--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people simply didn't realize they…" description: "\"“Most people simply didn't realize they could do things that bent their reality. It was kind of like growing up in a land with no deep rivers or lakes...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/ilona-andrews-150_deep_most-people-simply-didn-t-realize-they-c_2150438.jpg" --- # Most people simply didn't realize they could do things… ![“Most people simply didn't realize they could do things that bent their reality. It was kind of like growing up in a land with no deep rivers or lakes. If you never tried, how would you know if you could swim? But” quote by Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/ilona-andrews-150_deep_most-people-simply-didn-t-realize-they-c_2150438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/ilona-andrews-150_deep_most-people-simply-didn-t-realize-they-c_2150438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/ilona-andrews-150_deep_most-people-simply-didn-t-realize-they-c_2150438.jpg) > ““Most people simply didn't realize they could do things that bent their reality. It was kind of like growing up in a land with no deep rivers or lakes. If you never tried, how would you know if you could swim? But”” [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often underestimate their potential to change reality until they try, similar to discovering hidden rivers. **In simple terms:** You can’t know your abilities without trying. Key Takeaway Take risks to discover new possibilities. Themes potential growth exploration self‑discovery Mood inspirational encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career change - skill learning - creative projects - personal challenges Key Concepts psychology motivation self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What hidden talent could you explore? - How might trying change your view of reality? A Different Perspective Fear of failure may prevent trying. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep/) [Deep Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-rivers-3601715/) [Know Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-swim-631129/) [Realize things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-things/) [Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swim/) ## Related quotes > [I don't even know how to swim!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-thompson/i-don-t-even-know-how-to-swim/) [Lea Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-thompson/) > [“At Honda, it’s sink or swim. They don’t teach you step-by-step; they just throw you into the pool and let you figure it out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-rothfeder/at-honda-it-s-sink-or-swim-they-don-t-teach-you-step-by-step-they/) [Jeffrey Rothfeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-rothfeder/) > [I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-drown-my-demons-they-know-how-to-swim/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I cant drown my demons, because they know how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/i-cant-drown-my-demons-because-they-know-how-to-swim/) [James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/) > [“You must walk on water, especially if you don’t know how to swim.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-must-walk-on-water-especially-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-swim/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [If you ever know a man who tries to drown his sorrows, kindly inform him his sorrows know how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/if-you-ever-know-a-man-who-tries-to-drown-his-sorrows-kindly-inform/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [Go to hell for heavens sake. I can't drown my demons: they know how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/go-to-hell-for-heavens-sake-i-can-t-drown-my-demons-they-know-how-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't drowned my demons they know how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-klassen/i-can-t-drowned-my-demons-they-know-how-to-swim/) [Julia Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-klassen/) > [Deep rivers run quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/deep-rivers-run-quiet/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I bounded o'er the mountains, by the sides of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams, wherever nature led.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/i-bounded-o-er-the-mountains-by-the-sides-of-the-deep-rivers-and-the/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [“the mind has deep rivers of memory and sensation whose existence one never suspects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-grimsley/the-mind-has-deep-rivers-of-memory-and-sensation-whose-existence-one/) [Jim Grimsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-grimsley/) > [Just because anyone can pilot a ship in the sea doesnt always mean that they also know how to swim in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/just-because-anyone-can-pilot-a-ship-in-the-sea-doesnt-always-mean/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [If you know someone who tries to drown their sorrows, you might tell them sorrows know how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-know-someone-who-tries-to-drown-their-sorrows-you-might-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I am like a lifeguard with the terrible, secret knowledge that he does not himself know how to swim.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shira-nayman/i-am-like-a-lifeguard-with-the-terrible-secret-knowledge-that-he-does/) [Shira Nayman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shira-nayman/) > [You'd be amazed at what I can do. Did you know I can swim?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/you-d-be-amazed-at-what-i-can-do-did-you-know-i-can-swim/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) ## More by Ilona Andrews > [“Did he kill Grandmother?” I whispered. “Don’t be ridiculous,” Erra’s voice said in my ear. “She is already dead. Besides, your grandmother was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/did-he-kill-grandmother-i-whispered-don-t-be-ridiculous-erra-s-voice/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The only way to make sure that the Hand didn't get to you would have been to kill your brother. I could've done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-only-way-to-make-sure-that-the-hand-didn-t-get-to-you-would-have/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“He hit her with his best smile. Her eyes widened. She took a deep breath. 'Oh no, not that seductive face. I'm overcome with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-hit-her-with-his-best-smile-her-eyes-widened-she-took-a-deep/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Because he doesn’t want me talking to my grandmother.” Barabas looked at Curran. Curran shrugged. “It’s a family thing. Sometimes your father puts your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/because-he-doesn-t-want-me-talking-to-my-grandmother-barabas-looked/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I had forgotten that talking to you is like trying to pet a cactus." Saiman said dryly. "Thank you for reminding me." "Always happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-had-forgotten-that-talking-to-you-is-like-trying-to-pet-a-cactus/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [« He squeezed his hands into fists. I picked up a grapefruit-sized rock and handed it to him. It went flying. Home run, Beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-squeezed-his-hands-into-fists-i-picked-up-a-grapefruit-sized-rock/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“He came for me. I couldn’t believe it. He came for me . Into a flying palace full of thousands of armed rakshasas in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-came-for-me-i-couldn-t-believe-it-he-came-for-me-into-a-flying/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Saiman picked up a coffee mug, stared at it, and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into a dozen pieces. We looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/saiman-picked-up-a-coffee-mug-stared-at-it-and-hurled-it-against-the/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Slowly the reality of the situation sank in. He got his ass kicked, learned nothing, and got saved by a dumb dog and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/slowly-the-reality-of-the-situation-sank-in-he-got-his-ass-kicked/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“I paused with the pen in my hand. "He burst into flames?" "He became engulfed in fire." "Was his buddy made out of orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-paused-with-the-pen-in-my-hand-he-burst-into-flames-he-became/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“He hung his head. “Am I punished?” “Yes. I’m too mad to punish you right now. We’ll talk about it when we get home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-hung-his-head-am-i-punished-yes-i-m-too-mad-to-punish-you-right/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The pervert." "He prefers to think of himself as sexual deviant." "Semantics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-pervert-he-prefers-to-think-of-himself-as-sexual-deviant-semantics/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“I want you to understand me. This isn’t vengeance. This is punishment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-want-you-to-understand-me-this-isn-t-vengeance-this-is-punishment/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [He snarled. I showed him my teeth. A rolled-up newspaper landed on my head and then on Jim’s. “None of that in my house!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-snarled-i-showed-him-my-teeth-a-rolled-up-newspaper-landed-on-my/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The door swung open and Kate walked in. Her jeans and T-shirt were splattered with blood and she was carrying a severed vampire head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-door-swung-open-and-kate-walked-in-her-jeans-and-t-shirt-were/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) [Explore all 1,105 Ilona Andrews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) ## More Deep quotes > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [I'm just going to express my opinion and try to change the way people think with the stuff I write or try to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-m-just-going-to-express-my-opinion-and-try-to-change-the-way-people/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [I don't feel I have to write deep and meaningful songs; they can be light and meaningless. 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You know, it rises and it crests and it flies, and it's just magnificent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/and-i-always-think-of-life-like-a-giant-wave-you-know-it-rises-and-it/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [Extremist perspectives win sympathy and recruits because they offer narratives that claim to identify deep injustices and enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-gahr-store/extremist-perspectives-win-sympathy-and-recruits-because-they-offer/) [Jonas Gahr Store](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-gahr-store/) > [I want to have a lengthy career. I want to play interesting characters. I want to tell beautiful stories, complex stories, deep stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-adepo/i-want-to-have-a-lengthy-career-i-want-to-play-interesting-characters/) [Jovan Adepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-adepo/) > [We all have love hidden deep inside us. It just takes that special person to look hard enough to find it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-have-love-hidden-deep-inside-us-it-just-takes-that-special/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They say a picture paints a thousand words. Well I say my eyes will tell you everything you need to know. Can you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/they-say-a-picture-paints-a-thousand-words-well-i-say-my-eyes-will/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) > [I had a brilliant relationship with Thomas Tuchel. We spoke a lot, not only on the surface, but really deep about football and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-had-a-brilliant-relationship-with-thomas-tuchel-we-spoke-a-lot-not/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [I want to go deep into fashion; I want to go maybe into acting. 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This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/we-should-bathe-our-spirits-in-the-deep-pure-feeling-that-stirs/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) [Browse all 3,514 Deep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most people simply didn't realize they could do things that bent their reality. It was kind of like growing up in a land with no deep rivers or lakes. If you never tried, how would you know if you could swim? 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