“If you don't enter that world, hold your breath with the characters and become involved in their destiny, you won't be able to empathize, and empathy is at the heart of the novel.”

—  Azar Nafisi , book Reading Lolita in Tehran

Reading Lolita in Tehran (2003)
Context: A novel is not an allegory... It is the sensual experience of another world. If you don't enter that world, hold your breath with the characters and become involved in their destiny, you won't be able to empathize, and empathy is at the heart of the novel. This is how you read a novel: you inhale the experience. So start breathing.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "If you don't enter that world, hold your breath with the characters and become involved in their destiny, you won't be …" by Azar Nafisi?
Azar Nafisi photo
Azar Nafisi 28
Iranaian academic and writer 1955

Related quotes

Judy Blume photo

“The best books come from someplace deep inside…. Become emotionally involved. If you don't care about your characters, your readers won't either.”

Judy Blume (1938) American children's writer
Paulo Coelho photo

“Don't give in to your fears. If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart.”

Paulo Coelho book The Alchemist

Source: The Alchemist

“Hold onto your breath
Hold onto your heart
Hold onto your hope”

Yip Harburg (1896–1981) American song lyricist

"Optimistic Voices".
Context: You’re out of the woods
You’re out of the dark
You’re out of the night
Step into the sun, step into the light,
Keep straight ahead
For the most glorious place
On the Face of the Earth
Or the sky. Hold onto your breath
Hold onto your heart
Hold onto your hope,
March up to the gate
And bid it open.

Laozi photo

“Watch your thoughts; They become words. Watch your words; They become actions. Watch your actions; They become habits. Watch your habits; They become character. Watch your character; It becomes your destiny.”

Laozi (-604) semi-legendary Chinese figure, attributed to the 6th century, regarded as the author of the Tao Te Ching and fou…

Source: yt

Michael J. Fox photo

“Control is illusory. No matter what university you go to, no matter what degree you hold, if your goal is to becomes master of your own destiny, you have more to learn.”

Michael J. Fox (1961) Canadian-American actor
Ajahn Chah photo

“Looking for peace is like looking for a turtle with a mustache: You won't be able to find it. But when your heart is ready, peace will come looking for you.”

Ajahn Chah (1918–1992) thai Buddhist monk
Northrop Frye photo

“In literature you don't just read one poem or novel after another, but enter into a complete world of which every work of literature forms part.”

Northrop Frye (1912–1991) Canadian literary critic and literary theorist

"Quotes", The Educated Imagination (1963), Talk 3: Giants in Time
Context: In literature you don't just read one poem or novel after another, but enter into a complete world of which every work of literature forms part. This affects the writer as much as it does the reader.

Margaret Thatcher photo

“Watch your thoughts, for they will become actions. Watch your actions, for they'll become… habits. Watch your habits for they will forge your character. Watch your character, for it will make your destiny.”

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British stateswoman and politician
Laurie Halse Anderson photo

“Can the plural possessive express the feelings in your heart? If you don't learn art now, you will never learn to breathe!”

Laurie Halse Anderson Speak

Source: Speak

Nigel Cumberland photo

“The working world needs more empathic leaders, staff and colleagues. A person’s high level of empathy will make up for a wide array of other skills and attributes.”

Nigel Cumberland (1967) British author and leadership coach

Source: Your Job-Hunt Ltd – Advice from an Award-Winning Asian Headhunter (2003), Successful Recruitment in a Week (2012) https://books.google.ae/books?idp24GkAsgjGEC&printsecfrontcover&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIGjAA#vonepage&qnigel%20cumberland&ffalse, Managing Teams in a Week (2013) https://books.google.ae/books?idqZjO9_ov74EC&printsecfrontcover&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIIDAB#vonepage&qnigel%20cumberland&ffalse, Secrets of Success at Work – 50 techniques to excel (2014) https://books.google.ae/books?id4S7vAgAAQBAJ&printsecfrontcover&dqnigel+cumberland&hlen&saX&ved0ahUKEwjF75Xw0IHNAhULLcAKHazACBMQ6AEIJjAC#vonepage&qnigel%20cumberland&ffalse, p.37

Related topics