"Now you know the rest of the story"
About this Quote
It works because it mimics revelation without sounding sanctimonious. "Now" creates immediacy, as if the truth has just arrived, hot off the wire. "You know" flatters the audience with competence and shared ownership, turning information into belonging. "The rest" suggests both completeness and omission, quietly accusing earlier narratives (news briefs, gossip, received wisdom) of being partial at best. And "story" is the slyest word of all: it admits that even facts come packaged, shaped for suspense and payoff.
The cultural context is mid-century American mass media, when radio cultivated intimacy and authority in the same breath. Harvey's format - ordinary setup, delayed twist, then the moral click - fits a nation raised on broadcast certainty but hungry for human texture. It's also a brand stamp: a promise that journalism can be entertaining without admitting it's entertainment. The line leaves you feeling smarter, but also gently managed, reminded that whoever controls the "rest" controls what counts as understanding.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
|---|---|
| Source | Encyclopaedia Britannica entry "Paul Harvey" — biographical article noting his signature closing line "And now you know...the rest of the story" from his radio segments. |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Harvey, Paul. (2026, January 17). Now you know the rest of the story. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/now-you-know-the-rest-of-the-story-57998/
Chicago Style
Harvey, Paul. "Now you know the rest of the story." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/now-you-know-the-rest-of-the-story-57998/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Now you know the rest of the story." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/now-you-know-the-rest-of-the-story-57998/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.



