Creatures Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
“For if the proper study of mankind is man, it is evidently more sensible to occupy yourself with the coherent, substantial and significant creatures of fiction than with the irrational and shadowy figures of real life.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Art of Fiction", 1920
Studying fictional characters offers clearer insight into human nature than real‑life figures, which can be ambiguous.
In simple terms: Fiction reveals human truths better.
Key Takeaway
Read fiction to understand humanity.
Themes
literature
human nature
insight
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- creative writing
- academic study
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
cultural studies
Questions to Reflect On
- Which fictional character taught you most?
- How do real experiences compare?
A Different Perspective
Real life also provides valuable lessons; dismissing it limits perspective.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
