--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is really no fiction or…" description: "\"There is really no fiction or non-fiction; there is only narrative. One mode of perception has no greater claim on the truth than the other; that the d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/e-l-doctorow-4627_character_there-is-really-no-fiction-or-non-fictio_2614003.png" --- # There is really no fiction or non-fiction; there is only… ![“There is really no fiction or non-fiction; there is only narrative. One mode of perception has no greater claim on the truth than the other; that the distance has perhaps to do with distance - narrative distance - from the characters; it has to do with the kind of voice that is talking, but it…” quote by E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/e-l-doctorow-4627_character_there-is-really-no-fiction-or-non-fictio_2614003.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/e-l-doctorow-4627_character_there-is-really-no-fiction-or-non-fictio_2614003.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/e-l-doctorow-4627_character_there-is-really-no-fiction-or-non-fictio_2614003.png) > “There is really no fiction or non-fiction; there is only narrative. One mode of perception has no greater claim on the truth than the other; that the distance has perhaps to do with distance - narrative distance - from the characters; it has to do with the kind of voice that is talking, but it certainly hasn't to do with the common distribution between fact and imagination.” [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All writing is narrative; truth depends on perspective and narrative distance, not fact vs. imagination. **In simple terms:** Story shapes perception of truth. Key Takeaway Consider narrative lens. Themes truth perception narrative Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - fiction analysis - media criticism - education Key Concepts literary theory philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does narrative distance affect belief? - Can we trust any narrative? A Different Perspective May blur lines between fact and fiction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Distance Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance-narrative-2052907/) [Distribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distribution/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-narrative-2052905/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Narrative Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative-distance-2052904/) [Non fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-fiction/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Really Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-fiction-2052906/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [The close-up has no equivalent in a narrative fashioned of words. 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