--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: life rarely finds its exact likeness in a…" description: "\"“life rarely finds its exact likeness in a novel, that is hardly fiction’s purpose,”\" — Katie Kitamura" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/katie-kitamura-13105_books_life-rarely-finds-its-exact-likeness-in_178189.jpg" --- # life rarely finds its exact likeness in a novel, that is… ![“life rarely finds its exact likeness in a novel, that is hardly fiction’s purpose,” quote by Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/katie-kitamura-13105_books_life-rarely-finds-its-exact-likeness-in_178189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/katie-kitamura-13105_books_life-rarely-finds-its-exact-likeness-in_178189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/katie-kitamura-13105_books_life-rarely-finds-its-exact-likeness-in_178189.jpg) > ““life rarely finds its exact likeness in a novel, that is hardly fiction’s purpose,”” [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Novels aim to capture the essence of life, not to replicate it exact, emphasizing they truth rather than literal accuracy. **In simple terms:** Stories seek essence, not exact detail. Key Takeaway Value the deeper truth in narratives. Themes literature truth representation artistic purpose Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - reading a novel - writing a story - teaching literature - discussing art - analyzing media Key Concepts Narrative theory philosophy of art fictional truth Questions to Reflect On - How does a story’s truth differ from factual truth? - What does “exact likeness” mean to you? A Different Perspective It may ignore the value of literal accuracy for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“In any case, it seems to me that all over the world people nowadays prefer to judge rather than to understand, to answer rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/in-any-case-it-seems-to-me-that-all-over-the-world-people-nowadays/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Fiction is hardly ever fiction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyma-rizwaan-khan/fiction-is-hardly-ever-fiction/) [Cyma Rizwaan Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyma-rizwaan-khan/) > [“I had a teacher I liked who used to say good fiction’s job was to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. 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Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [“Life as it should be rarely is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gazala/life-as-it-should-be-rarely-is/) Richard Gazala > [“If you have ever opened a can of worms, boxed yourself into a corner, ended up in hot water, or found yourself in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryrose-wood/if-you-have-ever-opened-a-can-of-worms-boxed-yourself-into-a-corner/) [Maryrose Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryrose-wood/) > [Life is rarely perfect, but its always pretty darn good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/life-is-rarely-perfect-but-its-always-pretty-darn-good/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) ## More by Katie Kitamura > [Translated literature can be fascinating. 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