--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Literature throws us many great heroes…" description: "\"Literature throws us many great heroes. Real life invariably outdoes them.\" — Wilbur Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/wilbur-smith-7617_books_literature-throws-us-many-great-heroes-r_1874928.jpg" --- # Literature throws us many great heroes. Real life… ![“Literature throws us many great heroes. Real life invariably outdoes them.” quote by Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/wilbur-smith-7617_books_literature-throws-us-many-great-heroes-r_1874928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/wilbur-smith-7617_books_literature-throws-us-many-great-heroes-r_1874928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a17/wilbur-smith-7617_books_literature-throws-us-many-great-heroes-r_1874928.jpg) > “Literature throws us many great heroes. Real life invariably outdoes them.” [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Real life experiences often surpass fictional heroes in depth and complexity. **In simple terms:** Life can be more impressive than stories. Key Takeaway Recognize real people’s strengths. Themes heroism reality comparison Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - storytelling - inspiration Key Concepts literature human experience Questions to Reflect On - What real‑life hero inspires you? - How do stories shape your expectations? A Different Perspective Fiction still offers valuable lessons despite real‑life superiority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) ## Related quotes > [In the film world, we can all be heroes. In the real world, where heroism can cost you your life or the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/in-the-film-world-we-can-all-be-heroes-in-the-real-world-where/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [You have to always try to think about them like real people first, and not just heroes. They have to be real characters. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/you-have-to-always-try-to-think-about-them-like-real-people-first-and/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [“In an industry where people merely \*play\* heroes, he was the real thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-fishgall/in-an-industry-where-people-merely-play-heroes-he-was-the-real-thing/) Gary Fishgall > [I hope we see more stories where the heroes are real heroes, real people that don't need weapons or super powers to change people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/i-hope-we-see-more-stories-where-the-heroes-are-real-heroes-real/) [Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/) > [“We've never heard About a marvel quite so great, For all the heroes who have lived In history can't measure up In bravery against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/we-ve-never-heard-about-a-marvel-quite-so-great-for-all-the-heroes/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [But the makers of legend have seldom rested content to regard the world's great heroes as mere human beings who broke past the horizons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/but-the-makers-of-legend-have-seldom-rested-content-to-regard-the/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [My two great heroes are W. B. Yeats and Fernando Garcia Lorca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/my-two-great-heroes-are-w-b-yeats-and-fernando-garcia-lorca/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [My two great heroes are W. B. Yeats and Federico García Lorca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/my-two-great-heroes-are-w-b-yeats-and-federico-garc-a-lorca/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [She preferred imaginary heroes to real ones, because when tired of them, the former could be shut up in the tin kitchen till called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/she-preferred-imaginary-heroes-to-real-ones-because-when-tired-of/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I can't count how many of my friends are in the cemetery at Normandy, the heroes are still there, the real heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-durning/i-can-t-count-how-many-of-my-friends-are-in-the-cemetery-at-normandy/) [Charles Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-durning/) > [Those who give up cigarette smoking aren't the heroes. 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People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. 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