--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ideally I would like to be a romantic…" description: "\"Ideally I would like to be a romantic, but realistically I'm very cynical about it. I love to daydream about it, like going on dates in my head, like '..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/ethel-cain-5354_believe_ideally-i-would-like-to-be-a-romantic-bu_2048652.jpg" --- # Ideally I would like to be a romantic, but realistically… ![“Ideally I would like to be a romantic, but realistically I'm very cynical about it. I love to daydream about it, like going on dates in my head, like 'Wow, that would be so fun!' And then I like, never go on dates with anyone. I like to believe that it does exist, and I can be quite emotional but…” quote by Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/ethel-cain-5354_believe_ideally-i-would-like-to-be-a-romantic-bu_2048652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/ethel-cain-5354_believe_ideally-i-would-like-to-be-a-romantic-bu_2048652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/ethel-cain-5354_believe_ideally-i-would-like-to-be-a-romantic-bu_2048652.jpg) > “Ideally I would like to be a romantic, but realistically I'm very cynical about it. I love to daydream about it, like going on dates in my head, like 'Wow, that would be so fun!' And then I like, never go on dates with anyone. I like to believe that it does exist, and I can be quite emotional but like, don't call me pet names, don't be all sappy.” [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses a clash between idealistic romance and cynical realism, yearning for connection yet fearing vulnerability. **In simple terms:** Romantic dreams meet cynicism. Key Takeaway Balance hope with realistic expectations. Themes love vulnerability idealism realism Mood reflective conflicted Type personal emotional When to use this quote - dating - creative writing - personal reflection - mental health coping Key Concepts psychology emotional conflict Questions to Reflect On - What fears block you from pursuing romance? - How can you reconcile idealism with cynicism? A Different Perspective May romanticize romance without addressing underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynical love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical-love/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Pet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pet/) [Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic/) ## Related quotes > [“Their story was nothing like a romantic movie despite the epic crowd scene. Theirs was a tale of clumsy beginnings, quick getaways, and right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-ewens/their-story-was-nothing-like-a-romantic-movie-despite-the-epic-crowd/) [Tracy Ewens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-ewens/) > [I'd like to always be romantic in chess. Sadly, this doesn't always work like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/i-d-like-to-always-be-romantic-in-chess-sadly-this-doesn-t-always/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [But no, I don't really like romantic comedies, so I don't really care. I never go see 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/but-no-i-don-t-really-like-romantic-comedies-so-i-don-t-really-care-i/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The girls said she was too cynical about love, but how could you not be? On the surface, relations between men and women were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/the-girls-said-she-was-too-cynical-about-love-but-how-could-you-not/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-in-action-is-a-harsh-and-dreadful-thing-compared-with-love-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm somebody who believes, which is kind of funny because I'm cynical, that you can be in love with someone you met three days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-peters/i-m-somebody-who-believes-which-is-kind-of-funny-because-i-m-cynical/) [Maisie Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-peters/) > [Watching you walk out of my life hasn't made me bitter or cynical about love, but rather, it has shown me that if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/watching-you-walk-out-of-my-life-hasn-t-made-me-bitter-or-cynical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Young people are cynical about love. Ultimately, cynicism is the great mask of the disappointed and betrayed heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/young-people-are-cynical-about-love-ultimately-cynicism-is-the-great/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I'm not cynical about love at all. I'm very practical. I think love takes up a lot of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-m-not-cynical-about-love-at-all-i-m-very-practical-i-think-love/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [In life, if you don't risk anything, you risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/in-life-if-you-don-t-risk-anything-you-risk-everything/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Watching you walk out of my life does not make me bitter or cynical about love. But rather makes me realize that if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/watching-you-walk-out-of-my-life-does-not-make-me-bitter-or-cynical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ When people get cynical about love, they should look at us \[Yoko and John Lennon\] and see it is possible ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/when-people-get-cynical-about-love-they-should-look-at-us-yoko-and/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ehrmann/neither-be-cynical-about-love-for-in-the-face-of-all-aridity/) [Max Ehrmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ehrmann/) > [You can tell a lot about what a man lacks by watching what he is cynical about, and many of us are cynical about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/you-can-tell-a-lot-about-what-a-man-lacks-by-watching-what-he-is/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) ## More by Ethel Cain > [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [There's this weird misconstrued notion that everybody in this industry is rich. A lot of people in the industry are mad exploited. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/there-s-this-weird-misconstrued-notion-that-everybody-in-this/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I feel like 'Preacher's Daughter' was my Trojan horse, in a way. I'm excited to pull back, be behind the camera instead of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-feel-like-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-trojan-horse-in-a-way-i-m/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was very homeschooled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-very-homeschooled/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Being transgender is easily the most boring and human aspect about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/being-transgender-is-easily-the-most-boring-and-human-aspect-about-me/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was always singing as a kid. I was really annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-always-singing-as-a-kid-i-was-really-annoying/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I did not get out, and all I had to do was tell myself stories and get invested, and I've never gone out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-did-not-get-out-and-all-i-had-to-do-was-tell-myself-stories-and-get/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Ethel Cain lived and died loving and praying to be loved back. The entire 'Preacher's' trilogy is centred around love. Love lost, love gained,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/ethel-cain-lived-and-died-loving-and-praying-to-be-loved-back-the/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I work very slow. That's how I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-work-very-slow-that-s-how-i-like-it/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Yes, fries always more fries but specifically I would say, curly fries curly from Arby's. They are the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/yes-fries-always-more-fries-but-specifically-i-would-say-curly-fries/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I have to work myself up to even go to concerts at small venues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-have-to-work-myself-up-to-even-go-to-concerts-at-small-venues/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I did not have a lot of friends growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-did-not-have-a-lot-of-friends-growing-up/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [To me, the Ethel Cain story is a horror story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/to-me-the-ethel-cain-story-is-a-horror-story/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [If 'Preacher's Daughter' was my learning experience of what not to do with trauma and healing, 'Willoughby Tucker' has been my experience of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/if-preacher-s-daughter-was-my-learning-experience-of-what-not-to-do/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [I was extremely into the escapism of fantasy, so series like 'Redwall' and 'Eragon' were my bread and butter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-extremely-into-the-escapism-of-fantasy-so-series-like-redwall/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) [Explore all 101 Ethel Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [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/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ideally I would like to be a romantic, but realistically I'm very cynical about it. I love to daydream about it, like going on dates in my head, like 'Wow, that would be so fun!' And then I like, never go on dates with anyone. 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