What does 'don't let the facts ruin a good story' mean?

It basically means that sometimes you should focus on the entertainment or appeal of a story rather than getting too hung up on whether everything is strictly factual.

It could imply that Hearst (perhaps a media entity or person named Hearst) has an attitude of not allowing facts to disrupt a story that they consider 'good'. Maybe they prioritize the narrative or entertainment value over strict factual accuracy.

He meant that sometimes in storytelling, strict adherence to facts can limit creativity. A good story might be more engaging if it bends or ignores some facts for the sake of entertainment or making a point.

It means that sometimes, for the sake of a great narrative, we shouldn't let the cold, hard facts get in the way. For example, in fictional stories, we often suspend our disbelief and accept the made - up world. If we were to constantly apply real - world logic and facts, it could destroy the magic of the story.

This statement suggests that stories can be a form of escapism or entertainment. We might be more interested in the narrative flow, the characters, and the overall mood of a story. If we always insisted on strict factualness, many great stories, such as fairy tales or science - fiction epics, would lose their magic. Facts can be constraining, while a good story allows for creativity and imagination to run wild.

Hearst could be a reference to the Hearst Corporation, a large media company. They have a long history in media, so perhaps in this context, it's related to their practices or an attitude that was once prevalent within the company.

It means don't spoil a great war story. Maybe by adding false details, or over - analyzing it in a way that takes away from its essence.

The quote implies that the pursuit of pure truth might make a story less appealing. A storyteller can use imagination and embellishments to create a narrative that entertains or has a greater impact, rather than being limited by strict factual accuracy.

One way is to focus more on the emotions and themes of the story rather than strict facts. For example, if you're writing a love story set in a fictional world, you don't need to worry about the exact geographical or scientific facts of that world.

Basically, 'never let the facts spoil a good story' is about the idea that a story's allure can be more important than its factual basis. In journalism, this would be unethical, but in creative writing or casual storytelling, it can be different. Think of tall tales or legends. These often deviate from the facts but are still great stories. People might change details or events to fit the mood or message they want to convey in their story. For instance, a fisherman might exaggerate the size of the fish he caught to make his fishing story more exciting for his friends at the pub.