"It is not the voice that commands the story: it is the ear"

This quote by Italo Calvino talks to the power of the listener in storytelling. It suggests that it is not the storyteller who is in control of the story, but rather the listener. The writer might have the words and the voice to inform the story, but it is the listener who analyzes and offers implying to the story. The listener is the one who decides how the story is understood and kept in mind. This quote emphasizes the significance of the listener in storytelling, and suggests that the listener is the one who ultimately forms the story. It likewise suggests that the writer should be mindful of the listener's perspective and take into account their interpretation of the story. By doing so, the storyteller can make sure that the story is understood and kept in mind in the way they intended.