--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes people just can't take how real…" description: "\"“Sometimes people just can't take how real the world can be. Even if they're your friend they’ll drop away from you like petals from a dying flower to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jason-e-hodges-23333_flowers_sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-rea_2368517.jpg" --- # Sometimes people just can't take how real the world can… ![“Sometimes people just can't take how real the world can be. Even if they're your friend they’ll drop away from you like petals from a dying flower to keep their own sanity.” quote by Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jason-e-hodges-23333_flowers_sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-rea_2368517.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jason-e-hodges-23333_flowers_sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-rea_2368517.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jason-e-hodges-23333_flowers_sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-rea_2368517.jpg) > ““Sometimes people just can't take how real the world can be. Even if they're your friend they’ll drop away from you like petals from a dying flower to keep their own sanity.”” [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) ## 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 distance themselves when reality feels overwhelming, even friends, to protect their mental health. **In simple terms:** Friends may withdraw to stay sane when life feels too real. Key Takeaway Accept that some distance is self‑preservation. Themes friendship sanity reality emotional coping Mood empathetic somber Type personal psychological When to use this quote - personal crisis - mental health support - relationship strain Key Concepts psychological defense social withdrawal Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries help maintain sanity without alienating others? - How can we support friends facing harsh realities? A Different Perspective This coping can lead to isolation and loss of support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flowers/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Sanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanity/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Her eyes opened. They were like petals submerged in tiny bowls of unchanged water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-anderson/her-eyes-opened-they-were-like-petals-submerged-in-tiny-bowls-of/) [Edward Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-anderson/) > [“Even now I am haunted by the touching look of the young, bright, anxious eyes as we passed along the rows of sufferers. There,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-davis/even-now-i-am-haunted-by-the-touching-look-of-the-young-bright/) [Wade Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-davis/) > [“...when the present stung her, she sought her antidote in the future, which was as sure to hold achievement as the dying flower to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elspeth-huxley/when-the-present-stung-her-she-sought-her-antidote-in-the-future/) [Elspeth Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elspeth-huxley/) > [My innocence is a dying flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/my-innocence-is-a-dying-flower/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) > [“Words in a poem are like petals on a flower, only together, in the right position, at the right time are they seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mcdonald/words-in-a-poem-are-like-petals-on-a-flower-only-together-in-the/) [David McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mcdonald/) > [“Like petals what's beautiful is often delicate. Take care of the ones you love by not holding them too tightly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-an/like-petals-what-s-beautiful-is-often-delicate-take-care-of-the-ones/) [Nicola An](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-an/) > [Later she sat on the ground in the forest between school and home, and spring was so bright and beautiful, the warm air touched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-steig/later-she-sat-on-the-ground-in-the-forest-between-school-and-home-and/) [William Steig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-steig/) > [“They dropped like flakes, they dropped like stars, Like petals from a rose, When suddenly across the June A wind with fingers goes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/they-dropped-like-flakes-they-dropped-like-stars-like-petals-from-a/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Life is an adventure of love that unfolds like the petals of a rose, transforming into a beauty that is boundless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirona-knight/life-is-an-adventure-of-love-that-unfolds-like-the-petals-of-a-rose/) Sirona Knight > [Like the petals in our pockets, we remember who we are, unconditionally careful for those we share our broken hearts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-the-petals-in-our-pockets-we-remember-who-we-are-unconditionally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bill Clinton has been a true leader of the western world. He has been a friend and a counsel to me and other leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/bill-clinton-has-been-a-true-leader-of-the-western-world-he-has-been/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [True friends are the whole world to one another; and he that is a friend to himself is also a friend to mankind. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/true-friends-are-the-whole-world-to-one-another-and-he-that-is-a/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [You bring magic into the world my friend and with your magic, this world becomes a better place to live in. Probably, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-bring-magic-into-the-world-my-friend-and-with-your-magic-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now you're doing well. From stories I hear tell. You own the world again. Everyone's your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalah-hathaway/now-you-re-doing-well-from-stories-i-hear-tell-you-own-the-world/) [Lalah Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalah-hathaway/) > [When it shall be said in any country in the world my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-it-shall-be-said-in-any-country-in-the-world-my-poor-are-happy/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More by Jason E. Hodges > [“You know you’re getting somewhere as a writer when the rejection letters mean as much as spam in your inbox.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/you-know-you-re-getting-somewhere-as-a-writer-when-the-rejection/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“For some folks the world is filled to the top with hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/for-some-folks-the-world-is-filled-to-the-top-with-hurt/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“Lies are served like a fine delicacy. But beware, the truth of it all will sour, lodge in your throat, and choke your very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/lies-are-served-like-a-fine-delicacy-but-beware-the-truth-of-it-all/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“Sleeplessness and being a writer seem to go together hand in hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/sleeplessness-and-being-a-writer-seem-to-go-together-hand-in-hand/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“Chaos is life, if you're doing great things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/chaos-is-life-if-you-re-doing-great-things/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“I was just a drifter, a writer of what I saw.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/i-was-just-a-drifter-a-writer-of-what-i-saw/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“Writers that are pouring their soul out for the world to see, will cast a perfect reflection of themselves in their work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/writers-that-are-pouring-their-soul-out-for-the-world-to-see-will/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“I’m not afraid to die, but I’m also, not afraid to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/i-m-not-afraid-to-die-but-i-m-also-not-afraid-to-live/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“I write novellas, short books, whatever. I set out to write a good story not write a dictionary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/i-write-novellas-short-books-whatever-i-set-out-to-write-a-good-story/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“A shovel is the greatest motivational teacher I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/a-shovel-is-the-greatest-motivational-teacher-i-know/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“Express to our world what is alive inside us not what their world says we should be… Our true selves should never be created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/express-to-our-world-what-is-alive-inside-us-not-what-their-world/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“We didn’t have AC or Cable TV. We had shade trees and storytellers. This is where my writing comes from.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/we-didn-t-have-ac-or-cable-tv-we-had-shade-trees-and-storytellers/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“Even the wolf gets anxious, but the wolf keeps moving and doing, all while being washed in the magic of moonlight”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/even-the-wolf-gets-anxious-but-the-wolf-keeps-moving-and-doing-all/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“Some live it, some wish they lived it, and some never know it’s there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/some-live-it-some-wish-they-lived-it-and-some-never-know-it-s-there/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) > [“People who think following your dreams is a fairytale don’t realize they’re living the biggest fairytale of all, following the sheep”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/people-who-think-following-your-dreams-is-a-fairytale-don-t-realize/) [Jason E. Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) [Explore all 26 Jason E. Hodges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/) ## More Flowers quotes > [“On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she came in. She followed the scent to the kitchen, and the peach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/on-the-third-day-she-smelled-the-fruit-as-soon-as-she-came-in-she/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Most girls get flowers or candy. I get a declaration of martial law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-shearin/most-girls-get-flowers-or-candy-i-get-a-declaration-of-martial-law/) [Lisa Shearin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-shearin/) > [I do whatever entertains me. If it entertains me to throw flowers halfway across the room, then that's what I'll do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/i-do-whatever-entertains-me-if-it-entertains-me-to-throw-flowers/) [Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/) > [ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE YOU DID ME WRONG SO GUESS WAT BABE??FUKK YU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-you-did-me-wrong-so-guess-wat-babe/) JESSICA > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/my-days-the-blossom-of-my-youth-and-the-flower-of-my-manhood-have/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [Kiss From A Rose There used to be a graying tower alone on the sea. You became the light on the dark side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/kiss-from-a-rose-there-used-to-be-a-graying-tower-alone-on-the-sea/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [“Rose is like a woman love;when love odorous but gets offended when bony..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonnaville/rose-is-like-a-woman-love-when-love-odorous-but-gets-offended-when/) Jonnaville > [“They basked in the sweet-scented breeze, and felt the sunshine warming their bare heads. Petals drifted from the gnarled apple and cherry trees, creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/they-basked-in-the-sweet-scented-breeze-and-felt-the-sunshine-warming/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [Now that the lilacs are in bloom She has a bowl of lilacs in her room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-that-the-lilacs-are-in-bloom-she-has-a-bowl-of-lilacs-in-her-room/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The sun, a red wheel, was sinking slowly in the west. Besides being spectacularly beautiful, the early-summer sunset was exceedingly soft and gentle: black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/the-sun-a-red-wheel-was-sinking-slowly-in-the-west-besides-being/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) > [“She stroked one of the geranium's petals, inhaling its particular bitter fragrance, which she admired for its bold air of unapology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-airgood/she-stroked-one-of-the-geranium-s-petals-inhaling-its-particular/) [Ellen Airgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-airgood/) > [I write the way you might arrange flowers. Not every try works, but each one launches another. Every constraint, even dullness, frees up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/i-write-the-way-you-might-arrange-flowers-not-every-try-works-but/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [There is sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/there-is-sweet-music-here-that-softer-falls-than-petals-from-blown/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) [Browse all 4,100 Flowers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flowers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes people just can't take how real the world can be. Even if they're your friend they’ll drop away from you like petals from a dying flower to keep their own sanity.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jason E. Hodges" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-real-the-world-can-be-even-if/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flowers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-real-the-world-can-be-even-if/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jason-e-hodges-23333_flowers_sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-rea_2368517.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jason-e-hodges-23333_flowers_sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-rea_2368517.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jason-e-hodges-23333_flowers_sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-rea_2368517.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes people just can't take how real the world can be. Even if they're your friend they’ll drop away…” — Jason E. Hodges", "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": "Jason E. Hodges", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-e-hodges/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sometimes people just can't take how...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-real-the-world-can-be-even-if/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-e-hodges/sometimes-people-just-can-t-take-how-real-the-world-can-be-even-if/#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 } } ] } ```