Doe Quote by George Saunders
“I think if someone could demonstrate to me that fiction did no good, I would still do it, because I think it does good for me.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2014
The speaker believes personal enjoyment of fiction outweighs any lack of societal benefit, so they continue reading for personal good.
In simple terms: I read fiction because it benefits me personally, regardless of its broader impact.
Key Takeaway
Read for personal enrichment.
Themes
personal growth
literature
joy
Mood
reflective
content
thoughtful
Type
personal
inspirational
When to use this quote
- relaxation
- creative inspiration
- emotional processing
- intellectual curiosity
- social empathy
Key Concepts
subjective value
self‑care
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fiction enrich your inner life?
- What personal needs does reading fulfill?
A Different Perspective
If fiction lacks societal benefit, personal growth may be limited.
![“[Jack] Kerouac was writing fiction. What he did when he wrote about me...he made me out with Russian Countesses and Swiss accounts and other things I didn't have or didn't happen and so on.” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/894/william-s-burroughs-528_accounts_jack-kerouac-was-writing-fiction-what-he_2419652.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
