Character Quote by Marguerite Yourcenar
“I don't think I ever relinquish a person I have known, and surely not my fictional characters. I see them, I hear them, with a clarity that I would call hallucinatory if hallucination didn't mean something else ... A character whom we create can never die, any more than a friend can die ... Through [my characters] I've lived many parallel lives.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Memoirs of Hadrian, Marguerite Yourcenar, 1951
The author treats fictional characters as living companions whose presence feels vivid and enduring, blurring the line between imagination and reality.
In simple terms: Fictional characters feel as real as friends.
Key Takeaway
Cherish the depth of imagined relationships.
Themes
imagination
loneliness
identity
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- creative therapy
- role‑playing games
- storytelling workshops
Key Concepts
psychology
literary theory
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance fictional immersion with real relationships?
- What does “parallel lives” reveal about your desires?
A Different Perspective
The intensity of imagined bonds can hinder real‑world connections.
