What is fantasy? On one level, of course, it is a game: a pure pretense with no ulterior motive whatever. It is one child saying to another child, “Let’s be dragons, ” and then they’re dragons for an hour or two. It is escapism of the most admirable kind–the game played for the game’s sake. On another level, it is still a game, but a game played for very high stakes. Seen thus, as art, not spontaneous play, its affinity is not with daydream, but with dream. It is a different approach to reality, an alternative technique for apprehending and coping with existence. It is not antirational but pararational; not realistic, but surrealistic, superrealistic, a heightening of reality. In Freud’s terminology, it employs primary, not secondary process thinking. It employs archetypes, which, Jung warned us, are dangerous things. Dragons are more dangerous, and a good deal commoner, than bears. Fantasy is nearer to poetry, to mysticism, and to insanity than naturalistic fiction is. It is a real wilderness, and those who go there should not feel too safe. And their guides, the writers of fantasy, should take their responsibilities seriously. . Anonymous
About This Quote

Fantasy is a real wilderness, and those who go there should not feel too safe. And their guides, the writers of fantasy, should take their responsibilities seriously.

Some Similar Quotes
  1. People have forgotten this truth, " the fox said. "But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose. - Unknown
  2. People like to say love is unconditional, but it's not, and even if it was unconditional, it's still never free. There's always an expectation attached. They always want something in return. Like they want you to be happy or whatever and that makes you automatically... - Katja Millay
  3. Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands. - Roy T. Bennett
  4. If you hang out with chickens, you're going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles, you're going to fly. - Steve Maraboli
  5. Character – the willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life – is the source from which self-respect springs. - Joan Didion
Related Topics