---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: None of it was real; nothing was real…"
description: "\"“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent withi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/george-saunders-317_infinitely_none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-eve_13507.jpg"
---

#  None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was…

![“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent within a vast energy-broth, but then we named them, and loved them, and, in this way, brought them forth. And now must lose them. I” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/george-saunders-317_infinitely_none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-eve_13507.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/george-saunders-317_infinitely_none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-eve_13507.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/george-saunders-317_infinitely_none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-eve_13507.jpg)

> ““None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent within a vast energy-broth, but then we named them, and loved them, and, in this way, brought them forth. And now must lose them. I””

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

## About This Quote

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

The passage reflects on the paradox of existence: reality is both illusory and profoundly tangible, emerging from an undefined primordial source that becomes meaningful through naming and love, yet is ultimately transient.

**In simple terms:** Reality is both illusion and deep truth.

Key Takeaway

Existence is fleeting and shaped by perception.

Themes

existentialism perception impermanence creation love meaning

Mood

melancholy wonder awe

Type

philosophical poetic reflective

When to use this quote

- contemplating loss
- creative writing
- philosophical discussion
- grief processing
- spiritual meditation

Key Concepts

reality naming energy transience

Practical Applications

- literary analysis
- therapy for existential anxiety

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean to say something is both real and not real?
- How does naming give substance to the abstract?

A Different Perspective

null

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real-2/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real-3/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“These and all things started as nothing, latent within a vast energy-broth, but then we named them, and loved them, and, in this way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/these-and-all-things-started-as-nothing-latent-within-a-vast-energy/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [I went to a soccer high school, and it was really different to being on 'Idol.' So I decided to quit school, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-s/i-went-to-a-soccer-high-school-and-it-was-really-different-to-being/)

[Astrid S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-s/)

> [I don't even know what would have happened to me had I not become a model. I don't know if I would have gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-valletta/i-don-t-even-know-what-would-have-happened-to-me-had-i-not-become-a/)

[Amber Valletta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-valletta/)

> [“When I stopped fighting all the things around me, all the things around me started to come together. All the activity, and the landscape,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/when-i-stopped-fighting-all-the-things-around-me-all-the-things/)

[Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/)

> [So I just had to step up how I was doing it and the moment that I stepped up and the moment I focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/so-i-just-had-to-step-up-how-i-was-doing-it-and-the-moment-that-i/)

[Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/)

> [At this point in my life, I'm not looking for any happy endings. I'm just looking to get things started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/at-this-point-in-my-life-i-m-not-looking-for-any-happy-endings-i-m/)

[Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/)

> [A lot of it was really, really fun, but at some point, things started getting weird. We didn't allow each other to breathe. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-caffey/a-lot-of-it-was-really-really-fun-but-at-some-point-things-started/)

[Charlotte Caffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-caffey/)

> [Once, I wanted to be a movie star. I just had to wait until I turned into an actor and then things started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-d-arbanville/once-i-wanted-to-be-a-movie-star-i-just-had-to-wait-until-i-turned/)

[Patti D'Arbanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-d-arbanville/)

> [When I started, I just put my nose to the grindstone, had great trainers and opponents like Fit Finlay, Arn Anderson, Booker T, Umaga…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/when-i-started-i-just-put-my-nose-to-the-grindstone-had-great/)

[Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/)

> [I started to learn some common sense. Even just sort of day-to-day things. I started to cook a little bit more and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/i-started-to-learn-some-common-sense-even-just-sort-of-day-to-day/)

[Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/)

> [I think running a business, doing what I've done for the last - since 1996, has taught me so many things because I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-greiner/i-think-running-a-business-doing-what-i-ve-done-for-the-last-since/)

[Lori Greiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-greiner/)

> [When I started, I had a really hard time getting work. It was the mid- to late-nineties. There was the WB. My age was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-zea/when-i-started-i-had-a-really-hard-time-getting-work-it-was-the-mid/)

[Natalie Zea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-zea/)

> [When things started to take off, I had more and more to do, and things were happening but I didn't quite have the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/when-things-started-to-take-off-i-had-more-and-more-to-do-and-things/)

[Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/)

## More by George Saunders

> [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“Wow wow wow is all I can say! Remember how I always buy lunchtime Scratch-Off ticket? Have I said? Maybe did not say? Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/wow-wow-wow-is-all-i-can-say-remember-how-i-always-buy-lunchtime/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“We must see God not as a Him (some linear rewarding fellow) but an IT, a great beast beyond our understanding, who wants something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-must-see-god-not-as-a-him-some-linear-rewarding-fellow-but-an-it-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [America, to me, should be shouting all the time, a bunch of shouting voices, most of them wrong, some of them nuts, but please,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/america-to-me-should-be-shouting-all-the-time-a-bunch-of-shouting/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [Whatever your supposed politics are - left, right - if you put it in a human connection, most people will rise to the occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whatever-your-supposed-politics-are-left-right-if-you-put-it-in-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“A Clinton staffer tells me his theory. Think about Frank Sinatra, he says: born to sing. Think about Willie Mays: born to play ball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/a-clinton-staffer-tells-me-his-theory-think-about-frank-sinatra-he/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [What America is, to me, is a guy doesn't want to buy, you let him not buy, you respect his not buying. A guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-america-is-to-me-is-a-guy-doesn-t-want-to-buy-you-let-him-not/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [What good the prophet in the wilderness may do is incremental and personal. It's good for us to hear someone speak the irrational truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-good-the-prophet-in-the-wilderness-may-do-is-incremental-and/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [We're in the transition between birth and death. But the one that people often know about is the transition between the moment of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-re-in-the-transition-between-birth-and-death-but-the-one-that/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [You don't want to be that parent - the one who dresses his kid in a cloth sack when all the other kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-don-t-want-to-be-that-parent-the-one-who-dresses-his-kid-in-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [I think it was a big revelation to me earlier in my life that people who appear to be evil are actually not. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-it-was-a-big-revelation-to-me-earlier-in-my-life-that-people/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Explore all 690 George Saunders quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

## More Infinitely quotes

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [I am infinitely strange to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/i-am-infinitely-strange-to-myself/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [Many young people now end a discussion with the supposedly definitive and unanswerable statement that such is their opinion, and their opinion is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/many-young-people-now-end-a-discussion-with-the-supposedly-definitive/)

[Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/)

> [The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-goodness-of-god-is-infinitely-more-wonderful-than-we-will-ever-be/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [“With a little effort, anything can be shown to connect with anything else: existence is infinitely cross-referenced. And everything has more than one definition. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-cooley/with-a-little-effort-anything-can-be-shown-to-connect-with-anything/)

[Martha Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-cooley/)

> [Our Heavenly Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of his servants, and the Everlasting Gospel is mightier in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/our-heavenly-father-is-far-more-merciful-infinitely-more-charitable/)

[Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/)

> [I was an infinitely hot and dense dot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leyner/i-was-an-infinitely-hot-and-dense-dot/)

[Mark Leyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leyner/)

> [Books are in no hurry. An act of creation is in no hurry; it reads us, it privileges us infinitely. The notion that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/books-are-in-no-hurry-an-act-of-creation-is-in-no-hurry-it-reads-us/)

[George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/)

> [Since we are an inextricable part of the field of consciousness, we are also infinitely creative, unbounded, and eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/since-we-are-an-inextricable-part-of-the-field-of-consciousness-we/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [The work of acting, in and of itself, is something that is infinitely enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/the-work-of-acting-in-and-of-itself-is-something-that-is-infinitely/)

[Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/)

> [no matter how happy we are, no matter how much we want our night to stretch out infinitely, sleep is inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/no-matter-how-happy-we-are-no-matter-how-much-we-want-our-night-to/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [Be infinitely flexible and constantly amazed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-infinitely-flexible-and-constantly-amazed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [From the director's point of view, it's infinitely easier to do violence than to do a good dramatic scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/from-the-director-s-point-of-view-it-s-infinitely-easier-to-do/)

[George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/)

> [“Men are infinitely malleable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/men-are-infinitely-malleable/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

Browse all 164 Infinitely quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent within a vast energy-broth, but then we named them, and loved them, and, in this way, brought them forth. And now must lose them. I”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Saunders"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Infinitely"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/george-saunders-317_infinitely_none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-eve_13507.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/george-saunders-317_infinitely_none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-eve_13507.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/george-saunders-317_infinitely_none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-eve_13507.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and…” — George Saunders",
                "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": "George Saunders",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“None of it was real; nothing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
