Abuse of power Quote by Amy Lane
““Why would I what?” Will asked, wanting another bite of his burger. “Why would you risk your job teaching some stupid fantasy book?” “Because alternative universe literature promotes critical thinking, imagination, empathy, and creative problem solving. Children who are fluent in fiction are more able to interpret nonfiction and are better at understanding things like basic cause and effect, sociology, politics, and the impact of historical events on current events. Many of our technological advances were imagined by science fiction writers before the tech became available to create them, and many of today’s inventors were inspired by science fiction and fantasy to make a world more like the world in the story. Many of today’s political conundrums were anticipated by science fiction writers like Orwell, Huxley, and Heinlein, and sci-fi and fantasy tackle ethical problems in a way that allows people to analyze the problem with some emotional remove, which is important because the high emotions are often what lead to violence. Works like Harry Potter tackle the idea of abuse of power and—” Will stopped himself and swallowed. Everybody at the table, including Kenny, was staring at him in openmouthed surprise. “Anyway,” he said before taking a monster bite of his cooling hamburger on a sudden attack of nerves, “iss goomfer umf.” “It’s good for us,” Kenny translated, sounding a little stunned””
About This Quote
Source Film: Dialogue from a comedy sketch, unknown title
The speaker argues that reading fantasy and sci‑fi builds critical thinking, empathy, and problem‑solving skills, and helps people analyze real‑world issues with emotional distance.
In simple terms: Fantasy reading improves thinking and empathy.
Encourage reading speculative fiction.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- classroom discussions
- parental guidance
- book clubs
- creative workshops
- policy debates
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does speculative fiction change your view of real problems?
- Can imagination replace factual learning?
Some may view fantasy as escapism rather than useful knowledge.