Books Quote by Orson Scott Card
““Why else do we read anyway? I think most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth: The mythic truth about human nature in general, the particular truth about those life-communities that define our own identity, and the most specific truth of all: our own self-real world. Fiction, because it is not about somebody who actually lived in the real world, always has the possibility of being about oneself.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: On the Value of Fiction, Orson Scott Card, 1995
Fiction offers mythic and personal truths about humanity and identity that factual accounts cannot, allowing readers to discover deeper aspects of themselves.
In simple terms: Stories reveal deeper truths about ourselves.
Key Takeaway
Read fiction to explore personal and universal truths.
Themes
identity
myth
self‑discovery
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading for growth
- creative writing
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
narrative truth
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal truth have you found in a story?
- How does mythic truth differ from factual truth?
A Different Perspective
Fiction can blur fact and feeling, sometimes misleading about reality.
