--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My entire career, in fiction or…" description: "\"My entire career, in fiction or nonfiction, I have reported and written about people who are not like me.\" — Tom Wolfe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/tom-wolfe-2191_career_my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfictio_2855377.jpg" --- # My entire career, in fiction or nonfiction, I have… ![“My entire career, in fiction or nonfiction, I have reported and written about people who are not like me.” quote by Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/tom-wolfe-2191_career_my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfictio_2855377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/tom-wolfe-2191_career_my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfictio_2855377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/tom-wolfe-2191_career_my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfictio_2855377.jpg) > “My entire career, in fiction or nonfiction, I have reported and written about people who are not like me.” [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing about others expands perspective, requiring empathy beyond personal experience. **In simple terms:** Write beyond yourself. Key Takeaway Seek diverse stories. Themes empathy diversity journalism Mood reflective critical Type journalistic ethical When to use this quote - reporting - fiction writing - documentary Key Concepts narrative ethics cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - How to ensure authentic representation? - What biases affect your view? A Different Perspective May misrepresent others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Nonfiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonfiction/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [At least for me, it takes more knowledge to write fiction than nonfiction. At least about someplace that I begin with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/at-least-for-me-it-takes-more-knowledge-to-write-fiction-than/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [Fiction and nonfiction are not so easily divided. Fiction may not be real, but it's true; it goes beyond the garland of facts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/fiction-and-nonfiction-are-not-so-easily-divided-fiction-may-not-be/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [There's no division on my bookshelf between fiction and nonfiction. As far as I'm concerned, fiction is about the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/there-s-no-division-on-my-bookshelf-between-fiction-and-nonfiction-as/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The difference between fiction and nonfiction is that fiction must be absolutely believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-difference-between-fiction-and-nonfiction-is-that-fiction-must-be/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I used to distinguish between my fiction and nonfiction in terms of superiority or inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/i-used-to-distinguish-between-my-fiction-and-nonfiction-in-terms-of/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [I've long been interested in the role of 'minor characters' in major events. This has been the focus of a lot of the fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/i-ve-long-been-interested-in-the-role-of-minor-characters-in-major/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [For me, choosing between fiction and nonfiction is really only about picking the right tool for the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/for-me-choosing-between-fiction-and-nonfiction-is-really-only-about/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I think, about the distinction between fiction and nonfiction. Fiction is not really about anything: it is what it is. But nonfiction - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-think-about-the-distinction-between-fiction-and-nonfiction-fiction/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [“look, and I’m sure you’ll be amazed at the wealth of great books—usually there are several hundred freebies in virtually every category of fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-weber/look-and-i-m-sure-you-ll-be-amazed-at-the-wealth-of-great-books/) [Steve Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-weber/) > [There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow/there-is-no-longer-any-such-thing-as-fiction-or-nonfiction-there-s/) [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) > [I'm open to reading almost anything - fiction, nonfiction - as long as I know from the first sentence or two that this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-m-open-to-reading-almost-anything-fiction-nonfiction-as-long-as-i/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [It's hard to do fiction and nonfiction simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-s-hard-to-do-fiction-and-nonfiction-simultaneously/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [Whether it's fiction or nonfiction, writing takes me to another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/whether-it-s-fiction-or-nonfiction-writing-takes-me-to-another-world/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) > [Fiction and nonfiction, for me, involve very different processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/fiction-and-nonfiction-for-me-involve-very-different-processes/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [The competitions between fiction and nonfiction, short and long, electronic and paper, are not battles in which there can be only one victor. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/the-competitions-between-fiction-and-nonfiction-short-and-long/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) ## More by Tom Wolfe > [“Well … things are beginning to stack up a little,” said Gordo. It was the same old sod-hut drawl. He sounded like the airline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/well-things-are-beginning-to-stack-up-a-little-said-gordo-it-was-the/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Everything in everybody’s life is … significant. And everybody is alert, watching for the meanings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/everything-in-everybody-s-life-is-significant-and-everybody-is-alert/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > ['Back to Blood' really took it out of me. While I was writing it, I just never went out anywhere, except to the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-while-i-was-writing-it-i-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [In the U.S., the term 'general aviation' means its exact opposite, the way 'public school' does in England. An English public school is private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/in-the-u-s-the-term-general-aviation-means-its-exact-opposite-the-way/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [That's mostly what the Internet is, just passing the time. But unfortunately you are dealing with words that can have meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/that-s-mostly-what-the-internet-is-just-passing-the-time-but/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“The dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-dark-night-of-fascism-is-always-descending-in-the-united-states/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Loneliness wasn't just a state of mind, was it? It was tactile. She could feel it. It was a sixth sense, not in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/loneliness-wasn-t-just-a-state-of-mind-was-it-it-was-tactile-she/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [it is either make this thing permanent inside of you or forever just climb draggled up into the conning tower every time for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/it-is-either-make-this-thing-permanent-inside-of-you-or-forever-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I found a great many pieces of punctuation and typography lying around dormant when I came along - and I must say I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-found-a-great-many-pieces-of-punctuation-and-typography-lying/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“They became desperate for an antidote, such as coziness & color. They tried to bury the obligatory white sofas under Thai-silk throw pillows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/they-became-desperate-for-an-antidote-such-as-coziness-color-they/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [A cult is a religion with no political power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/a-cult-is-a-religion-with-no-political-power/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I don't think journalists should talk about whom they're voting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-don-t-think-journalists-should-talk-about-whom-they-re-voting-for/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Even hostile parodies admit from the start that the target has a distinct voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/even-hostile-parodies-admit-from-the-start-that-the-target-has-a/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I had always looked down on sociology as this arriviste discipline. It didn't have the noble history of English and history as a subject.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-had-always-looked-down-on-sociology-as-this-arriviste-discipline-it/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I read somewhere that writers, as they get older, become more and more perfectionist. Which may be because they think more highly of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-read-somewhere-that-writers-as-they-get-older-become-more-and-more/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Explore all 177 Tom Wolfe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My entire career, in fiction or nonfiction, I have reported and written about people who are not like me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfiction-i-have-reported-and-written/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfiction-i-have-reported-and-written/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/tom-wolfe-2191_career_my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfictio_2855377.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/tom-wolfe-2191_career_my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfictio_2855377.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/tom-wolfe-2191_career_my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfictio_2855377.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My entire career, in fiction or nonfiction, I have reported and written about people who are not like me.” — Tom Wolfe", "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": "Tom Wolfe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My entire career, in fiction or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfiction-i-have-reported-and-written/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/my-entire-career-in-fiction-or-nonfiction-i-have-reported-and-written/#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 } } ] } ```