---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, fantasy must be about something…"
description: "\"“For me, fantasy must be about something, otherwise it's foolishness... ultimately it must be about human beings, it must be about the human condition,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/george-clayton-johnson-239439_fantasy-literature_for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-o_1440187.jpg"
---

#  For me, fantasy must be about something, otherwise it's…

![“For me, fantasy must be about something, otherwise it's foolishness... ultimately it must be about human beings, it must be about the human condition, it must be another look at infinity, it must be another way of seeing the paradox of existence.” quote by George Clayton Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/george-clayton-johnson-239439_fantasy-literature_for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-o_1440187.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/george-clayton-johnson-239439_fantasy-literature_for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-o_1440187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/george-clayton-johnson-239439_fantasy-literature_for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-o_1440187.jpg)

> ““For me, fantasy must be about something, otherwise it's foolishness... ultimately it must be about human beings, it must be about the human condition, it must be another look at infinity, it must be another way of seeing the paradox of existence.””

George Clayton Johnson

## About This Quote

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

Fantasy must reflect human experience and explore existential paradoxes, not mere escapism.

**In simple terms:** Fantasy should explore humanity.

Key Takeaway

Create meaningful speculative stories.

Themes

fantasy humanity existence paradox literature

Mood

inquisitive creative

Type

theoretical literary

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- film scripting
- educational curricula

Key Concepts

philosophy creative writing psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What human truths can fantasy reveal?
- How do paradoxes enrich storytelling?

A Different Perspective

Pure escapism may lack depth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Foolishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolishness/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Literary theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-theory/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/)

## Related quotes

> [“The enduring rapture with magic and fable has always struck me as latently childish and somehow sexless (and thus also related to childlessness).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-enduring-rapture-with-magic-and-fable-has-always-struck-me-as/)

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

> [“Elephant wanted no part of Rupert Panther. Rather, he wanted Rupert Panther to have no part of him, which was a realistic concern because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-a-young/elephant-wanted-no-part-of-rupert-panther-rather-he-wanted-rupert/)

T.A. Young

> [“I was pregnable once,” Merill thought to contribute. She remembered how troublesome it made getting around, having a ripe belly. Couldn’t roll properly, couldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-drake/i-was-pregnable-once-merill-thought-to-contribute-she-remembered-how/)

[Darrell Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-drake/)

> [“What exists is real; therefore it is tragic, since whatever lives must die. Only fantasy, the vapors rising from sheer nonsense, can now excite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-vance/what-exists-is-real-therefore-it-is-tragic-since-whatever-lives-must/)

[Jack Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-vance/)

> [“You are free to make your own choices, but ultimately your choices make you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-free-to-make-your-own-choices-but-ultimately-your-choices/)

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

> [“To the jaded eye, all vampires seem alike, but they are wonderful in their versatility. Some come to life in moonlight, others are killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-auerbach/to-the-jaded-eye-all-vampires-seem-alike-but-they-are-wonderful-in/)

Nina Auerbach

> [Literary theories will not make a writer write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-wier/literary-theories-will-not-make-a-writer-write/)

Allen Wier

> [I read a lot of literary theory when I was in graduate school, especially about novels, and the best book I ever read about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-read-a-lot-of-literary-theory-when-i-was-in-graduate-school/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

> [Any attempt to define literary theory in terms of a distinctive method is doomed to failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/any-attempt-to-define-literary-theory-in-terms-of-a-distinctive/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [I do not know whether to be delighted or outraged by the fact that Literary Theory: An Introduction was the subject of a study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/i-do-not-know-whether-to-be-delighted-or-outraged-by-the-fact-that/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [“Inez and I had been in the same book club for a while. She once told me that literary theory was reading without imagination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/inez-and-i-had-been-in-the-same-book-club-for-a-while-she-once-told/)

[John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/)

> [If the masses are not thrown a few novels , they may react by throwing up a few barricades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/if-the-masses-are-not-thrown-a-few-novels-they-may-react-by-throwing/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [“The literary text seems like "a fortified medieval town –foreigners and outsiders are repelled, or allowed in only after rigorous checks, but within all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-hawthorn/the-literary-text-seems-like-a-fortified-medieval-town-foreigners-and/)

Jeremy Hawthorn

> [“The ambition of much of today's literary theory seems to be to find ways to read literature without imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simic/the-ambition-of-much-of-today-s-literary-theory-seems-to-be-to-find/)

[Charles Simic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simic/)

> [Literary theory has become a parody of science, generating its own arcane jargon. In the process, tragically, it discourages love of literature for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/literary-theory-has-become-a-parody-of-science-generating-its-own/)

[Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/)

## 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": "“For me, fantasy must be about something, otherwise it's foolishness... ultimately it must be about human beings, it must be about the human condition, it must be another look at infinity, it must be another way of seeing the paradox of existence.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Clayton Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clayton-johnson/for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-otherwise-it-s-foolishness/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fantasy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clayton-johnson/for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-otherwise-it-s-foolishness/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/george-clayton-johnson-239439_fantasy-literature_for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-o_1440187.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/george-clayton-johnson-239439_fantasy-literature_for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-o_1440187.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/george-clayton-johnson-239439_fantasy-literature_for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-o_1440187.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For me, fantasy must be about something, otherwise it's foolishness... ultimately it must be about human…” — George Clayton Johnson",
                "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": "George Clayton Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clayton-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“For me, fantasy must be about...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clayton-johnson/for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-otherwise-it-s-foolishness/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clayton-johnson/for-me-fantasy-must-be-about-something-otherwise-it-s-foolishness/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```