Empathize Quote by Deborah Harkness
“I really love helping students and helping them empathize with people who lived a really long time ago. That's one of the highlights of working in fiction.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast on Historical Fiction, 2023
The author finds joy in guiding students to empathize with people from distant pasts, highlighting the educational value of fiction.
In simple terms: Teaching history through stories builds empathy.
Key Takeaway
Use storytelling to connect past and present.
Themes
education
empathy
history
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
educational
literary
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- museum tours
- writing workshops
- literary festivals
Key Concepts
pedagogy
narrative therapy
historical imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- What stories best bridge past and present?
- How can we ensure accuracy while fostering empathy?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue fiction can distort historical facts.
![“I can empathize with President [George Bush]. I know what it feels like having a young guy waiting around for you to keel over.” quote by Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f79/johnny-carson-2644_feels_i-can-empathize-with-president-george-bu_29826.jpg)
![“Our best hope for the future [...] lies in an appreciation of the fact that, even if we don’t empathize with distant strangers, their lives have the same value as the lives of those we love.” quote by Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/630/paul-bloom-3720_appreciation_our-best-hope-for-the-future-lies-in-an_177200.jpg)
