--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must come to grief and regret anyway…" description: "\"“ We must come to grief and regret anyway - and I for one would rather regret the reality than its phantasm, knowledge than hope, the deed than the hes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/a-s-byatt-5275_death_we-must-come-to-grief-and-regret-anyway_270028.png" --- # We must come to grief and regret anyway - and I for one… ![“We must come to grief and regret anyway - and I for one would rather regret the reality than its phantasm, knowledge than hope, the deed than the hesitation, true life and not mere sickly potentialities.” quote by A.S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/a-s-byatt-5275_death_we-must-come-to-grief-and-regret-anyway_270028.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/a-s-byatt-5275_death_we-must-come-to-grief-and-regret-anyway_270028.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/a-s-byatt-5275_death_we-must-come-to-grief-and-regret-anyway_270028.png) > ““ We must come to grief and regret anyway - and I for one would rather regret the reality than its phantasm, knowledge than hope, the deed than the hesitation, true life and not mere sickly potentialities. ”” [A.S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing real experiences over imagined possibilities leads to authentic living. **In simple terms:** Prefer reality over fantasy. Key Takeaway Embrace real actions over imagined regrets. Themes choice regret authenticity Mood thoughtful poetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - artistic pursuits Key Concepts Existentialism philosophical realism Questions to Reflect On - What regrets would you choose to avoid? - How does imagination shape your goals? A Different Perspective May undervalue the motivational power of imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [True life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-life/) ## Related quotes > [The humiliation that Jane had felt turned to something else--grief perhaps, or regret. 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Pain and regret are reality, and I know them now all too well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wishes-aren-t-reality-pain-and-regret-are-reality-and-i-know-them-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In short, if your body or mind Or your soul or your purse come to grief, You need only get drunk, and you'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kenneth-stephen/in-short-if-your-body-or-mind-or-your-soul-or-your-purse-come-to/) [James Kenneth Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kenneth-stephen/) > [One flesh they are; and one flesh, so I'd guess, Has but one heart, come grief or happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/one-flesh-they-are-and-one-flesh-so-i-d-guess-has-but-one-heart-come/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [All those who try to go it sole alone, Too proud to be beholden for relief, Are absolutely sure to come to grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/all-those-who-try-to-go-it-sole-alone-too-proud-to-be-beholden-for/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“The radiance of this beautiful scene shed a cruel light on every past horror, every insult tolerated, every unspoken retort, every gesture of rejection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-george/the-radiance-of-this-beautiful-scene-shed-a-cruel-light-on-every-past/) [Nina George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-george/) > [Do not brood over your past mistakes and failures as this will only fill your mind with grief, regret and depression. 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