--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world, life and human beings are only…" description: "\"The world, life and human beings are only an illusion, a phantom, a dream image.\" — August Strindberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/august-strindberg-3638_dream_the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only_1205663.png" --- # The world, life and human beings are only an illusion, a… ![“The world, life and human beings are only an illusion, a phantom, a dream image.” quote by August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/august-strindberg-3638_dream_the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only_1205663.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/august-strindberg-3638_dream_the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only_1205663.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/august-strindberg-3638_dream_the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only_1205663.png) > “The world, life and human beings are only an illusion, a phantom, a dream image.” [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests existence is fleeting and intangible, like a dream or illusion. **In simple terms:** Life is like a dream. Key Takeaway Question reality. Themes existence illusion philosophy Mood contemplative melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - art criticism - personal reflection - spiritual inquiry Key Concepts Phenomenology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel life is a dream? - What grounds you? A Different Perspective Illusionary view may ignore tangible responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Phantom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantom/) [Phantoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantoms/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The Jesus who makes everything okay for everyone is a phantom, a dream, not a real figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-jesus-who-makes-everything-okay-for-everyone-is-a-phantom-a-dream/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The phantom-host has faded quite, Splendor and Terror gone-- Portent or promise--and gives way To pale, meek Dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-phantom-host-has-faded-quite-splendor-and-terror-gone-portent-or/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Travel, which had once charmed him, seemed, at length, unendurable, a business of color without substance, a phantom chase after his own dream's shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/travel-which-had-once-charmed-him-seemed-at-length-unendurable-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Each forward step we take we leave some phantom of ourselves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/each-forward-step-we-take-we-leave-some-phantom-of-ourselves-behind/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Time is but a phantom dagger That motion lifts to slay itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-bodenheim/time-is-but-a-phantom-dagger-that-motion-lifts-to-slay-itself/) [Maxwell Bodenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-bodenheim/) > [This poor world, the object of so much insane attachment, we are about to leave; it is but misery, vanity, and folly; a phantom--the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/this-poor-world-the-object-of-so-much-insane-attachment-we-are-about/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [If you want someone to tell you what to think," the phantom answered briskly, without looking up, "you will never be short of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/if-you-want-someone-to-tell-you-what-to-think-the-phantom-answered/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Truth is a necessary phantom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/truth-is-a-necessary-phantom/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Tonight I gave you my soul, and I am dead." - Christine, from Gaston Leroux's: The Phantom of the Opera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-leroux/tonight-i-gave-you-my-soul-and-i-am-dead-christine-from-gaston-leroux/) [Gaston Leroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-leroux/) > [For the Phantom, there is only one girl. For Sam, there is only one horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-farley/for-the-phantom-there-is-only-one-girl-for-sam-there-is-only-one-horse/) [Terri Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-farley/) > [This was life, I supposed, running and running and running, and realizing along the way that the phantom was getting closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hamilton/this-was-life-i-supposed-running-and-running-and-running-and/) [Jane Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hamilton/) > [Because one day I'll leave you a phantom to lead you in the summer to join the black parade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/because-one-day-i-ll-leave-you-a-phantom-to-lead-you-in-the-summer-to/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [Material existence is entirely founded on a phantom realm of mind, whose nature and geography are unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/material-existence-is-entirely-founded-on-a-phantom-realm-of-mind/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Nothing is greater than to break the chains from the bodies of men, nothing nobler than to destroy the phantom of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/nothing-is-greater-than-to-break-the-chains-from-the-bodies-of-men/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Even when the Phantom's leased, them hoes wanna get in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/even-when-the-phantom-s-leased-them-hoes-wanna-get-in/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) ## More by August Strindberg > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Sometimes not seeing things can be a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/sometimes-not-seeing-things-can-be-a-blessing/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [When aristocrats pretend they're common people -- they get common!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/when-aristocrats-pretend-they-re-common-people-they-get-common/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“It appears from these letters that for some time past you have been arraying my old friends against me by spreading reports about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/it-appears-from-these-letters-that-for-some-time-past-you-have-been/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Everything can happen, everything is possible and probable. Time and place do not exist; on a significant bases of reality, the imagination spins, weaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/everything-can-happen-everything-is-possible-and-probable-time-and/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“LAWYER. Justice that destroys itself in seeking to be just!— — —Right, that so often fosters wrong!!! DAUGHTER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/lawyer-justice-that-destroys-itself-in-seeking-to-be-just-right-that/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“CAPTAIN. Well, you dear, have I forgotten it? You have been like a mother to me, and always have stood by me when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/captain-well-you-dear-have-i-forgotten-it-you-have-been-like-a-mother/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Now I know the full power of evil. It makes ugliness seem beautiful and goodness seem ugly and weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/now-i-know-the-full-power-of-evil-it-makes-ugliness-seem-beautiful/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [When people drink, they talk, and talk is dangerous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/when-people-drink-they-talk-and-talk-is-dangerous/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“My daughter became my enemy when she had to choose between me and you. And you, my wife, you have been my archenemy, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/my-daughter-became-my-enemy-when-she-had-to-choose-between-me-and-you/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“LAURA. Suppose that I was prepared to bear anything, even to being despised and driven out, everything for the sake of being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/laura-suppose-that-i-was-prepared-to-bear-anything-even-to-being/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“Now you have fulfilled your function as an unfortunately necessary father and breadwinner, you are not needed any longer and you must go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/now-you-have-fulfilled-your-function-as-an-unfortunately-necessary/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“The mother was your friend, you see, but the woman was your enemy, and love between the sexes is strife. Do not think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/the-mother-was-your-friend-you-see-but-the-woman-was-your-enemy-and/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) [Explore all 119 August Strindberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world, life and human beings are only an illusion, a phantom, a dream image.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "August Strindberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only-an-illusion-a-phantom-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only-an-illusion-a-phantom-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/august-strindberg-3638_dream_the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only_1205663.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/august-strindberg-3638_dream_the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only_1205663.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/august-strindberg-3638_dream_the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only_1205663.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world, life and human beings are only an illusion, a phantom, a dream image.” — August Strindberg", "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": "August Strindberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The world, life and human beings...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only-an-illusion-a-phantom-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/the-world-life-and-human-beings-are-only-an-illusion-a-phantom-a/#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 } } ] } ```