---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: novels have the power to transport you…"
description: "\"“novels have the power to transport you into another existence, and see the world from a different point of view.”\" — Ella Berthoud"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/ella-berthoud-69432_books_novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-i_1992377.jpg"
---

#  novels have the power to transport you into another…

![“novels have the power to transport you into another existence, and see the world from a different point of view.” quote by Ella Berthoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/ella-berthoud-69432_books_novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-i_1992377.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/ella-berthoud-69432_books_novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-i_1992377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/ella-berthoud-69432_books_novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-i_1992377.jpg)

> ““novels have the power to transport you into another existence, and see the world from a different point of view.””

Ella Berthoud

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Reading fiction expands empathy by exposing us to diverse perspectives

**In simple terms:** Novels let us experience other lives and viewpoints

Key Takeaway

Read widely to broaden understanding and empathy

Themes

literature empathy perspective growth

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

reflective educational

When to use this quote

- education curricula
- book clubs
- creative writing workshops
- diversity training

Key Concepts

narrative theory psychology of reading cultural studies

Questions to Reflect On

- What novel changed your view of the world?
- How can you apply insights from reading to real life?

A Different Perspective

Reading alone may not change behavior without reflection

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Different point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-point-of-view/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/)

## Related quotes

> [At different times in my life I met God from a different point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-bone-burnett/at-different-times-in-my-life-i-met-god-from-a-different-point-of-view/)

[T Bone Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-bone-burnett/)

> [Everyone have a different point of view for improvement itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/everyone-have-a-different-point-of-view-for-improvement-itself/)

Mak\_786

> [In fact, I would defend to the death their right to express a different point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/in-fact-i-would-defend-to-the-death-their-right-to-express-a/)

[Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/)

> [It's funny: everybody is going to have a little bit of different point of views when it comes to parenting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haylie-duff/it-s-funny-everybody-is-going-to-have-a-little-bit-of-different-point/)

[Haylie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haylie-duff/)

> [Distance is a problem now, but if we look at it from a different point of view, we will know this is the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-problem-now-but-if-we-look-at-it-from-a-different-point/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I always tell women to use the fact that we offer a different point of view in a room full of men, to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-to-use-the-fact-that-we-offer-a-different-point/)

[Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/)

> [When you do something in a nonviolent way, people will die and there will be casualties. But you're taking a different point of view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shadyac/when-you-do-something-in-a-nonviolent-way-people-will-die-and-there/)

[Tom Shadyac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shadyac/)

> [I do have a library of events I can talk about and I always expect to find a different point of view on it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/i-do-have-a-library-of-events-i-can-talk-about-and-i-always-expect-to/)

[Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/)

> [It is always good to take a break and then come back with more strength. You can access things from a different point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/it-is-always-good-to-take-a-break-and-then-come-back-with-more/)

[Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/)

> [I do represent a different aesthetic to drag, I have a different point of view with everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-zahara-benet/i-do-represent-a-different-aesthetic-to-drag-i-have-a-different-point/)

[BeBe Zahara Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-zahara-benet/)

> [If you tailor your news viewing so that you only get one point of view, well of course you're going to think somebody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jennings/if-you-tailor-your-news-viewing-so-that-you-only-get-one-point-of/)

[Peter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jennings/)

> [“Only those who'd changed could see things from a different point of view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/only-those-who-d-changed-could-see-things-from-a-different-point-of/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [Like everybody, I've had a lot of pain in my life and I'm a work in progress. You must have a true desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/like-everybody-i-ve-had-a-lot-of-pain-in-my-life-and-i-m-a-work-in/)

[Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/)

> [One of the exhilarating parts of falling in love is discovering new things about one another, and seeing the world from a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/one-of-the-exhilarating-parts-of-falling-in-love-is-discovering-new/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [It's a different point of view on the world and it's different issues and it's important. It's healthy to have both, and more and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-labaki/it-s-a-different-point-of-view-on-the-world-and-it-s-different-issues/)

[Nadine Labaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-labaki/)

## More by Ella Berthoud

> [“Whatever your ailment, our prescriptions are simple: a novel (or two), to be read at regular intervals. Some treatments will lead to a complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-berthoud/whatever-your-ailment-our-prescriptions-are-simple-a-novel-or-two-to/)

Ella Berthoud

> [“One sheds one’s sicknesses in books — repeats and presents again one’s emotions, to be master of them.’ DH Lawrence (The Letters of DH…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-berthoud/one-sheds-one-s-sicknesses-in-books-repeats-and-presents-again-one-s-3/)

Ella Berthoud

> [“In many ways sci-fi is a natural progression from the magical worlds we inhabited as children. Speculative fiction opens up parallel universes to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-berthoud/in-many-ways-sci-fi-is-a-natural-progression-from-the-magical-worlds/)

Ella Berthoud

Explore all 4 Ella Berthoud quotes

## 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

> [“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

> [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": "“novels have the power to transport you into another existence, and see the world from a different point of view.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ella Berthoud"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-berthoud/novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-into-another-existence-and-see/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Books"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-berthoud/novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-into-another-existence-and-see/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/ella-berthoud-69432_books_novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-i_1992377.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/ella-berthoud-69432_books_novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-i_1992377.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/ella-berthoud-69432_books_novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-i_1992377.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“novels have the power to transport you into another existence, and see the world from a different point of…” — Ella Berthoud",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ella Berthoud",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-berthoud/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“novels have the power to transport...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-berthoud/novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-into-another-existence-and-see/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-berthoud/novels-have-the-power-to-transport-you-into-another-existence-and-see/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
