--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not for the first time, the thought…" description: "\"“Not for the first time, the thought occurred to Hirou that if he'd actually known he was going to be transported into a magical universe, informed he ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_fantasy_not-for-the-first-time-the-thought-occur_377019.png" --- # Not for the first time, the thought occurred to Hirou that… ![“Not for the first time, the thought occurred to Hirou that if he'd actually known he was going to be transported into a magical universe, informed he was the long-lost heir to the Throne of Bronze, handed the legendary Sword of Good, and told to fight evil, he would have spent less time reading…” quote by Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_fantasy_not-for-the-first-time-the-thought-occur_377019.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_fantasy_not-for-the-first-time-the-thought-occur_377019.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/eliezer-yudkowsky-1207_fantasy_not-for-the-first-time-the-thought-occur_377019.png) > ““Not for the first time, the thought occurred to Hirou that if he'd actually known he was going to be transported into a magical universe, informed he was the long-lost heir to the Throne of Bronze, handed the legendary Sword of Good, and told to fight evil, he would have spent less time reading fantasy novels. Joined the army, maybe. Taken fencing lessons, at least. If there was one thing that didn't prepare you for fantasy real life, it was sitting at home reading fantasy fiction.”” [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously points out that reading fantasy novels does not prepare one for real-world challenges, suggesting practical experience is more valuable. **In simple terms:** Fantasy reading doesn't teach real-life skills. Key Takeaway Gain real experience instead of only reading. Themes practicality learning experience Mood reflective light‑hearted Type advice humorous When to use this quote - military training - sports practice - hands‑on projects - career development Key Concepts skill acquisition real-world preparedness fiction vs reality Questions to Reflect On - What practical skills could replace your favorite hobby? - How can you balance imagination with real‑world preparation? A Different Perspective Reading alone can't replace active skill building. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Fantasy novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy-novels/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Maybe that’s why I like reading fantasy novels so much. The world in there is so much more interesting than mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rucy-ban/maybe-that-s-why-i-like-reading-fantasy-novels-so-much-the-world-in/) [Rucy Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rucy-ban/) > [The sentient beast has long been a staple of fantasy fiction and its antecedents in myth and folktale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/the-sentient-beast-has-long-been-a-staple-of-fantasy-fiction-and-its/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [Fantasy novels, I don't really gravitate to that part of the bookstore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/fantasy-novels-i-don-t-really-gravitate-to-that-part-of-the-bookstore/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [I've been familiar with western fantasy novels since I was a boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidetaka-miyazaki/i-ve-been-familiar-with-western-fantasy-novels-since-i-was-a-boy/) [Hidetaka Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidetaka-miyazaki/) > [I love fantasy. I grew up reading fantasy. But, I wanted to put a somewhat different spin on it. The whole trope of absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-love-fantasy-i-grew-up-reading-fantasy-but-i-wanted-to-put-a/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I love fantasy. I grew up reading fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-love-fantasy-i-grew-up-reading-fantasy/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I've always loved reading fantasy. I used to pick out all the books in the library that had the little unicorn sticker on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-ve-always-loved-reading-fantasy-i-used-to-pick-out-all-the-books-in/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Guess I've been reading too much fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/guess-i-ve-been-reading-too-much-fantasy/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [Read everything! Don't just read things that are in your comfort zone or things that you think you're already going to like. Experiment; try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/read-everything-don-t-just-read-things-that-are-in-your-comfort-zone/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you are going to write, say, fantasy - stop reading fantasy. You've already read too much. Read other things; read westerns, read history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/if-you-are-going-to-write-say-fantasy-stop-reading-fantasy-you-ve/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I started reading fantasy and science fiction and writing fantasy and science fiction when I was - when I started junior high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-started-reading-fantasy-and-science-fiction-and-writing-fantasy-and/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Lewis was a scholar and deeply spiritual man, so it is no surprise that all his characters have to face the complex nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-kirk/lewis-was-a-scholar-and-deeply-spiritual-man-so-it-is-no-surprise/) E.J. Kirk > [“Good fantasy fiction: ... explores real human conditions through fantastic metaphors which universalize the characters' individual experiences to speak personally to us all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-resnick/good-fantasy-fiction-explores-real-human-conditions-through-fantastic/) [Laura Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-resnick/) > [I would write light entertainment nonfiction pieces during the day, then come home and work on my fantasy fiction. It was very difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-would-write-light-entertainment-nonfiction-pieces-during-the-day/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“As I stated earlier, I do not believe there is anything inherently wrong with even the most overused elements of epic fantasy. Magic swords,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-austin/as-i-stated-earlier-i-do-not-believe-there-is-anything-inherently/) Alec Austin ## More by Eliezer Yudkowsky > [“But I really am Ravenclaw, you know, not Slytherin. I don't want to rule the universe. I just think it could be more sensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/but-i-really-am-ravenclaw-you-know-not-slytherin-i-don-t-want-to-rule/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“‎If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. For you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-you-regard-evidence-as-a-constraint-and-seek-to-free-yourself-you/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“I am not sure how to explain it, except that - truth matters to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-am-not-sure-how-to-explain-it-except-that-truth-matters-to-us/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I see little hope for democracy as an effective form of government, but I admire the poetry of how it makes its victims complicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-see-little-hope-for-democracy-as-an-effective-form-of-government/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“He really really really shouldn't have done that. Amazing how much more obvious that became one second after it was too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/he-really-really-really-shouldn-t-have-done-that-amazing-how-much/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I'm wondering if there's a spell to make lightning flash in the background whenever I make an ominous resolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-m-wondering-if-there-s-a-spell-to-make-lightning-flash-in-the/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“There’s a technique we use in our local rationalist cluster called “Is That Your True Rejection?”, and it works like this: Before you stake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/there-s-a-technique-we-use-in-our-local-rationalist-cluster-called-is/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Lonely dissent doesn't feel like going to school dressed in black. It feels like going to school wearing a clown suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/lonely-dissent-doesn-t-feel-like-going-to-school-dressed-in-black-it/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Knowing that Draco's hopeful face had probably been drilled into him by months of practice did not make it any less effective, Harry observed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/knowing-that-draco-s-hopeful-face-had-probably-been-drilled-into-him/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The strength of a theory is not what it allows, but what it prohibits; if you can invent an equally persuasive explanation for any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-strength-of-a-theory-is-not-what-it-allows-but-what-it-prohibits/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [It is triple ultra forbidden to respond to criticism with violence. There are a very few injunctions in the human art of rationality that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/it-is-triple-ultra-forbidden-to-respond-to-criticism-with-violence/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The human species was not born into a market economy. Bees won't sell you honey if you offer them an electronic funds transfer. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-human-species-was-not-born-into-a-market-economy-bees-won-t-sell/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Frigideiro! " said Hermione again from the desk next to him. Her water was solid ice and there were white crystals forming on the rim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/frigideiro-said-hermione-again-from-the-desk-next-to-him-her-water/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“And then Harry Potter had launched in to a speech that was inspiring, yet vague. A speech to the effect that Fred and George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-then-harry-potter-had-launched-in-to-a-speech-that-was-inspiring/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“And I know that I'd just make myself unhappy by comparing that reality to... something perfect that I built up in my imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-i-know-that-i-d-just-make-myself-unhappy-by-comparing-that/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) [Explore all 274 Eliezer Yudkowsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) ## More Fantasy quotes > [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/) [Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/) > [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. If you look at my films, few of them have that element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/i-avoided-nudity-unless-a-film-couldn-t-be-told-without-those-scenes/) [Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/) > [We don't make glamorous movies today. Everything now is very realistic, artistic - and depressing. When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [I like fantasy, but I don't live and breathe fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/i-like-fantasy-but-i-don-t-live-and-breathe-fantasy/) [Lauren Schmidt Hissrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/) > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I like to play people that are real, a real person, and then something that's interesting with that person. I think it's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/i-like-to-play-people-that-are-real-a-real-person-and-then-something/) [Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/) > [It's a hindrance in trying to get a serious acting role. The minute a producer has a script and my name comes up, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbi-benton/it-s-a-hindrance-in-trying-to-get-a-serious-acting-role-the-minute-a/) [Barbi Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbi-benton/) > [No one will ever write a fantasy novel better than The Hobbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-will-ever-write-a-fantasy-novel-better-than-the-hobbit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always loved sci-fi and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-ve-always-loved-sci-fi-and-fantasy/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) [Browse all 5,469 Fantasy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Not for the first time, the thought occurred to Hirou that if he'd actually known he was going to be transported into a magical universe, informed he was the long-lost heir to the Throne of Bronze, handed the legendary Sword of Good, and told to fight evil, he would have spent less time reading fantasy novels. Joined the army, maybe. Taken fencing lessons, at least. 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