--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fiction is dangerous because it lets you…" description: "\"“Fiction is dangerous because it lets you into other people's heads. It shows you that the world doesn't have to be like the one you live in.\" At the f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/neil-gaiman-29_dangerous_fiction-is-dangerous-because-it-lets-you_2083101.jpg" --- # Fiction is dangerous because it lets you into other… ![“Fiction is dangerous because it lets you into other people's heads. It shows you that the world doesn't have to be like the one you live in." At the first nationally recognized science fiction convention in China in 2007, Gaiman took a party official aside and said, "While not actually illegal…” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/neil-gaiman-29_dangerous_fiction-is-dangerous-because-it-lets-you_2083101.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/neil-gaiman-29_dangerous_fiction-is-dangerous-because-it-lets-you_2083101.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/neil-gaiman-29_dangerous_fiction-is-dangerous-because-it-lets-you_2083101.jpg) > ““Fiction is dangerous because it lets you into other people's heads. It shows you that the world doesn't have to be like the one you live in." At the first nationally recognized science fiction convention in China in 2007, Gaiman took a party official aside and said, "While not actually illegal, science fiction is regarded as dangerous and subversive in China. Why did you say yes to a science-fiction convention?" The party official answered, "In China, we're really good at making things people bring to us, but we don't invent, we don't innovate." When Chinese party officials visited Google, Apple and Microsoft, they asked what the executives read as children. The official continued: "They all said, 'We read science fiction. The world doesn't have to be the way it is right now. We can change it.' " "That," said Gaiman, "is the big dangerous thing.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fiction expands perspective by immersing readers in alternative viewpoints, challenging the belief that the current world is inevitable. **In simple terms:** Stories let us imagine different realities. Key Takeaway Read diverse fiction to broaden thinking. Themes imagination perspective change culture politics Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - education - policy making - creative industries - personal growth Key Concepts subversive innovation worldbuilding Questions to Reflect On - How can fiction inspire real change? - What responsibilities do creators have? A Different Perspective Stories may oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-subversive-4078996/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Convention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-convention-1953415/) [Fiction Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-dangerous-537195/) [Fiction World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-world-688929/) [Regarded Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regarded-dangerous-1762121/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [“For those who have never attended a science fiction convention, masquerades are features of most of the larger ones. 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I think ripping off people's lives in fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/very-seldom-in-my-fiction-have-i-directly-used-the-stories-people/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“Once you realize that the imagination is non-fiction, the world is yours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-henegan/once-you-realize-that-the-imagination-is-non-fiction-the-world-is/) [Carl Henegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-henegan/) > [It's very strange writing science fiction in a world that moves as fast as ours does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keys-moran/it-s-very-strange-writing-science-fiction-in-a-world-that-moves-as/) [Daniel Keys Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keys-moran/) > [I would not favour a fiction to keep a whole world out of hell. The hell that a lie would keep any man out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-would-not-favour-a-fiction-to-keep-a-whole-world-out-of-hell-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In fantasy and science fiction, world-building is an essential part of the story. But as a reader, I don't just want descriptions of food,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabaa-tahir/in-fantasy-and-science-fiction-world-building-is-an-essential-part-of/) [Sabaa Tahir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabaa-tahir/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. 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They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Dangerous quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. 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They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) [Browse all 6,450 Dangerous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Fiction is dangerous because it lets you into other people's heads. It shows you that the world doesn't have to be like the one you live in.\" At the first nationally recognized science fiction convention in China in 2007, Gaiman took a party official aside and said, \"While not actually illegal, science fiction is regarded as dangerous and subversive in China. Why did you say yes to a science-fiction convention?\" The party official answered, \"In China, we're really good at making things people bring to us, but we don't invent, we don't innovate.\" When Chinese party officials visited Google, Apple and Microsoft, they asked what the executives read as children. The official continued: \"They all said, 'We read science fiction. The world doesn't have to be the way it is right now. 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