Literature gives us models of living human beings who may…
“Literature gives us models of living human beings who may not agree with us and even be our enemies. D. H. Lawrence said that the purpose of literature was to expand our sympathies. To be a human being is to be in a state of tension between your appetites and your dreams, and the social realities around you and your obligations to your fellow man. And this conflict cannot be easily reconciled. The tension is always there as a kind of a pain in the human condition.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Literature lets us empathize with diverse lives, revealing tensions between desires, duties, and society, which fuels human pain and growth.
In simple terms: Stories broaden empathy and highlight inner conflict.
Key Takeaway
Seek varied perspectives to understand others.
Themes
empathy
conflict
human condition
literature
social reality
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- reading diverse books
- discussing controversial ideas
- teaching empathy
- writing character studies
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does literature change your view of strangers?
- What tensions in your life reflect those in stories?
A Different Perspective
May idealize conflict without offering solutions.