A legend is a story passed by word of mouth from generation to generation. Legends live because of the truths in them. They are important parts of the culture of a people, perhaps because they help us understand the questions and concerns of related communities. American writer Stephen Vincent Benet said, "It always seems to me that legends and yarns and folk tales are as much a part of the real history of a country as proclamations, provisos, and constitutional amendments." A legend is a story that has lived for generations. You are often  able to add to legends more parts and more truths because people will tell you more of the story.