The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Who is more real? Homer or Ulysses? Shakespeare or Hamlet? Burroughs or Tarzan?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote questions the nature of reality and the distinction between fictional characters and their creators.
This quote from Robert A. Heinlein prompts us to reflect on the essence of reality and fiction, suggesting that characters in literature can embody their own truths and exist in ways that are perhaps more 'real' than their creators. It blurs the lines between the creator and the creation, urging us to consider the significance and impact of fictional narratives and how they resonate with our understanding of existence.
Themes
RealityFictionCharactersLiteratureCreation
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about literature, one might use this quote to illustrate the depth of fictional characters.
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Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is eight times as good as any other method the human race has ever tried.
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Long human words (the longer the better) were easy, unmistakable, and rarely changed their meanings . . . but short words were slippery, unpredictable, changing their meanings without any pattern.
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Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things.
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When a place gets crowded enough to require ID's, social collapse is not far away. It is time to go elsewhere. The best thing about space travel is that it made it possible to go elsewhere.
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