--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You read about somebody, and doesn't…" description: "\"You read about somebody, and doesn't really matter whether or not they really exist - the point is that you get into them like real characters.\" — John..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-hartford-34003_character_you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-real_2691992.jpg" --- # You read about somebody, and doesn't really matter whether… ![“You read about somebody, and doesn't really matter whether or not they really exist - the point is that you get into them like real characters.” quote by John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-hartford-34003_character_you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-real_2691992.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-hartford-34003_character_you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-real_2691992.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-hartford-34003_character_you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-real_2691992.jpg) > “You read about somebody, and doesn't really matter whether or not they really exist - the point is that you get into them like real characters.” [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading about a fictional character lets us experience their life as if they were real. **In simple terms:** Fiction lets us live another's life. Key Takeaway Engage deeply with stories. Themes imagination empathy storytelling Mood immersive reflective Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - reading - creative writing - role‑play Key Concepts literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does this immersion affect your view of reality? - What benefits arise from treating characters as real? A Different Perspective May blur reality and fiction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-really-280707/) [Read Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-somebody-271939/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-characters-286665/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Really Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-exist-1251618/) ## Related quotes > [Of all the things that matter, that really and truly matter, working more efficiently and getting more done, is not one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dooley/of-all-the-things-that-matter-that-really-and-truly-matter-working/) [Mike Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dooley/) > [Once you're comfortable in your own skin and figure that out, and get to the point where you're like, 'It is who I am,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-pearson/once-you-re-comfortable-in-your-own-skin-and-figure-that-out-and-get/) [Adam Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-pearson/) > [Weight doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t. I mean, it does if you’re a model or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/weight-doesn-t-matter-it-really-doesn-t-i-mean-it-does-if-you-re-a/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“Remember, It doesn't matter what you can do, what really matters is what you will do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mestar-digital/remember-it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-can-do-what-really-matters-is/) [Mestar Digital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mestar-digital/) > [“there was this book I'd read by somebody whose name I couldn't remember and he had this expression 'sorrow floats”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-hayes/there-was-this-book-i-d-read-by-somebody-whose-name-i-couldn-t/) [Terry Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-hayes/) > [I try not to read my own books just because I would rather read somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orner/i-try-not-to-read-my-own-books-just-because-i-would-rather-read/) [Peter Orner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orner/) > [“Readers don't want to read about somebody else having powerful emotions. . . . Readers want to become somebody else for a few hours,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-ingermanson/readers-don-t-want-to-read-about-somebody-else-having-powerful/) [Randy Ingermanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-ingermanson/) > [If you read somebody's diary, you get what you deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/if-you-read-somebody-s-diary-you-get-what-you-deserve/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Why would I want to read something about somebody that's just a really nice, decent person who overcomes terrible trials? That's not how life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-janowitz/why-would-i-want-to-read-something-about-somebody-that-s-just-a/) [Tama Janowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-janowitz/) > [But why should I read what somebody else thinks of my life when I know the real story?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-connors/but-why-should-i-read-what-somebody-else-thinks-of-my-life-when-i/) [Jimmy Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-connors/) > [I wanted to create a game (EarthBound) with real characters; characters whom players would recognize in the people around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigesato-itoi/i-wanted-to-create-a-game-earthbound-with-real-characters-characters/) [Shigesato Itoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigesato-itoi/) > [We cannot judge either of the feelings or of the characters of men with perfect accuracy from their actions or their appearance in public;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/we-cannot-judge-either-of-the-feelings-or-of-the-characters-of-men/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [The most real characters in a great play are those who are so meticulously drawn that the audience could predict how many pairs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hassett/the-most-real-characters-in-a-great-play-are-those-who-are-so/) [Kevin Hassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hassett/) > [M\*A\*S\*H offered real characters and everybody identified with them because they had such soul. The humor was intelligent and it always assumed that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-swit/m-a-s-h-offered-real-characters-and-everybody-identified-with-them/) [Loretta Swit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-swit/) > [TV is a safe place to develop real characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/tv-is-a-safe-place-to-develop-real-characters/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) ## More by John Hartford > [Style is based on limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/style-is-based-on-limitations/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [What's the use in being different when it's being different that's the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/what-s-the-use-in-being-different-when-it-s-being-different-that-s/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [Just when you think it can't get no better, then it does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/just-when-you-think-it-can-t-get-no-better-then-it-does/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [You cannot run a successful retail business from memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/you-cannot-run-a-successful-retail-business-from-memory/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [The whole universe is based on rhythms. Everything happens in circles, in spirals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/the-whole-universe-is-based-on-rhythms-everything-happens-in-circles/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [Time is the most important thing there is. That is the only element that you can't withdraw from the situation and still have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/time-is-the-most-important-thing-there-is-that-is-the-only-element/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [Sometimes when a new piece of knowledge comes along you suddenly change your priorities and focus on something completely different instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/sometimes-when-a-new-piece-of-knowledge-comes-along-you-suddenly/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [A banjo will get you through times of no money, but money won't get you through times of no banjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/a-banjo-will-get-you-through-times-of-no-money-but-money-won-t-get/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [I'm like a child trying to do everything, say everything and be everything all at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/i-m-like-a-child-trying-to-do-everything-say-everything-and-be/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [Mike Compton knows more about Bill Monroe style mandolin than the Father of Bluegrass himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/mike-compton-knows-more-about-bill-monroe-style-mandolin-than-the/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [She dries her eyes and bakes her pies and leaves 'em on the window sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/she-dries-her-eyes-and-bakes-her-pies-and-leaves-em-on-the-window-sill/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [After you start learning all about the mechanics of piloting a riverboat, you stop seeing all the pretty sunsets and you start thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/after-you-start-learning-all-about-the-mechanics-of-piloting-a/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) > [The best way to express rhythm is music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/the-best-way-to-express-rhythm-is-music/) [John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) [Explore all 14 John Hartford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You read about somebody, and doesn't really matter whether or not they really exist - the point is that you get into them like real characters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Hartford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-really-matter-whether-or-not-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-really-matter-whether-or-not-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-hartford-34003_character_you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-real_2691992.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-hartford-34003_character_you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-real_2691992.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/john-hartford-34003_character_you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-real_2691992.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You read about somebody, and doesn't really matter whether or not they really exist - the point is that you…” — John Hartford", "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": "John Hartford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You read about somebody, and doesn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-really-matter-whether-or-not-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/you-read-about-somebody-and-doesn-t-really-matter-whether-or-not-they/#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 } } ] } ```