--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People relate to things that feel real to…" description: "\"People relate to things that feel real to them. All the good, happy, over-sexed and moneyed endings on TV are not the way most of us feel in our lives...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/anthony-edwards-23664_endings_people-relate-to-things-that-feel-real-t_598341.png" --- # People relate to things that feel real to them. All the… ![“People relate to things that feel real to them. All the good, happy, over-sexed and moneyed endings on TV are not the way most of us feel in our lives. The success of 'E.R.,' I think, is not relying on overly sentimental stories that are solved where people's lives wrap up nicely with happy endings.” quote by Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/anthony-edwards-23664_endings_people-relate-to-things-that-feel-real-t_598341.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/anthony-edwards-23664_endings_people-relate-to-things-that-feel-real-t_598341.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/anthony-edwards-23664_endings_people-relate-to-things-that-feel-real-t_598341.png) > “People relate to things that feel real to them. All the good, happy, over-sexed and moneyed endings on TV are not the way most of us feel in our lives. The success of 'E.R.,' I think, is not relying on overly sentimental stories that are solved where people's lives wrap up nicely with happy endings.” [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests audiences connect with narratives that reflect authentic, often imperfect experiences rather than idealized, overly happy conclusions. **In simple terms:** People prefer realistic stories over perfect happy endings. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity in storytelling. Themes authenticity media audience expectations realism storytelling Mood reflective critical analytical Type observational commentary media critique When to use this quote - scriptwriting - film production - marketing campaigns - personal storytelling - media criticism Key Concepts psychology of media consumption narrative realism cultural expectations Questions to Reflect On - How does realism affect viewer satisfaction? - When is escapism beneficial? A Different Perspective Overly realistic portrayals can also alienate viewers seeking escapism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happy ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-ending/) [Happy endings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-endings/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sentimental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentimental/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [There are no such things as happy endings. Never. They're totally manufactured by fiction writers who choose to end the story on a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-david/there-are-no-such-things-as-happy-endings-never-they-re-totally/) [Peter David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-david/) > [What did a happy ending even mean in real life, anyway? In stories you simply said, 'They lived happily ever after,' and that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/what-did-a-happy-ending-even-mean-in-real-life-anyway-in-stories-you/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Best not to look back. Best to believe there will be happily ever afters all the way around - and so there may be;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/best-not-to-look-back-best-to-believe-there-will-be-happily-ever/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Happy endings were never handed out. You had to fight for them, earn them with bruised hearts and sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/happy-endings-were-never-handed-out-you-had-to-fight-for-them-earn/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [Not only are there no happy endings,' she told him, 'there aren't even any endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/not-only-are-there-no-happy-endings-she-told-him-there-aren-t-even/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“How do you get the happy ending? John Irving ought to know. One of my favorite authors, Irving writes these multigenerational epics of fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-jay/how-do-you-get-the-happy-ending-john-irving-ought-to-know-one-of-my/) [Meg Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-jay/) > [What really counts are good endings, not flawed beginnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-taymiyyah/what-really-counts-are-good-endings-not-flawed-beginnings/) [Ibn Taymiyyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-taymiyyah/) > [“Happy endings aren't just for fairy tales and massage parlors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-gloss/happy-endings-aren-t-just-for-fairy-tales-and-massage-parlors/) [Susan Gloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-gloss/) > [Go for the happy endings, because life doesn't have any sequels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/go-for-the-happy-endings-because-life-doesn-t-have-any-sequels/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [I'm in the game of realism so happy endings probably feel a little bit too neat for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-m-in-the-game-of-realism-so-happy-endings-probably-feel-a-little/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [My family doesn't do happy endings. We do sad endings or frustrating endings or no endings at all. We are hardwired to expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-solo/my-family-doesn-t-do-happy-endings-we-do-sad-endings-or-frustrating/) [Hope Solo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-solo/) > [“I won, goddammit. I beat Kollberg. I beat you. I got everything I goddamn wanted: fame, wealth, power. Shit, I even got the girl."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/i-won-goddammit-i-beat-kollberg-i-beat-you-i-got-everything-i-goddamn/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) Raymond Briggs > [Happy endings come in different packages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-f-wright/happy-endings-come-in-different-packages/) [Jason F. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-f-wright/) > [I have an instinctual distrust of conventional happy endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-have-an-instinctual-distrust-of-conventional-happy-endings/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) ## More by Anthony Edwards > [To be a good actor you really have to want to act first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/to-be-a-good-actor-you-really-have-to-want-to-act-first/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [There's really no point in having children if you're not going to be home enough to father them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/there-s-really-no-point-in-having-children-if-you-re-not-going-to-be/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [I didn't start jogging or running until I was 37 years old. It was something that really helped me change my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/i-didn-t-start-jogging-or-running-until-i-was-37-years-old-it-was/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [I was spoiled by theater, where there is no editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/i-was-spoiled-by-theater-where-there-is-no-editor/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [To think one film makes a career is ridiculous. It's important to keep perspective and do things other than for money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/to-think-one-film-makes-a-career-is-ridiculous-it-s-important-to-keep/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [It's difficult to keep that perspective, I think, as a parent: to know your boundaries as to what's good parenting or just projecting your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/it-s-difficult-to-keep-that-perspective-i-think-as-a-parent-to-know/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [Be what you are. Don't change yourself for anything. God made you that way for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/be-what-you-are-don-t-change-yourself-for-anything-god-made-you-that/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [Why is there such vanity about hair? I make a point to bathe. I worry about boogers in my nose, and I ask the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/why-is-there-such-vanity-about-hair-i-make-a-point-to-bathe-i-worry/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [I did tons of theater in school, and then when I was 16 and got my driver's license, I started driving to Los Angeles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/i-did-tons-of-theater-in-school-and-then-when-i-was-16-and-got-my/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [I'm the youngest of five kids, and I wanted attention. And in Santa Barbara, there was lots of theater going on, so for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/i-m-the-youngest-of-five-kids-and-i-wanted-attention-and-in-santa/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [Knock wood, but I started acting professionally when I was 16, and I've always been able to support myself since then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/knock-wood-but-i-started-acting-professionally-when-i-was-16-and-i-ve/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [There are definitely roles within this industry that are industry-related, but to be a good actor, you really have to want to act first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/there-are-definitely-roles-within-this-industry-that-are-industry/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [You've got to make the most of where you are. Then, when you're somewhere else, you've got to have the ability to fulfill that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/you-ve-got-to-make-the-most-of-where-you-are-then-when-you-re/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [I had this thing about hanging out in dark theaters. My family thought I grew out of a rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/i-had-this-thing-about-hanging-out-in-dark-theaters-my-family-thought/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [I love being a part of something that is grassroots, and you can see the actual changes, the effect of what people do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/i-love-being-a-part-of-something-that-is-grassroots-and-you-can-see/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) [Explore all 25 Anthony Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) ## More Endings quotes > [“I’m more happy than not. Don’t forget me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/i-m-more-happy-than-not-don-t-forget-me/) [Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/) > [There are no such things as happy endings. Never. They're totally manufactured by fiction writers who choose to end the story on a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-david/there-are-no-such-things-as-happy-endings-never-they-re-totally/) [Peter David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-david/) > [“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-couldn-t-ever-really-fix-a-sad-story-you-could-only-make-another/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Happy endings come in different packages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-f-wright/happy-endings-come-in-different-packages/) [Jason F. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-f-wright/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) Raymond Briggs > [“I hope you come to hear the tale, and not just munch your way through the pages to the ending…endings are heartless. An ending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-hope-you-come-to-hear-the-tale-and-not-just-munch-your-way-through/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I won, goddammit. I beat Kollberg. I beat you. I got everything I goddamn wanted: fame, wealth, power. Shit, I even got the girl."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/i-won-goddammit-i-beat-kollberg-i-beat-you-i-got-everything-i-goddamn/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [“Every good story needs a good ending. Don't write the beginning of a novel without knowing the end of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-y-howle/every-good-story-needs-a-good-ending-don-t-write-the-beginning-of-a/) A.D.Y. Howle > [In His plan there are no true endings. Only everlasting beginnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/in-his-plan-there-are-no-true-endings-only-everlasting-beginnings/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“ The Prodigal Son They gave the deep end of their heart--a hue of crimson red, They whispered their desire and offered up their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-prodigal-son-they-gave-the-deep-end-of-their-heart-a-hue-of/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [My family doesn't do happy endings. We do sad endings or frustrating endings or no endings at all. We are hardwired to expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-solo/my-family-doesn-t-do-happy-endings-we-do-sad-endings-or-frustrating/) [Hope Solo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-solo/) > [I'm in the game of realism so happy endings probably feel a little bit too neat for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-m-in-the-game-of-realism-so-happy-endings-probably-feel-a-little/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [Go for the happy endings, because life doesn't have any sequels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/go-for-the-happy-endings-because-life-doesn-t-have-any-sequels/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“Well, if you are to help me with my work, you had better get used to stories without endings. True stories seldom have endings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/well-if-you-are-to-help-me-with-my-work-you-had-better-get-used-to/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Happy endings aren't just for fairy tales and massage parlors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-gloss/happy-endings-aren-t-just-for-fairy-tales-and-massage-parlors/) [Susan Gloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-gloss/) Browse all 528 Endings quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People relate to things that feel real to them. All the good, happy, over-sexed and moneyed endings on TV are not the way most of us feel in our lives. 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