--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Adventure, the first great theme of the…" description: "\"“Adventure, the first great theme of the novel.”\" — Milan Kundera" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/milan-kundera-120_adventure_adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-n_546845.jpg" --- # Adventure, the first great theme of the novel. ![“Adventure, the first great theme of the novel.” quote by Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/milan-kundera-120_adventure_adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-n_546845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/milan-kundera-120_adventure_adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-n_546845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/milan-kundera-120_adventure_adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-n_546845.jpg) > ““Adventure, the first great theme of the novel.”” [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adventure is the central driving force that gives narrative life and purpose. **In simple terms:** Adventure drives narrative purpose. Key Takeaway Seek adventure to energize storytelling. Themes adventure novelty purpose Mood inspirational thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - personal journeys - educational curricula - media production Key Concepts Narrative theory existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does adventure shape character development? - When does adventure become escapism? A Different Perspective Adventure alone may lack depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ## Related quotes > [I'd love to do a PG-13 animated adventure. It would be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-verbinski/i-d-love-to-do-a-pg-13-animated-adventure-it-would-be-great/) [Gore Verbinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-verbinski/) > [De Palma's great theme, obsessively reiterated, is betrayal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-fisher/de-palma-s-great-theme-obsessively-reiterated-is-betrayal/) [Mark Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-fisher/) > [What's great about 'Spy Hunter' is that we have an amazing title, an awesome car, and a great theme song, and we can use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/what-s-great-about-spy-hunter-is-that-we-have-an-amazing-title-an/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [Loving someone who makes you completely happy is great, and to have theme for a lifetime is an 'award winning' choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaceem-aveiro/loving-someone-who-makes-you-completely-happy-is-great-and-to-have/) [Kaceem Aveiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaceem-aveiro/) > [“I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell. And for once it might be grand To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-ashman/i-want-adventure-in-the-great-wide-somewhere-i-want-it-more-than-i-2/) Howard Ashman > [“Every Inch of the Way is a great page turning adventure which is as close as you can get, without actually saddling up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-beaumont/every-inch-of-the-way-is-a-great-page-turning-adventure-which-is-as/) Mark Beaumont > [I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-adventure-in-the-great-wide-somewhere-i-want-it-more-than-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Adventure is humdrum and routine unless one assimilates it, unless one relates it to a central core which grows within and gives it contour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/adventure-is-humdrum-and-routine-unless-one-assimilates-it-unless-one/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [It is either a daring adventure, or nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-either-a-daring-adventure-or-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Attitude is the difference between ordeal and adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-bitchin/attitude-is-the-difference-between-ordeal-and-adventure/) [Bob Bitchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-bitchin/) > [When it comes down to it, it’s pretty simple. Adventure is what you make it. And whether it’s the travel, the discovery or just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-rice/when-it-comes-down-to-it-it-s-pretty-simple-adventure-is-what-you/) [Travis Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-rice/) > [The secret of adventure, then, is not to carefully seek it out but to travel in such a way that it finds you. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/the-secret-of-adventure-then-is-not-to-carefully-seek-it-out-but-to/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [It's never fun to run out of gas while on a road trip, But the adventure of trying to find gas when your in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bingham/it-s-never-fun-to-run-out-of-gas-while-on-a-road-trip-but-the/) [Ryan Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bingham/) > [“Life is a great adventure, darling, and problems are nothing more than opportunities to show what you can do. Show them, darling. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/life-is-a-great-adventure-darling-and-problems-are-nothing-more-than/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [It isn't necessary to seek out adventure. Opening to what is around you will produce the most extraordinary experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-b-lewis/it-isn-t-necessary-to-seek-out-adventure-opening-to-what-is-around/) Edward B. Lewis ## More by Milan Kundera > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“From that time on they both looked forward to sleeping together. I might even say that the goal of their lovemaking was not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/from-that-time-on-they-both-looked-forward-to-sleeping-together-i/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Beauty in the European sense has always had a premeditated quality to it. We've always had an aesthetic intention and a long-range plan. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/beauty-in-the-european-sense-has-always-had-a-premeditated-quality-to/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The beauty of New York is unintentional; it arose independent of human design, like a stalagmite cavern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-beauty-of-new-york-is-unintentional-it-arose-independent-of-human/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Children, Never look Back!" and this meant that we must never allow the future to be weighed down by memory . for children have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/children-never-look-back-and-this-meant-that-we-must-never-allow-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Our lives may be separate, but they run in the same direction, like parallel lines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/our-lives-may-be-separate-but-they-run-in-the-same-direction-like/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Having a child is to show an absolute accord with mankind. If I have a child, it's as though I'm saying: I was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/having-a-child-is-to-show-an-absolute-accord-with-mankind-if-i-have-a/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“He remained annoyed with himself until he realized that not knowing what he wanted was actually quite natural. We can never know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/he-remained-annoyed-with-himself-until-he-realized-that-not-knowing/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [When we ignore the body, we are more easily victimized by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/when-we-ignore-the-body-we-are-more-easily-victimized-by-it/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Do stories, apart from happening, being, have something to say? For all my skepticism, some trace of irrational superstition did survive in me, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/do-stories-apart-from-happening-being-have-something-to-say-for-all/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Os extremos delimitam a fronteira para além da qual a vida termina, e a paixão pelo extremismo, tanto em arte como em política, é…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/os-extremos-delimitam-a-fronteira-para-al-m-da-qual-a-vida-termina-e/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-characters-in-my-novels-are-my-own-unrealized-possibilities-that/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Anyone whose goal is 'something higher' must expect someday to suffer vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/anyone-whose-goal-is-something-higher-must-expect-someday-to-suffer/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) [Explore all 952 Milan Kundera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Adventure, the first great theme of the novel.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milan Kundera" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-novel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adventure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-novel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/milan-kundera-120_adventure_adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-n_546845.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/milan-kundera-120_adventure_adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-n_546845.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/milan-kundera-120_adventure_adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-n_546845.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Adventure, the first great theme of the novel.” — Milan Kundera", "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": "Milan Kundera", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Adventure, the first great theme of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-novel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/adventure-the-first-great-theme-of-the-novel/#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 } } ] } ```