--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ‎Literature is the equivalent of the…" description: "\"“‎Literature is the equivalent of the climate scientist’s computer simulations: set up some new starting conditions, run the whole complicated process ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/alison-gopnik-4163_books_literature-is-the-equivalent-of-the-clim_368236.png" --- # ‎Literature is the equivalent of the climate scientist’s… ![“‎Literature is the equivalent of the climate scientist’s computer simulations: set up some new starting conditions, run the whole complicated process and see what happens.” quote by Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/alison-gopnik-4163_books_literature-is-the-equivalent-of-the-clim_368236.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/alison-gopnik-4163_books_literature-is-the-equivalent-of-the-clim_368236.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/alison-gopnik-4163_books_literature-is-the-equivalent-of-the-clim_368236.png) > ““‎Literature is the equivalent of the climate scientist’s computer simulations: set up some new starting conditions, run the whole complicated process and see what happens.”” [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Literature functions like a simulation, altering initial conditions to explore complex outcomes, mirroring scientific modeling. **In simple terms:** Stories are experiments that test ideas. Key Takeaway Use narrative to explore possibilities. Themes creativity simulation storytelling Mood inquisitive analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing fiction - educational design - scenario planning Key Concepts literary theory science philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What story could you run as a simulation? - How does changing a character’s start affect the plot? A Different Perspective Narratives may oversimplify real-world complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Theory provides the maps that turn an uncoordinated set of experiments or computer simulations into a cumulative exploration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-goldberg/theory-provides-the-maps-that-turn-an-uncoordinated-set-of/) David E. Goldberg > [Any climate scientist will tell you that an unusually warm month - or even a whole warm winter - doesn't mean much. 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One way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-gopnik/philosophers-and-psychologists-have-long-puzzled-over-the-question-of/) [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) > [Adults often assume that most learning is the result of teaching and that exploratory, spontaneous learning is unusual. But actually, spontaneous learning is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-gopnik/adults-often-assume-that-most-learning-is-the-result-of-teaching-and/) [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) > [Adults tend to think they have much free will. Kids younger than six are less sure. They may be more realistic!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-gopnik/adults-tend-to-think-they-have-much-free-will-kids-younger-than-six/) [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) > [From an evolutionary perspective children are, literally, designed to learn. Childhood is a special period of protected immaturity. 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People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. 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