--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Personally, I don’t think it right to…" description: "\"“Personally, I don’t think it right to make up things about real people—although I suppose there’s an argument for saying that once you’re dead you’re ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/kate-atkinson-1265_real-people_personally-i-don-t-think-it-right-to-mak_2280683.jpg" --- # Personally, I don’t think it right to make up things about… ![“Personally, I don’t think it right to make up things about real people—although I suppose there’s an argument for saying that once you’re dead you’re not real any more. But then we have to define what we mean by real and none of us wants to go down that tortuous path because we all know where it…” quote by Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/kate-atkinson-1265_real-people_personally-i-don-t-think-it-right-to-mak_2280683.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/kate-atkinson-1265_real-people_personally-i-don-t-think-it-right-to-mak_2280683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/kate-atkinson-1265_real-people_personally-i-don-t-think-it-right-to-mak_2280683.jpg) > ““Personally, I don’t think it right to make up things about real people—although I suppose there’s an argument for saying that once you’re dead you’re not real any more. But then we have to define what we mean by real and none of us wants to go down that tortuous path because we all know where it leads (madness or a first-class honours, or both).”” [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explores the moral ambiguity of fabricating stories about deceased individuals, questioning what counts as “real” and warning of the psychological risks of such speculation. **In simple terms:** Making up stories about the dead is ethically tricky and can lead to madness. Key Takeaway Consider the impact before fictionalizing real people. Themes ethics identity truth psychology Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical critical literary When to use this quote - writing fiction - journalism - historical biography - memorial speeches Key Concepts ontological debate narrative responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do creators have to the dead? - How does defining “real” affect our storytelling? A Different Perspective The line between creative freedom and harmful distortion is often blurred. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Good style, clear argument, but you're not saying anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/good-style-clear-argument-but-you-re-not-saying-anything/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Speaking out takes courage, but fear can make a compelling argument. 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