--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The novelist wants to know how things…" description: "\"The novelist wants to know how things will turn out; the historian already knows how things turned out, but wants to know why they turned out the way t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/michael-korda-2925_did_the-novelist-wants-to-know-how-things-wi_401127.jpg" --- # The novelist wants to know how things will turn out; the… ![“The novelist wants to know how things will turn out; the historian already knows how things turned out, but wants to know why they turned out the way they did.” quote by Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/michael-korda-2925_did_the-novelist-wants-to-know-how-things-wi_401127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/michael-korda-2925_did_the-novelist-wants-to-know-how-things-wi_401127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/michael-korda-2925_did_the-novelist-wants-to-know-how-things-wi_401127.jpg) > “The novelist wants to know how things will turn out; the historian already knows how things turned out, but wants to know why they turned out the way they did.” [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Novelists imagine outcomes; historians know facts and seek causes, blending narrative with analysis. **In simple terms:** Storytellers imagine; historians explain. Key Takeaway Use both imagination and evidence. Themes writing history causality imagination analysis Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - research projects - creative writing - documentary filmmaking Key Concepts Narrative theory historical method Questions to Reflect On - How does knowing the why change your view of events? - Can fiction reveal truths history hides? 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