironic if talking about newspapers and journalists.
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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!
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Note added at 29 mins (2015-03-25 15:13:25 GMT)
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He *could* be ironic if talking about newspapers and journalists.
Peer comment(s):
| 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
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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.
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| agree |
Eckhard Boehle
14 mins
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+4
26 mins
Don't let the facts stop you from telling a good story
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)
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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 :))
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.
--------------------------------------------------
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 :))
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
writeaway
9 mins
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Thanks writeaway: btw-love your handle. :))
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| agree |
ElenaW
1 hr
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Thanks for your confirmation, ElenaW. :))
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| agree |
Phoenix III
: excellent!
1 hr
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Thanks Phoenix III! :))
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| agree |
katsy
4 hrs
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Hi katsy: thanks for your confirmation! :))
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1 hr
Make it up as you go along, the truth is frequently boring.
Ma take on it
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