--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fictional people are people, too…" description: "\"“Fictional people are people, too, otherwise why would we care what happens to them?”\" — Nora Roberts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/nora-roberts-128_fiction_fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwis_2890694.jpg" --- # Fictional people are people, too, otherwise why would we… ![“Fictional people are people, too, otherwise why would we care what happens to them?” quote by Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/nora-roberts-128_fiction_fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwis_2890694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/nora-roberts-128_fiction_fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwis_2890694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/nora-roberts-128_fiction_fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwis_2890694.jpg) > ““Fictional people are people, too, otherwise why would we care what happens to them?”” [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fictional characters deserve empathy because they reflect human experiences, prompting caring about their stories. **In simple terms:** We care about fictional people because they mirror real life. Key Takeaway Treat fictional narratives with empathy. Themes literature empathy humanity storytelling psychology Mood thoughtful engaging Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading groups - therapy - education - media analysis Key Concepts narrative theory mirror metaphor Questions to Reflect On - Why do we connect emotionally to fictional characters? - How can fiction teach real‑world lessons? A Different Perspective Some may view fiction as irrelevant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Are People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-are-people/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [There should be unemployment insurance for fictional people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/there-should-be-unemployment-insurance-for-fictional-people/) [Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/) > [One of the things that makes characters real is details. Life offers a lot of details. You just have to choose and use them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-earls/one-of-the-things-that-makes-characters-real-is-details-life-offers-a/) [Nick Earls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-earls/) > [“But I know now that isn’t true; history is filled with fictional people. And even the epigraph Fitzgerald placed at the beginning of The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/but-i-know-now-that-isn-t-true-history-is-filled-with-fictional/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [History is filled with fictional people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-filled-with-fictional-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People quickly forget that people are people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/people-quickly-forget-that-people-are-people/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [Small business people are people with goals and values that can't be calculated on a profit and loss statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcmahon/small-business-people-are-people-with-goals-and-values-that-can-t-be/) [Linda McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcmahon/) > [People are people, and they want to know about their own experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edward/people-are-people-and-they-want-to-know-about-their-own-experiences/) [John Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edward/) > [I think people are people and, if their feelings are truthful, they can connect. It doesn't matter if you're an aging, 50-something wrestler at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/i-think-people-are-people-and-if-their-feelings-are-truthful-they-can/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [In a large congregation, while there is a wide diversification of interest, it is also true that there are only a few basic human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/in-a-large-congregation-while-there-is-a-wide-diversification-of/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The bottom line is people are people, and the sooner we realise that, the better off things are going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/the-bottom-line-is-people-are-people-and-the-sooner-we-realise-that/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [People are people, regardless of who they love or what gender they relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/people-are-people-regardless-of-who-they-love-or-what-gender-they/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [We are the same. There is no difference anywhere in the world. People are people. They laugh, cry, feel, and love, and music seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/we-are-the-same-there-is-no-difference-anywhere-in-the-world-people/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [In reality, people are people. Age does a weird thing to your body on the outside. It makes your face fall and weird things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/in-reality-people-are-people-age-does-a-weird-thing-to-your-body-on/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [Successful people are people of (mo.ti.va.tion), motivation, and action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-jones/successful-people-are-people-of-mo-ti-va-tion-motivation-and-action/) [Jon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-jones/) > [I think people are people. If you want something, go get it. I don't think it matters what race you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/i-think-people-are-people-if-you-want-something-go-get-it-i-don-t/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) ## More by Nora Roberts > [“Why stop now? Seduce me, Brian.I dare you." "I've always found it hard to turn aside a dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/why-stop-now-seduce-me-brian-i-dare-you-i-ve-always-found-it-hard-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Flowers that had bloomed brilliant from spring through autumn blackened under the killing frost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/flowers-that-had-bloomed-brilliant-from-spring-through-autumn/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“He's back in Maine now.She did say he badgered her with questions. Of course, she didn't have the answer until she spoke to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/he-s-back-in-maine-now-she-did-say-he-badgered-her-with-questions-of/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Every professor worth his PhD should have a fireplace in his study.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/every-professor-worth-his-phd-should-have-a-fireplace-in-his-study/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Sorry, bad wing." When Theo kissed him, surprise and pleasure flustered him. He couldn't remember the last time this boy, this young man, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/sorry-bad-wing-when-theo-kissed-him-surprise-and-pleasure-flustered/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Because it's hard not to matter, even to someone you dislike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/because-it-s-hard-not-to-matter-even-to-someone-you-dislike/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“No point in wishing for what you can't have. - Blair What's the point in wishing for what you can and do? - Larken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/no-point-in-wishing-for-what-you-can-t-have-blair-what-s-the-point-in/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I've wanted to be with you when I didn't have the right to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ve-wanted-to-be-with-you-when-i-didn-t-have-the-right-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't write well what you don't read for pleasure. If it doesn't entertain you, it's not going to entertain anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-write-well-what-you-don-t-read-for-pleasure-if-it-doesn-t/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't edit a blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-edit-a-blank-page/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“There was a boy down at the stables." She laughed suddenly with her back comfortably nestled against Grant's chest. "Oh,Lord,he was a bit like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/there-was-a-boy-down-at-the-stables-she-laughed-suddenly-with-her/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Some people refuse to take the next step. You could refuse to take what you wanted most, because you're afraid someday you might lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/some-people-refuse-to-take-the-next-step-you-could-refuse-to-take/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Oh, i'm going to kick his ass, and when i'm done, i'm going to squeeze his balls blue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/oh-i-m-going-to-kick-his-ass-and-when-i-m-done-i-m-going-to-squeeze/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) [Explore all 1,138 Nora Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## More Fiction quotes > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn > [Fiction is a way of exploring possibilities present but undreamt of in the living of a single life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/fiction-is-a-way-of-exploring-possibilities-present-but-undreamt-of/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [I love writing fiction and can do it anywhere - I once even missed a flight because I was so engrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-love-writing-fiction-and-can-do-it-anywhere-i-once-even-missed-a/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) Coheed and Cambria > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“His hands on my waist he gently pulled me n embrace. I could feel his breath on my face our lips were about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eglinger/his-hands-on-my-waist-he-gently-pulled-me-n-embrace-i-could-feel-his/) [Nicole Eglinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eglinger/) > [In early drafts, one of the trickiest things for me to do was to realize that the techniques and devices that make readable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rooney/in-early-drafts-one-of-the-trickiest-things-for-me-to-do-was-to/) [Kathleen Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rooney/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Metafiction says something. It has to do with taking a large fiction itself and writing within it; that kind of self-reflecting writing that emerges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coover/metafiction-says-something-it-has-to-do-with-taking-a-large-fiction/) [Robert Coover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coover/) [Browse all 7,410 Fiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Fictional people are people, too, otherwise why would we care what happens to them?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nora Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwise-why-would-we-care-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fiction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwise-why-would-we-care-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/nora-roberts-128_fiction_fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwis_2890694.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/nora-roberts-128_fiction_fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwis_2890694.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/nora-roberts-128_fiction_fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwis_2890694.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fictional people are people, too, otherwise why would we care what happens to them?” — Nora Roberts", "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": "Nora Roberts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Fictional people are people, too, otherwise...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwise-why-would-we-care-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/fictional-people-are-people-too-otherwise-why-would-we-care-what/#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 } } ] } ```