Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes, Literature answers. Are people good or bad? You bet, says Literature. But unlike other systems of knowing, Literature declines to eradicate one truth in favor of another.

Summary

This quote highlights how fiction plays a unique role in our lives. It suggests that literature serves as a means of generating compassion within us, motivating us to rise above laziness. It also argues that at its core, literature explores the fundamental questions about the human condition. Rather than promoting a single truth, literature acknowledges the complexities and contradictions of life, presenting both kindness and cruelty, goodness and badness. Unlike other forms of knowledge, literature doesn't seek to eliminate conflicting truths; instead, it allows us to explore and contemplate multiple perspectives.

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