--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I couldn't tell the difference between…" description: "\"I couldn't tell the difference between what was real and what I wanted to be real.\" — Erin Morgenstern" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/erin-morgenstern-806_being-real_i-couldn-t-tell-the-difference-between-w_2499320.png" --- # I couldn't tell the difference between what was real and… ![“I couldn't tell the difference between what was real and what I wanted to be real.” quote by Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/erin-morgenstern-806_being-real_i-couldn-t-tell-the-difference-between-w_2499320.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/erin-morgenstern-806_being-real_i-couldn-t-tell-the-difference-between-w_2499320.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/erin-morgenstern-806_being-real_i-couldn-t-tell-the-difference-between-w_2499320.png) > “I couldn't tell the difference between what was real and what I wanted to be real.” [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The line blurs between reality and desire, highlighting how imagination can reshape perception. **In simple terms:** Reality and desire can blend. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions. Themes reality desire imagination Mood thoughtful dreamy Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - dream analysis - creative brainstorming - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology fantasy Questions to Reflect On - When have you mistaken desire for reality? - How can you ground fantasies? A Different Perspective Desire may distort truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) ## Related quotes > [As for all I can tell, the only difference is that what many see we call a real thing, and what only one sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-for-all-i-can-tell-the-only-difference-is-that-what-many-see-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm sure I'm a schizophrenic. The problem is I can't tell the difference between which one's which, which one is the real me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-rhodes/i-m-sure-i-m-a-schizophrenic-the-problem-is-i-can-t-tell-the/) [Nick Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-rhodes/) > [If you couldn't tell the difference between what hurt and what didn't, you had no business being alive. You can't have any good times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/if-you-couldn-t-tell-the-difference-between-what-hurt-and-what-didn-t/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [I was trying to play as real possible - I wanted everything to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-giuntoli/i-was-trying-to-play-as-real-possible-i-wanted-everything-to-be-real/) [David Giuntoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-giuntoli/) > [I thought he wanted it, anyway," I say. "Not like this," Haymitch says. 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Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. They seek each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/they-are-enthusiasts-devotees-addicts-something-about-the-circus/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“The Burgess sisters arrive together. Tara and Lainie do a little bit of everything. Sometimes dancers, sometimes actresses. Once they were librarians, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/the-burgess-sisters-arrive-together-tara-and-lainie-do-a-little-bit/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Bedtime stories Eventide Rhapsodies Anthologies of Memory Please enter cautiously and feel free to open what is closed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/bedtime-stories-eventide-rhapsodies-anthologies-of-memory-please/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“When all of this is over, no matter which one of us wins, I will not let you go so easily. Agreed?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/when-all-of-this-is-over-no-matter-which-one-of-us-wins-i-will-not/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Even the ground beneath his feet feels unsatisfying to his boots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/even-the-ground-beneath-his-feet-feels-unsatisfying-to-his-boots/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Why haven’t you asked me how I do my tricks?” Celia asks, once they have reached the point where she is certain he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/why-haven-t-you-asked-me-how-i-do-my-tricks-celia-asks-once-they-have/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [And there are really never endings, happy or otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-there-are-really-never-endings-happy-or-otherwise/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I binge write. 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As he kisses her, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/marco-moves-to-close-the-distance-between-them-kissing-away-her-tears/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“«Importa más ser que parecer.»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/importa-m-s-ser-que-parecer/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [And before he can tell her to tell Widget goodbye for him if need be, she leans forward and kisses him, not on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-before-he-can-tell-her-to-tell-widget-goodbye-for-him-if-need-be/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) [Explore all 339 Erin Morgenstern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## More Being real quotes > [Don't be in such a hurry to condemn a person because she doesn't do what you do, or think as you think or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcom-x/don-t-be-in-such-a-hurry-to-condemn-a-person-because-she-doesn-t-do/) [Malcom X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcom-x/) > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Going through unknown people's profiles and judging them by their pictures is totally normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pradeep-chandra/going-through-unknown-people-s-profiles-and-judging-them-by-their/) Pradeep Chandra > [When you are important to another person, they will always find a way to make time for you - no excuses, no lies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-important-to-another-person-they-will-always-find-a-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you speak the truth watch the fuck niggas start hating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-speak-the-truth-watch-the-fuck-niggas-start-hating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think about everyone in my life that was harsh with me or who gave me tough love and told me things that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/i-think-about-everyone-in-my-life-that-was-harsh-with-me-or-who-gave/) [Charlamagne Tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [Laugh at every mistakes and realize that no one is perfect. 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