Behalf Quote by John Derbyshire
“The sympathies of a well-adjusted person can easily be aroused by the plight of strangers. Indeed, the skillful writer of a novel, a play, or an opera can engage our emotions on behalf of people who are not only strangers to us, but who do not even exist! And a person whose emotions cannot be so aroused is not behaving normally.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The World of the Novel, John Derbyshire, 2005
People naturally feel empathy when stories make strangers' suffering vivid; skilled writers can evoke strong emotions for imagined characters, and lacking this response is atypical.
In simple terms: Stories trigger empathy for strangers; lacking it is abnormal.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how narrative shapes empathy.
Themes
empathy
literature
human nature
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading fiction
- watching theater
- writing
- teaching empathy
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
psychology
emotional resonance
narrative power
Questions to Reflect On
- How do narratives expand our moral circle?
- Can empathy be taught without stories?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue empathy can be cultivated without fiction.
![“I couldn't ever act or think on behalf of what my father [[Albert Camus]] would have said or done. He's an artist, he considers himself an artist, and so he takes on the responsibility of speaking for those who are not given the means or the opportunity.” quote by Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/872/catherine-camus-12238_art_i-couldn-t-ever-act-or-think-on-behalf-o_48718.jpg)
