Who said “It is the story-teller's task to elicit sympathy and a measure of understanding for…”?

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Graham Greene. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceSpeech on receiving the Shakespeare Prize awarded by the University of Hamburg, Germany (1969)

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“It is the story-teller's task to elicit sympathy and a measure of understanding for those who lie outside the boundaries of State approval.”
— Graham Greene
VerifiedSpeech on receiving the Shakespeare Prize awarded by the University of Hamburg, Germany (1969) · evidenceLiterature
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Speech on receiving the Shakespeare Prize awarded by the University of Hamburg, Germany (1969).

APA

Greene, G. (n.d.). It is the story-teller's task to elicit sympathy and a measure of understanding for those who lie outside the boundaries of State approval. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26941-it-is-the-story-tellers-task-to-elicit/

MLA

Greene, Graham. “It is the story-teller's task to elicit sympathy and a measure of understanding for those who lie outside the boundaries of State approval.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26941-it-is-the-story-tellers-task-to-elicit/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Greene, Graham. “It is the story-teller's task to elicit sympathy and a measure of understanding for those who lie outside the boundaries of State approval.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26941-it-is-the-story-tellers-task-to-elicit/.

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“If you have abandoned one faith, do not abandon all faith. There is always an alternative to the faith we lose. Or is it the same faith under another mask?”
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