---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Speaking it aloud would reveal the…"
description: "\"“Speaking it aloud would reveal the absurdity of it, and he preferred the dream.”\" — Anthony Ryan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/anthony-ryan-11202_dream_speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absur_1130003.jpg"
---

#  Speaking it aloud would reveal the absurdity of it, and he…

![“Speaking it aloud would reveal the absurdity of it, and he preferred the dream.” quote by Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/anthony-ryan-11202_dream_speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absur_1130003.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/anthony-ryan-11202_dream_speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absur_1130003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/anthony-ryan-11202_dream_speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absur_1130003.jpg)

> ““Speaking it aloud would reveal the absurdity of it, and he preferred the dream.””

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Speaking the truth would expose its absurdity; he prefers to live in a dream instead.

**In simple terms:** Avoiding reality to escape absurdity.

Key Takeaway

Choose imagination over harsh truth.

Themes

truth absurdity dreams avoidance psychology

Mood

thoughtful melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal crises
- creative projects
- stressful decisions

Key Concepts

Existentialism cognitive dissonance escapism

Questions to Reflect On

- When do you choose dream over truth?
- What are the costs of avoidance?

A Different Perspective

Dreams may prevent confronting problems.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) [Absurdity Preferred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity-preferred-3099292/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Preferred Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preferred-dream-3099295/) [Reveal Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reveal-absurdity-3099293/) [Speaking Aloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-aloud-3099294/)

## Related quotes

> [“He was so damn perverse, he preferred to dream it than to make it come true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/he-was-so-damn-perverse-he-preferred-to-dream-it-than-to-make-it-come/)

[Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/)

> [It is possible to have words come to your mind, and still refrain from speaking them aloud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/it-is-possible-to-have-words-come-to-your-mind-and-still-refrain-from/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [“When speaking aloud, you punctuate constantly — with body language. Your listener hears commas, dashes, question marks, exclamation points, quotation marks as you shout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/when-speaking-aloud-you-punctuate-constantly-with-body-language-your/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [“There is great power in our words, because they are thoughts to which we have given additional energy by speaking them aloud so another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/there-is-great-power-in-our-words-because-they-are-thoughts-to-which/)

[Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/)

> [Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/unaware-of-the-absurdity-of-it-we-introduce-our-own-petty-household/)

[Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/)

> [I've always felt that comedy doesn't just come from misery. It comes from an absurdity around that misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-ve-always-felt-that-comedy-doesn-t-just-come-from-misery-it-comes/)

[Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/)

> [Desire is this absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility. Ever optimistic, ever resourceful, desire tells us what it sees as it speeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-this-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/)

[Wendy Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-farley/)

> [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/)

[Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/)

> [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/such-squeamish-youths-as-cannot-bear-to-be-connected-with-a-little/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/)

[Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/)

## More by Anthony Ryan

> [“Your realm is an insane place. In Volaria, no-one goes hungry, slaves are no use when they starve. Those freeborn too lazy or lacking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/your-realm-is-an-insane-place-in-volaria-no-one-goes-hungry-slaves/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [Men who love themselves hate those who would dim their glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/men-who-love-themselves-hate-those-who-would-dim-their-glory/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“I may not be the best Fief Lord, but I’m resolved to be the best uncle. And as a present to my niece I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/i-may-not-be-the-best-fief-lord-but-i-m-resolved-to-be-the-best-uncle/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“You hide it well, but I can see it, Lord Verniers. You hate us. We have beaten you to obedience but it's still there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/you-hide-it-well-but-i-can-see-it-lord-verniers-you-hate-us-we-have/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“Lust? I have no desire to incite lust in anyone." Veliss turned to her with a quizzical expression, her smile suddenly genuine. "Then I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/lust-i-have-no-desire-to-incite-lust-in-anyone-veliss-turned-to-her/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“I've survived revolution, war, and over a decade on this continent," the Burgrave reflected. "But by all the ghosts of the hundred emperors, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/i-ve-survived-revolution-war-and-over-a-decade-on-this-continent-the/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“The promise of power wasn't enough, he thought. So now she tempts me with knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/the-promise-of-power-wasn-t-enough-he-thought-so-now-she-tempts-me/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“I did wonder if I'd have cause to rue my action. Now I believe it can safely be filed under Necessary Regrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/i-did-wonder-if-i-d-have-cause-to-rue-my-action-now-i-believe-it-can/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“Sellin shrugged. “Times past, brother. Can’t live in ’em. Just learn from ’em.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/sellin-shrugged-times-past-brother-can-t-live-in-em-just-learn-from-em/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“No-one knows what became of him, although some say on the coldest nights, in a place where it’s said a village once stood, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/no-one-knows-what-became-of-him-although-some-say-on-the-coldest/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“A fool is any man who doesn’t think he’s a fool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/a-fool-is-any-man-who-doesn-t-think-he-s-a-fool/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“War is ever the folly of the ignorant. But I have seen much to convince me some wars must be fought, to the bitterest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/war-is-ever-the-folly-of-the-ignorant-but-i-have-seen-much-to/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“An hour later it had become obvious that as a swordsman Alucius made a fine poet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/an-hour-later-it-had-become-obvious-that-as-a-swordsman-alucius-made/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [“Cruelty is in all of us,” he said. “But they made it a virtue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/cruelty-is-in-all-of-us-he-said-but-they-made-it-a-virtue/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

> [War is always an adventure to those who've never seen it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/war-is-always-an-adventure-to-those-who-ve-never-seen-it/)

[Anthony Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

[Explore all 54 Anthony Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/)

## More Absurdity quotes

> [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/)

[Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/such-squeamish-youths-as-cannot-bear-to-be-connected-with-a-little/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/)

[Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/)

> [Desire is this absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility. Ever optimistic, ever resourceful, desire tells us what it sees as it speeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-this-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/)

[Wendy Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-farley/)

> [I've always felt that comedy doesn't just come from misery. It comes from an absurdity around that misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-ve-always-felt-that-comedy-doesn-t-just-come-from-misery-it-comes/)

[Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/)

> [Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/unaware-of-the-absurdity-of-it-we-introduce-our-own-petty-household/)

[Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/)

> [“Christianity would be helpless without the idea of free will and the idea of free will would be helpless without incongruity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/christianity-would-be-helpless-without-the-idea-of-free-will-and-the/)

[Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/)

> [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/)

[A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/)

> [The tales of our exploits will survive as long as the human voice itself,' he said. 'And even after that, when the robots recall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-tales-of-our-exploits-will-survive-as-long-as-the-human-voice/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [Life packed a clever one-two punch: cruelty and absurdity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/life-packed-a-clever-one-two-punch-cruelty-and-absurdity/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

[Browse all 689 Absurdity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Speaking it aloud would reveal the absurdity of it, and he preferred the dream.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anthony Ryan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absurdity-of-it-and-he-preferred/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Absurdity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absurdity-of-it-and-he-preferred/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/anthony-ryan-11202_dream_speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absur_1130003.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/anthony-ryan-11202_dream_speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absur_1130003.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/anthony-ryan-11202_dream_speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absur_1130003.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Speaking it aloud would reveal the absurdity of it, and he preferred the dream.” — Anthony Ryan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anthony Ryan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ryan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Speaking it aloud would reveal the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absurdity-of-it-and-he-preferred/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ryan/speaking-it-aloud-would-reveal-the-absurdity-of-it-and-he-preferred/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```