--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There’s something comforting, almost…" description: "\"“There’s something comforting, almost soothing, about realism, and it’s nothing to do with shocks of recognition — well it wouldn’t, since shocks never..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/stanley-elkin-31111_cause-and-effect_there-s-something-comforting-almost-soot_1949306.jpg" --- # There’s something comforting, almost soothing, about… ![“There’s something comforting, almost soothing, about realism, and it’s nothing to do with shocks of recognition — well it wouldn’t, since shocks never console — or even with the familiarity that breeds content, so as much as with the fact that the realistic world, in literature, at least, is one…” quote by Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/stanley-elkin-31111_cause-and-effect_there-s-something-comforting-almost-soot_1949306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/stanley-elkin-31111_cause-and-effect_there-s-something-comforting-almost-soot_1949306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/stanley-elkin-31111_cause-and-effect_there-s-something-comforting-almost-soot_1949306.jpg) > ““There’s something comforting, almost soothing, about realism, and it’s nothing to do with shocks of recognition — well it wouldn’t, since shocks never console — or even with the familiarity that breeds content, so as much as with the fact that the realistic world, in literature, at least, is one that, from a certain perspective, always makes sense, even in its bum deals and tragedies, inasmuch as it plays — even showboats and grandstands — to our passion for reason. The realistic tradition presumes to deal, I mean, with cause and effect, with some deep need in readers — in all of us — for justice, with the demand for the explicable reap/sow benefits (or punishments), with the law of just desserts — with all God’s and Nature’s organic bookkeeping. And since form fits and follows function, style is instructed not to make waves but merely to tag along, easy as pie, taking in everything that can be seen along the way but not much more and nothing at all of what isn’t immediately available to the naked eye.”” [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realism offers comfort through logical cause‑and‑effect narratives, satisfying our desire for justice and order. **In simple terms:** Realism feels safe because it makes sense. Key Takeaway Appreciate realism’s clarity while staying open to surprise. Themes comfort logic justice Mood analytical thoughtful Type explanatory critical When to use this quote - reading fiction - writing - critical analysis - teaching literature Key Concepts literary theory philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Why do we crave stories that explain everything? - Can realism ever fully capture human experience? A Different Perspective Realism can limit imagination and emotional depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause and effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-and-effect/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism/) [Realism Shocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism-shocks-3154329/) [Realistic Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realistic-tradition-3154331/) [Reason Realistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-realistic-3154330/) [Soothing Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soothing-realism-3154328/) ## Related quotes > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [Vanity is illustrated in the cause and effect of love, as in the case of Cleopatra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/vanity-is-illustrated-in-the-cause-and-effect-of-love-as-in-the-case/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Whatever firm decisions (nischaya) you have made; only those will bear fruit. 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Next to us the grandest laws are constantly being executed. Next to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/nearest-to-all-things-is-that-power-which-fashions-their-being-next/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“. . . chronosophy does involve ethics. Because our sense of time involves our ability to separate cause and effect, means and end. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/chronosophy-does-involve-ethics-because-our-sense-of-time-involves/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“One of the protestor's sign catches my eye. HOMISEXUALITY IS THE DEVIL'S WORK, it says. 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There is no particular religious tradition in my work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/like-most-people-of-my-generation-i-fell-in-love-with-the-philosophy/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [The peculiar dignity of men seen eating alone in restaurants on national holidays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/the-peculiar-dignity-of-men-seen-eating-alone-in-restaurants-on/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [But it's hard to talk about art. Maybe there should be a law against it, some First Amendment gag order like crying fire in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/but-it-s-hard-to-talk-about-art-maybe-there-should-be-a-law-against/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [I don't believe less is more. I believe that more is more. I believe that less is less, fat fat, thin thin and enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/i-don-t-believe-less-is-more-i-believe-that-more-is-more-i-believe/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [Life's tallest order is to keep the feelings up, to make two dollars' worth of euphoria go the distance. And life can't do that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/life-s-tallest-order-is-to-keep-the-feelings-up-to-make-two-dollars/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [I would never write about anyone who is not at the end of his rope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/i-would-never-write-about-anyone-who-is-not-at-the-end-of-his-rope/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [“It’s like everything else. The price of Torahs is higher in Alaska.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/it-s-like-everything-else-the-price-of-torahs-is-higher-in-alaska/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [Like a lot of what happens in novels, inspiration is a sort of spontaneous combustion--the oily rags of the head and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/like-a-lot-of-what-happens-in-novels-inspiration-is-a-sort-of/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [Writing is an exercise in sculpture, chipping away at the rock until you find the nose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/writing-is-an-exercise-in-sculpture-chipping-away-at-the-rock-until/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [It's fine, precise, detailed work, the infinitely small motor management of diamond cutters and safecrackers that we do in our heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/it-s-fine-precise-detailed-work-the-infinitely-small-motor-management/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) [Explore all 16 Stanley Elkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) ## More Cause and effect quotes > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. 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The realistic tradition presumes to deal, I mean, with cause and effect, with some deep need in readers — in all of us — for justice, with the demand for the explicable reap/sow benefits (or punishments), with the law of just desserts — with all God’s and Nature’s organic bookkeeping. 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