I thought for a moment and decided, rather than delivering a whole speech on how stories can resonate, simply to share the ancient Jewish tale of the Naked Truth:

Truth, naked and cold, had been chased away from every door in the village. Her nakedness frightened the people.

When Parable found her, she was huddled in a corner, shivering and hungry. Parable, taking pity on her, picked her up and took her home. There she dressed Truth in Story, warmed her, and sent her out again. Clothed in Story, Truth knocked on the village doors once more and was warmly welcomed into people’s homes. They invited her to eat at their tables and warm herself by the hearth.

I received a faint round of applause, but that wasn’t what I was after. I hoped this story would convey much more than an explanation of how stories work. 

But whilst I was sharing it, something also happened to me. I always use this story to emphasise the importance of ‘wrapping’ the universal message in a story. After all, you want people to listen. At the panel discussion, however, that aspect was pushed into the background by the fact that this is about truth. That is the starting point of the story; in fact, in the version used above, it is even the very first word. That also makes it the core of the story.

Truth just doesn’t seem to matter much these days. It’s all about the story you tell. Naturally, we immediately think of that orange man who stands at the head of the largest Western country on the other side of the ocean. Or of our own politicians, for whom electoral gain takes precedence over the authentic story in most cases. That the truth is thereby violated? That is collateral damage in their eyes. Moreover, it is tempting, because for the time being it pays off. Electoral gains, money and power. 

But it is not collateral damage. By doing so, you are pulling the rug out from under our very existence and our society. Moreover, you are legitimising others to take liberties with that truth as well. Trust between people is built on the fact that we can rely on one another, that we share a truth. That trust is being eroded at a rapid pace.

Truth is and remains a difficult concept. For what is true? I do not believe in a single truth, but I do believe that together we can determine truths, thereby providing structure and stability to our lives.

Verifiable facts are important in this regard. So, science is important, and the aversion to academia among those who are not so keen on sticking strictly to the truth is therefore understandable. And extremely dangerous. 

I hope this message also resonated with my international audience yesterday. It starts with the truth, with the authentic story. You are then free to shape that as you wish, and yes… do so to reach the other person. It is then up to that other person to be convinced or not. But it is never the other way round, where the story must conceal a lack of truth and serves only to manipulate the listener for one’s own gain.