--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To me, what I define as defiance, in some…" description: "\"To me, what I define as defiance, in some ways, is knowing the \"reality\" and having the ability to possess a realist mindstate yet still working toward..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/alex-ebert-14444_ability_to-me-what-i-define-as-defiance-in-some_800335.jpg" --- # To me, what I define as defiance, in some ways, is knowing… ![“To me, what I define as defiance, in some ways, is knowing the "reality" and having the ability to possess a realist mindstate yet still working towards the fantasy and still being childish. While still having the understanding and capacity that would generally inspire pessimism: some sort of more…” quote by Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/alex-ebert-14444_ability_to-me-what-i-define-as-defiance-in-some_800335.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/alex-ebert-14444_ability_to-me-what-i-define-as-defiance-in-some_800335.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/alex-ebert-14444_ability_to-me-what-i-define-as-defiance-in-some_800335.jpg) > “To me, what I define as defiance, in some ways, is knowing the "reality" and having the ability to possess a realist mindstate yet still working towards the fantasy and still being childish. While still having the understanding and capacity that would generally inspire pessimism: some sort of more realist perspective that I think most people classify as adult. Anything like that and anything that's sort of fun.” [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing realistic awareness with imaginative ambition, retaining childlike wonder despite adult cynicism. **In simple terms:** Being realistic yet still dreaming, keeping fun alive. Key Takeaway Embrace both realism and imagination. Themes realism imagination optimism childhood adult perspective Mood reflective hopeful playful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - personal growth - overcoming cynicism Key Concepts cognitive dissonance dual mindset psychological resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture imagination without losing realism? - What fun activities keep you youthful? A Different Perspective May become overly idealistic, neglecting practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Defiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defiance/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Realist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realist/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [“There is no master narrative nor realist perspective to provide a background of social and historical facts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/there-is-no-master-narrative-nor-realist-perspective-to-provide-a/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [ I loved working on that show \[Defiance\]. I mean, that show was brutal. We worked long, brutal hours in really brutal weather. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/i-loved-working-on-that-show-defiance-i-mean-that-show-was-brutal-we/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [I suppose I'm saying that defiance is actually part of the lyric job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/i-suppose-i-m-saying-that-defiance-is-actually-part-of-the-lyric-job/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [There came to him an image of man’s whole life upon the earth. It seemed to him that all man’s life was like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wolfe/there-came-to-him-an-image-of-man-s-whole-life-upon-the-earth-it/) [Thomas Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wolfe/) > [Defiance rose up like vomit. I swung back and yelled, "Don't ever do that again!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/defiance-rose-up-like-vomit-i-swung-back-and-yelled-don-t-ever-do/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Mutual defiance made them alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/mutual-defiance-made-them-alike/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“When Dr. James Young Simpson sought to apply anesthesia to a woman in childbirth, the clergymen of his day foamed at the mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/when-dr-james-young-simpson-sought-to-apply-anesthesia-to-a-woman-in/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [“It’s probably my job to tell you life isn’t fair, but I figure you already know that. So instead, I’ll tell you that hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-redwine/it-s-probably-my-job-to-tell-you-life-isn-t-fair-but-i-figure-you/) [C.J. Redwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-redwine/) > [“Dare to dream, for in the daring there is defiance to live beyond your circumstances”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dare-to-dream-for-in-the-daring-there-is-defiance-to-live-beyond-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want nevertheless to add that for me the world is a defiance of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-magritte/i-want-nevertheless-to-add-that-for-me-the-world-is-a-defiance-of/) [Rene Magritte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-magritte/) > [As one, they leap, laughing, and that is where we leave them - mouths open, arms spread wide, fingers splayed to take in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/as-one-they-leap-laughing-and-that-is-where-we-leave-them-mouths-open/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There is all the difference in the world between the criminal's avoiding the public eye and the civil disobedience's taking the law into his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/there-is-all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-criminal-s/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [If you tell me, I will leave you alone," I said. "And if you don't tell me, I am going to grab the nearest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/if-you-tell-me-i-will-leave-you-alone-i-said-and-if-you-don-t-tell-me/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“Defiance, Catherine, is a gift of God, who is superior to nature. When nature comes to get you, honor God by treating it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/defiance-catherine-is-a-gift-of-god-who-is-superior-to-nature-when/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) ## More by Alex Ebert > [Physical pain is problematic because it's very difficult to transcend that. Sometimes you're just in physical pain, and that's a bummer. Even then, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/physical-pain-is-problematic-because-it-s-very-difficult-to-transcend/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [Berlin would be a great place to have no cell phone, I think. Especially if you were able to live in a central location.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/berlin-would-be-a-great-place-to-have-no-cell-phone-i-think/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [From about 5 years old on, I was very contemplative and started to become constantly filled with nostalgia for the present moment and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/from-about-5-years-old-on-i-was-very-contemplative-and-started-to/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [I took a lot of long summer road trips with my dad, and the mix of music we listened to on the road skipped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/i-took-a-lot-of-long-summer-road-trips-with-my-dad-and-the-mix-of/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [I think Edward Sharpe's music is counter-cultural music in the strangest sense where you have a time now where love, optimism, hope and community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/i-think-edward-sharpe-s-music-is-counter-cultural-music-in-the/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [In my heart, I'm always in my rail-hosen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/in-my-heart-i-m-always-in-my-rail-hosen/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [The goal is to be free and hopeful in the music. Because that's really the only intention you need. From there, every natural and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/the-goal-is-to-be-free-and-hopeful-in-the-music-because-that-s-really/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [What gets me pretty pissed off is the whole Monsanto engineered foods issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/what-gets-me-pretty-pissed-off-is-the-whole-monsanto-engineered-foods/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [For me, it's very childish to tour on a train. And I think that's a powerful quality, to inspire childishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/for-me-it-s-very-childish-to-tour-on-a-train-and-i-think-that-s-a/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [The album is a thing that you can hang out with between shows. I think that it's really nice to give people something they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/the-album-is-a-thing-that-you-can-hang-out-with-between-shows-i-think/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [I'm pretty freelance. A freelance meditator. I float from one thing to the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/i-m-pretty-freelance-a-freelance-meditator-i-float-from-one-thing-to/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [What makes me deeply vulnerable? Probably the thing I suffer most from and have the most uncontrollable reactions from is still social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/what-makes-me-deeply-vulnerable-probably-the-thing-i-suffer-most-from/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [For the better part of my life, I was always trying to manufacture somehow what I would consider 'living.' Because I grew up sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/for-the-better-part-of-my-life-i-was-always-trying-to-manufacture/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [I think fun is one of the best gifts we can give to each other. If everyone was having fun we'd be in good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/i-think-fun-is-one-of-the-best-gifts-we-can-give-to-each-other-if/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [When you're in pain, you're genuinely very, very alive, and that's beautiful. Especially emotional pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/when-you-re-in-pain-you-re-genuinely-very-very-alive-and-that-s/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) [Explore all 46 Alex Ebert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To me, what I define as defiance, in some ways, is knowing the \"reality\" and having the ability to possess a realist mindstate yet still working towards the fantasy and still being childish. 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