--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a document in every novel in the…" description: "\"There is a document in every novel in the world. Even in the most fantastic novel, even in science fiction, there is a documentary side. But, this side..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bff/amos-oz-1478_books_there-is-a-document-in-every-novel-in-th_2298307.png" --- # There is a document in every novel in the world. Even in… ![“There is a document in every novel in the world. Even in the most fantastic novel, even in science fiction, there is a documentary side. But, this side is not the crux of the matter.” quote by Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bff/amos-oz-1478_books_there-is-a-document-in-every-novel-in-th_2298307.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bff/amos-oz-1478_books_there-is-a-document-in-every-novel-in-th_2298307.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bff/amos-oz-1478_books_there-is-a-document-in-every-novel-in-th_2298307.png) > “There is a document in every novel in the world. Even in the most fantastic novel, even in science fiction, there is a documentary side. But, this side is not the crux of the matter.” [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Every novel contains a factual layer that grounds its story, even in fantastical settings. **In simple terms:** Stories always have a real‑world element behind the fantasy. Key Takeaway Recognize the documentary side of any narrative. Themes literature reality storytelling Mood analytical reflective Type interpretive critical When to use this quote - reading analysis - creative writing - literary criticism Key Concepts documentary aspect fictional framing Questions to Reflect On - How does the documentary side influence your interpretation? - Can you identify the factual layer in a favorite fantasy? A Different Perspective The factual layer may be subtle and easily overlooked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Crux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crux/) [Document Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/document-novel-3856105/) [Documentaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentaries/) [Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary/) [Documentary Crux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documentary-crux-5426693/) [Documents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documents/) [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Documentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-documentary-468594/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think a novel's main donation, main gift, is the document. The document is there, but a novel goes beyond documentation. It goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/i-don-t-think-a-novel-s-main-donation-main-gift-is-the-document-the/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [There is a document in every novel in the world. Even in the most fantastic novel, even in science fiction, there is a documentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/there-is-a-document-in-every-novel-in-the-world-even-in-the-most/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Most people look at a feature film and say, "It's just a movie." For me there is no border or wall between fiction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-khalil/most-people-look-at-a-feature-film-and-say-it-s-just-a-movie-for-me/) [Mano Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mano-khalil/) > [It's difficult to make movies. For me it was easier, as a refugee in Switzerland, to make documentary films, because I didn't need a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-khalil/it-s-difficult-to-make-movies-for-me-it-was-easier-as-a-refugee-in/) [Mano Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mano-khalil/) > [Films are always a fiction, not documentary. Even a documentary is a kind of fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/films-are-always-a-fiction-not-documentary-even-a-documentary-is-a/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [When I think about the new film, I think I can do whatever I want with fiction, but the more documentary it is, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/when-i-think-about-the-new-film-i-think-i-can-do-whatever-i-want-with/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I think I can do whatever I want with fiction, but the more documentary it is, the better it will be because that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-think-i-can-do-whatever-i-want-with-fiction-but-the-more/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Actually, documentary pictures include every subject in the world - good, bad, indifferent. I have yet to see a fine photograph which is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-abbott/actually-documentary-pictures-include-every-subject-in-the-world-good/) [Berenice Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-abbott/) > [I'm still producing scripted features, and I am already working on a new documentary project with Norman Lear and Lara Bergthold. It is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-goldstein-knowlton/i-m-still-producing-scripted-features-and-i-am-already-working-on-a/) [Linda Goldstein Knowlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-goldstein-knowlton/) > [I suppose the primary intention of a documentary photographer is to document facts. My work often does this but it is not the primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-billingham/i-suppose-the-primary-intention-of-a-documentary-photographer-is-to/) [Richard Billingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-billingham/) > [To me documentary photography means making a picture so that the viewer doesn’t think about the man who made the picture. At its esthetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-siskind/to-me-documentary-photography-means-making-a-picture-so-that-the/) [Aaron Siskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-siskind/) > [Documentary: That’s a sophisticated and misleading word. And not really clear… The term should be documentary style… You see, a document has use, whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-evans/documentary-that-s-a-sophisticated-and-misleading-word-and-not-really/) [Walker Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-evans/) > [Money was the crux. Raising money to pay the cost of war was to cause more damage to 14th century society than the physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/money-was-the-crux-raising-money-to-pay-the-cost-of-war-was-to-cause/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [Poets and beggars, musicians and prophets, warriors and scoundrels, all creatures of that unbridled reality, we have had to ask but little of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/poets-and-beggars-musicians-and-prophets-warriors-and-scoundrels-all/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [“We're going to die. We're going to die..." "We're not going to die," he barks. "Do YOU want to drive?" My head shakes violently.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-reece/we-re-going-to-die-we-re-going-to-die-we-re-not-going-to-die-he-barks/) [Julie Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-reece/) ## More by Amos Oz > [I find the family the most mysterious and fascinating institution in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/i-find-the-family-the-most-mysterious-and-fascinating-institution-in/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“All the profits that Papa made by the sweat of his brow from his mill she extorted from him and spent the lot on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/all-the-profits-that-papa-made-by-the-sweat-of-his-brow-from-his-mill/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Nobody ever predicted, a week before President Sadat came to Jerusalem in 1977, that his arrival would be the beginning of a peace process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/nobody-ever-predicted-a-week-before-president-sadat-came-to-jerusalem/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Every country in the world should follow the example of President Trump and move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. But simultaneously, there should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/every-country-in-the-world-should-follow-the-example-of-president/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Actually, who hasn't been through the ghastly experience of sitting in front of a blank page, with its toothless mouth grinning at you: Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/actually-who-hasn-t-been-through-the-ghastly-experience-of-sitting-in/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [I think loathing begets fanaticism, and in the end, loathing begets hatred and violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/i-think-loathing-begets-fanaticism-and-in-the-end-loathing-begets/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Literature is about telling stories. Now, the gift of literature is that, in some lucky cases, reading a novel or a story makes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/literature-is-about-telling-stories-now-the-gift-of-literature-is/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Very often, fanaticism begins at home. It begins inside the family. It begins with the urge to change our kin, to change our beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/very-often-fanaticism-begins-at-home-it-begins-inside-the-family-it/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [When I need to take a side, I write a newspaper article and I tell my government, "You should not do that, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/when-i-need-to-take-a-side-i-write-a-newspaper-article-and-i-tell-my/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [We have to carry through to the next day and hope that we will be okay tomorrow as we are today and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/we-have-to-carry-through-to-the-next-day-and-hope-that-we-will-be/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Trump is many things. He is pampered. He is an immature man. He is a teenager craving unconditional, endless love from everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/trump-is-many-things-he-is-pampered-he-is-an-immature-man-he-is-a/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-at-all-to-keep-a-dream-perfect/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“Judaism and Christianity, and Islam too, all drip honeyed words of love and mercy so long as they do not have access to handcuffs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/judaism-and-christianity-and-islam-too-all-drip-honeyed-words-of-love/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Never cut loose from your longings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/never-cut-loose-from-your-longings/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [If people are pro-Israel, they are pro-Israel one-hundred-and-twenty percent. If they are anti-Israel or pro-Palestinian, they tend to be pro-Palestinian one-hundred-and-twenty percent. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/if-people-are-pro-israel-they-are-pro-israel-one-hundred-and-twenty/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) [Explore all 223 Amos Oz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a document in every novel in the world. Even in the most fantastic novel, even in science fiction, there is a documentary side. 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