Believe Quote by H. G. Wells
“One believes in Stephen Dedalus as one believes in few characters in fiction.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “On the Novel”, 1905
Belief in fictional characters mirrors belief in real ideas.
In simple terms: Fiction reflects belief.
Key Takeaway
Value ideas over characters.
Themes
fiction
belief
ideas
Mood
reflective
intellectual
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading
- teaching
- creative writing
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
literary analysis
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do characters shape your worldview?
- What real ideas do you hold?
A Different Perspective
May over‑identify with fiction.
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![“[A novel by Henry James] is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently place, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string.” quote by H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/699/h-g-wells-1122_altars_a-novel-by-henry-james-is-like-a-church_158550.jpg)
