Fiction vs. non-fiction

I once read somewhere that a person should only write fiction and read non-fiction.

I understand the logic behind this sentiment: You’ll only learn new things by reading non-fiction, and other people’s fiction is just a practice of their creative self-expression. Even though this may make practical sense, I don’t agree with it.

For me, fiction does teach me something; it teaches me empathy–or more precisely, it reinforces empathy.

Non-fiction fills my brain, but fiction fills my heart. I need both.