--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Empty of anything that defined it as…" description: "\"“Empty of anything that defined it as real. That was how I felt sometimes. I existed in a world made for show, not depth, not feeling.”\" — Gwen Hayes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/gwen-hayes-9374_existed_empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-rea_711651.jpg" --- # Empty of anything that defined it as real. That was how I… ![“Empty of anything that defined it as real. That was how I felt sometimes. I existed in a world made for show, not depth, not feeling.” quote by Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/gwen-hayes-9374_existed_empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-rea_711651.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/gwen-hayes-9374_existed_empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-rea_711651.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/gwen-hayes-9374_existed_empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-rea_711651.jpg) > ““Empty of anything that defined it as real. That was how I felt sometimes. I existed in a world made for show, not depth, not feeling.”” [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling disconnected in a superficial world, yearning for depth and authenticity. **In simple terms:** Feeling empty in a shallow world. Key Takeaway Seek genuine connections and depth. Themes loneliness authenticity superficiality Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - urban life - social media - personal relationships - artistic expression Key Concepts existentialism social critique Questions to Reflect On - How do you find depth in daily life? - What authentic experiences nourish you? A Different Perspective Superficial environments can mask underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defined Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined-real-5611414/) [Depth Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth-feeling-914462/) [Existed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existed/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Felt Existed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-existed-5611413/) ## Related quotes > [“It was as if he had known her for a long, long time and before he knew her, he knew nothing because he felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faraaz-kazi/it-was-as-if-he-had-known-her-for-a-long-long-time-and-before-he-knew/) [Faraaz Kazi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faraaz-kazi/) > [Yesterdays depth is feeling very shallow, I wanna go deeper, deeper still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-edwards/yesterdays-depth-is-feeling-very-shallow-i-wanna-go-deeper-deeper/) [Misty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-edwards/) > [What use having a great depth of field, if there is not an adequate depth of feeling?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/what-use-having-a-great-depth-of-field-if-there-is-not-an-adequate/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Depth of feeling and clarity of thought isn’t the same as knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/depth-of-feeling-and-clarity-of-thought-isn-t-the-same-as-knowing/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [The depth of the feeling continued to surprise and threaten me, but each time it hit again and I bore it...I would discover that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/the-depth-of-the-feeling-continued-to-surprise-and-threaten-me-but/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“I have never felt so lost as I have these past two weeks. I can't believe I never even recognized the depth of feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sawyer-bennett/i-have-never-felt-so-lost-as-i-have-these-past-two-weeks-i-can-t/) [Sawyer Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sawyer-bennett/) > [I dislike what has happened to the quality of the sound of music; there is little depth or feeling left, and people can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-dislike-what-has-happened-to-the-quality-of-the-sound-of-music/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [When your sense of self is no longer tied to thought, is no longer conceptual, there is a depth of feeling, of sensing, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-your-sense-of-self-is-no-longer-tied-to-thought-is-no-longer/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Grief can have a quality of profound healing because we are forced to a depth of feeling that is usually below the threshold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-levine/grief-can-have-a-quality-of-profound-healing-because-we-are-forced-to/) [Stephen Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-levine/) > [“And you realize that you've finally grown up. That youth has finished. In its place you have knowledge, which you must carry. You must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/and-you-realize-that-you-ve-finally-grown-up-that-youth-has-finished/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [The kind of head space that good songs come from is one of extreme emotion, extreme depth of feeling, which has an impact on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cmat/the-kind-of-head-space-that-good-songs-come-from-is-one-of-extreme/) [CMAT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cmat/) > [“Have you seen the world lately, McGrath? The cruelty, the lack of connection? If you're an artist, I'm sure you can't help but wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/have-you-seen-the-world-lately-mcgrath-the-cruelty-the-lack-of/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [“I don't think you comprehend the depth of my feeling for you. It goes beyond wanting to be near you, or protect you. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-don-t-think-you-comprehend-the-depth-of-my-feeling-for-you-it-goes/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [We're living longer, we social network alone with our screens, and our depth of feeling gets shallower. Soon it'll be nothing but a tide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/we-re-living-longer-we-social-network-alone-with-our-screens-and-our/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [I've always believed a great photographer should concentrate more on depth of feeling and less on depth of field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-dupain/i-ve-always-believed-a-great-photographer-should-concentrate-more-on/) [Max Dupain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-dupain/) ## More by Gwen Hayes > [“Taking Mike home is a great idea," Donny said. "See you tomorrow. Thanks for your help." Gabe kissed her hand. "I'll be back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/taking-mike-home-is-a-great-idea-donny-said-see-you-tomorrow-thanks/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“And then I met this girl.” He paused, his fingers finding mine in a tight squeeze. “And she made all my dark corners light”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/and-then-i-met-this-girl-he-paused-his-fingers-finding-mine-in-a/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“He walked backwards a few more steps and brought Brittany’s hand to his lips without taking his eyes off me. My hand tingled where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/he-walked-backwards-a-few-more-steps-and-brought-brittany-s-hand-to/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“Plus my boots were made of awesome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/plus-my-boots-were-made-of-awesome/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“Some girls will love you for your intelligence, your spirit, or your smile. Some girls will fall all over themselves if you even make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/some-girls-will-love-you-for-your-intelligence-your-spirit-or-your/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“I just called to tell you good night. Get some sleep, Theia. Tomorrow is a big day.” “I would sleep much better if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/i-just-called-to-tell-you-good-night-get-some-sleep-theia-tomorrow-is/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“Who was your first kiss?” Heat rushed into my face. I flattered myself by thinking maybe he wanted to kiss me. I wished he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/who-was-your-first-kiss-heat-rushed-into-my-face-i-flattered-myself/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“She wiped her eye and pressed her lips together. “I sleep in your room. I’m fairly pathetic about it, really. I wear your T-shirts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/she-wiped-her-eye-and-pressed-her-lips-together-i-sleep-in-your-room/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“Just because you took too much for granted before, doesn't mean you can't learn from your mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/just-because-you-took-too-much-for-granted-before-doesn-t-mean-you/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“Every time that boy smiles, somewhere a puppy died.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/every-time-that-boy-smiles-somewhere-a-puppy-died/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“So he was a sweet-talking, cross-dressing, fortune-telling...surfer?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/so-he-was-a-sweet-talking-cross-dressing-fortune-telling-surfer/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“Theia: "We're very high up here, aren't we?" Haden: "Well, you certainly are. Theia, I need you to wake up." Theia: "Did you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/theia-we-re-very-high-up-here-aren-t-we-haden-well-you-certainly-are/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“Some high school boys define themselves by their peers, some by their dreams, and some by their wallets. They are characterized by their family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/some-high-school-boys-define-themselves-by-their-peers-some-by-their/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“Repressing is a natural instinct, but it doesn't allow for healing. Coming out of repression can be very similar to reliving the original fear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/repressing-is-a-natural-instinct-but-it-doesn-t-allow-for-healing/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [“How can I be sure? Tell me something only you would know.” There went his hands to his hair again. And when that frustrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/how-can-i-be-sure-tell-me-something-only-you-would-know-there-went/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) [Explore all 71 Gwen Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) ## More Existed quotes > [“For a long while I have lived with the notion that I was the most normal being that ever existed. This notion gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/for-a-long-while-i-have-lived-with-the-notion-that-i-was-the-most/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [“The air felt different in my lungs. The world no longer looked the same. You change and then you change again. You become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/the-air-felt-different-in-my-lungs-the-world-no-longer-looked-the/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Perfect happiness existed, but perhaps only in small increments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elin-hilderbrand/perfect-happiness-existed-but-perhaps-only-in-small-increments/) [Elin Hilderbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elin-hilderbrand/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-gonzalez-torres/above-all-else-it-is-about-leaving-a-mark-that-i-existed-i-was-here-i/) [Felix Gonzalez-Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-gonzalez-torres/) > [“If Erik existed and lived life in despair, We wish him to know we are here and we care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/if-erik-existed-and-lived-life-in-despair-we-wish-him-to-know-we-are/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [Karma has always existed, as have you, I, and all things in this wonderful universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/karma-has-always-existed-as-have-you-i-and-all-things-in-this/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [For me, Mexploitation seemed like something that should have existed, but didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rodriguez/for-me-mexploitation-seemed-like-something-that-should-have-existed/) [Robert Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rodriguez/) > [“Sometimes, when I was looking out for my own happiness, I almost forgot you existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gibbons/sometimes-when-i-was-looking-out-for-my-own-happiness-i-almost-forgot/) [Alan Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gibbons/) > [I was progressive before the term progressive actually existed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/i-was-progressive-before-the-term-progressive-actually-existed/) [Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/) > [“(We) consist of everything the world consists of, each of us, and just as our body contains the genealogical table of evolution as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/we-consist-of-everything-the-world-consists-of-each-of-us-and-just-as/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“The only thing she could be certain of was that she existed. All else was suspect, even her own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/the-only-thing-she-could-be-certain-of-was-that-she-existed-all-else/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [We've decided what we are. That's the dream. When the dream fades, it's not that we don't exist. How could we not exist since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/we-ve-decided-what-we-are-that-s-the-dream-when-the-dream-fades-it-s/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If I find out that you stopped caring for no reason.. I am going to stop believing you ever existed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-find-out-that-you-stopped-caring-for-no-reason-i-am-going-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At a lot of companies founded on principles, the notion of making money is almost antithetical to the ethos of the place. From the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/at-a-lot-of-companies-founded-on-principles-the-notion-of-making/) [John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/) [Browse all 439 Existed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Empty of anything that defined it as real. That was how I felt sometimes. I existed in a world made for show, not depth, not feeling.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gwen Hayes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-real-that-was-how-i-felt/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Existed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-real-that-was-how-i-felt/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/gwen-hayes-9374_existed_empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-rea_711651.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/gwen-hayes-9374_existed_empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-rea_711651.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e76/gwen-hayes-9374_existed_empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-rea_711651.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Empty of anything that defined it as real. That was how I felt sometimes. I existed in a world made for…” — Gwen Hayes", "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": "Gwen Hayes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Empty of anything that defined it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-real-that-was-how-i-felt/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/empty-of-anything-that-defined-it-as-real-that-was-how-i-felt/#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 } } ] } ```