--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fiction is based on reality unless you're…" description: "\"Fiction is based on reality unless you're a fairytale artist.\" — Hunter S. Thompson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/hunter-s-thompson-278_art_fiction-is-based-on-reality-unless-you-r_2571251.jpg" --- # Fiction is based on reality unless you're a fairytale… ![“Fiction is based on reality unless you're a fairytale artist.” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/hunter-s-thompson-278_art_fiction-is-based-on-reality-unless-you-r_2571251.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/hunter-s-thompson-278_art_fiction-is-based-on-reality-unless-you-r_2571251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/hunter-s-thompson-278_art_fiction-is-based-on-reality-unless-you-r_2571251.jpg) > “Fiction is based on reality unless you're a fairytale artist.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fiction mirrors reality unless the author chooses fantasy. **In simple terms:** Fiction reflects real life unless fantastical. Key Takeaway Balance imagination with truth. Themes literature reality creativity Mood irreverent playful Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - journalism - film scripts Key Concepts storytelling political satire Questions to Reflect On - When does fiction become escapism? - How do you ground imagination? A Different Perspective Pure fantasy can detach from truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Fairytale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairytale/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not saying 'The Godfather' trilogy was bad - because it was brilliant - but that was fiction. It was based on reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vincent/i-m-not-saying-the-godfather-trilogy-was-bad-because-it-was-brilliant/) [Frank Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vincent/) > [Fiction is based on reality unless you're a fairy-tale artist, you have to get your knowledge of life from somewhere. You have to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/fiction-is-based-on-reality-unless-you-re-a-fairy-tale-artist-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [All fiction is based on truth - 'Madame Bovary' is based on a true story!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/all-fiction-is-based-on-truth-madame-bovary-is-based-on-a-true-story/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [Science Fiction is not just about the future of space ships travelling to other planets, it is fiction based on science and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/science-fiction-is-not-just-about-the-future-of-space-ships/) [Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/) > [I was really interested in doing a really science fiction-based story because it's something I feel like I hadn't done yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-morgan/i-was-really-interested-in-doing-a-really-science-fiction-based-story/) [Lindsey Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-morgan/) > [It is true that some of my fiction was based on actual events. But the events took place after the fiction was written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/it-is-true-that-some-of-my-fiction-was-based-on-actual-events-but-the/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“I have tread all three of his books and they held me spellbound interesting story. Its fiction based on fact...mmm I like!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-alvin/i-have-tread-all-three-of-his-books-and-they-held-me-spellbound/) Harold Alvin > [My fiction is based on both my own experience transformed, altered, juggled and changed to suit the demands of composition, character, and plot. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-major/my-fiction-is-based-on-both-my-own-experience-transformed-altered/) [Clarence Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-major/) > [With fiction, you are creating an imaginary world. And it can be a very mechanical process. In a fictional film, you create the characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-khalil/with-fiction-you-are-creating-an-imaginary-world-and-it-can-be-a-very/) [Mano Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mano-khalil/) > [“A life of fiction based on fact”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-life-of-fiction-based-on-fact/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Good science fiction is always based in contemporary truths. One of the themes is the overextension of credit, the nature of being indentured to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/good-science-fiction-is-always-based-in-contemporary-truths-one-of/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [It's funny because when I was growing up, I was really into science fiction and fantasy as a kid. And, when I first became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-orloff/it-s-funny-because-when-i-was-growing-up-i-was-really-into-science/) John Orloff > [Good science fiction is always based in contemporary truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/good-science-fiction-is-always-based-in-contemporary-truths/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [So much of what I write in fiction is based on true stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kurlansky/so-much-of-what-i-write-in-fiction-is-based-on-true-stories/) [Mark Kurlansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kurlansky/) > [“All fiction is based on some form of reality—otherwise we would never have the inspiration or knowledge to dream up the realistic situations we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-folsom/all-fiction-is-based-on-some-form-of-reality-otherwise-we-would-never/) Rene Folsom ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fiction is based on reality unless you're a fairytale artist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hunter S. 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