--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't study English literature - I…" description: "\"I didn't study English literature - I studied philosophy at university - so Kierkegaard, Nietzsche - these people are among the most important writers ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/sheila-heti-2776_big_i-didn-t-study-english-literature-i-stud_2116588.jpg" --- # I didn't study English literature - I studied philosophy… ![“I didn't study English literature - I studied philosophy at university - so Kierkegaard, Nietzsche - these people are among the most important writers to me. So my interest is in the big questions more than it is in storytelling.” quote by Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/sheila-heti-2776_big_i-didn-t-study-english-literature-i-stud_2116588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/sheila-heti-2776_big_i-didn-t-study-english-literature-i-stud_2116588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/sheila-heti-2776_big_i-didn-t-study-english-literature-i-stud_2116588.jpg) > “I didn't study English literature - I studied philosophy at university - so Kierkegaard, Nietzsche - these people are among the most important writers to me. So my interest is in the big questions more than it is in storytelling.” [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She values philosophical inquiry over narrative storytelling, seeing thinkers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche as primary influences. **In simple terms:** She prefers philosophy to storytelling. Key Takeaway Prioritize deep questions over plot. Themes philosophy literature values Mood introspective curious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - university studies - reading groups - personal essays Key Concepts existentialism critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What big questions drive your work? - How does philosophy shape your storytelling? A Different Perspective Philosophical focus may limit narrative engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [English Lit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-lit/) [English literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-literature/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Neither Kierkegaard nor Nietzsche had the slightest interest in starting a movement – or a new system, a thought which would indeed have offended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/neither-kierkegaard-nor-nietzsche-had-the-slightest-interest-in/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [I'm not sure at all that literature should be studied on the university level. ... 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It felt more like being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/i-really-enjoyed-the-process-of-women-in-clothes-but-there-s-no-way-i/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [“style is about knowing what you like and why you like it, more than anything else. GRACE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/style-is-about-knowing-what-you-like-and-why-you-like-it-more-than/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [I'd rather that people could be both entertained and given rest while reading my book than for someone to have to put the book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/i-d-rather-that-people-could-be-both-entertained-and-given-rest-while/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [“I know that character exists from the outside alone. 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