--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once Upon A Time” I began. We made it…" description: "\"“Once Upon A Time” I began. We made it through three stories before she was in a deep sleep. In the end, she probably didn’t have a better grasp on our..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/jessica-fortunato-17700_fairy_once-upon-a-time-i-began-we-made-it-thro_2927399.jpg" --- # Once Upon A Time” I began. We made it through three… ![“Once Upon A Time” I began. We made it through three stories before she was in a deep sleep. In the end, she probably didn’t have a better grasp on our legal system, racism, or social complexity. However, she now knew that sometimes the most loyal friend you could have was a mouse, that sometimes…” quote by Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/jessica-fortunato-17700_fairy_once-upon-a-time-i-began-we-made-it-thro_2927399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/jessica-fortunato-17700_fairy_once-upon-a-time-i-began-we-made-it-thro_2927399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/jessica-fortunato-17700_fairy_once-upon-a-time-i-began-we-made-it-thro_2927399.jpg) > ““Once Upon A Time” I began. We made it through three stories before she was in a deep sleep. In the end, she probably didn’t have a better grasp on our legal system, racism, or social complexity. However, she now knew that sometimes the most loyal friend you could have was a mouse, that sometimes people weren’t always who they seemed, even if their eyes were allegedly only bigger to see you with, and that everyone had the capacity to live happily ever after. It wasn’t in her lesson plan, and maybe it wasn’t all true, but it was important.”” [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A protagonist learns that loyalty can come from unexpected sources and that understanding complex societal issues is less important than personal growth and happiness. **In simple terms:** Friendship can be unexpected; happiness is personal. Key Takeaway Value unexpected allies and personal joy. Themes friendship growth identity societal issues happiness Mood thoughtful hopeful Type literary reflective When to use this quote - reading a novel - discussing literature - teaching empathy - reflecting on personal values Key Concepts loyalty self‑discovery social critique Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize loyalty in unlikely places? - What does “happily ever after” mean for you? A Different Perspective The story may oversimplify systemic problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Legal system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-system/) [Loyal friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyal-friend/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“And that’s what we’re going to teach you how to do.” Well, wasn’t that a lesson he was goddamn aching to learn. Jim”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-that-s-what-we-re-going-to-teach-you-how-to-do-well-wasn-t-that-a/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“We began our stories. Her face changed as most women’s do when they listen to their men: from amusement to horror to incomprehensibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-tobolowsky/we-began-our-stories-her-face-changed-as-most-women-s-do-when-they/) [Stephen Tobolowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-tobolowsky/) > [I began to see, again and again, stories that were first confusing and second where the emotional impact was muted because the big scene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-began-to-see-again-and-again-stories-that-were-first-confusing-and/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [Zachary Jernigan's short stories are in deep conversation with the history of the genre while maintaining a thoroughly modern sensibility. Here’s a new writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patrick-kelly/zachary-jernigan-s-short-stories-are-in-deep-conversation-with-the/) James Patrick Kelly > [My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/my-fall-began-as-many-stories-do-with-a-girl/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [My stories have a deep spiritual core because I have a deep desire to understand things of the spirit, but yet I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/my-stories-have-a-deep-spiritual-core-because-i-have-a-deep-desire-to/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [The stories we tell about each other matter very much. The stories we tell ourselves about our own lives matter. And most of all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-jackley/the-stories-we-tell-about-each-other-matter-very-much-the-stories-we/) [Jessica Jackley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-jackley/) > [Countries like ours are full of people who have all of the material comforts they desire, yet lead lives of quiet (and at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/countries-like-ours-are-full-of-people-who-have-all-of-the-material/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [I count myself really fortunate that I have some lifelong friends. The best thing about a friend is when you are being your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-grant/i-count-myself-really-fortunate-that-i-have-some-lifelong-friends-the/) [Amy Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-grant/) > [My dogs are crazy. 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My loyal friend, he said, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george-speare/daniel-he-said-i-would-have-you-follow-me-master-i-will-fight-for-you/) [Elizabeth George Speare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george-speare/) > [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [It's been my experience that people who make proclamations about themselves are usually the opposite of what they claim to be. If someone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/it-s-been-my-experience-that-people-who-make-proclamations-about/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) ## More by Jessica Fortunato > [“You cannot have a best friend for one hundred and fifty four years without trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/you-cannot-have-a-best-friend-for-one-hundred-and-fifty-four-years/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“He held up his hands in surrender. “I’m not here to start trouble. I am just doing some research for my thesis.” “If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/he-held-up-his-hands-in-surrender-i-m-not-here-to-start-trouble-i-am/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“Eventually the Collector from the prophecy would be born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/eventually-the-collector-from-the-prophecy-would-be-born/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“Cricket’s voice broke through Thomas’s memory. He was reading a letter, most likely from his mother. He was trying hard to hide it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/cricket-s-voice-broke-through-thomas-s-memory-he-was-reading-a-letter/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“Her name is Emmilina. She is quite eccentric and was Thomas’s best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/her-name-is-emmilina-she-is-quite-eccentric-and-was-thomas-s-best/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“What if he can't save me? What if trying destroys us both?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/what-if-he-can-t-save-me-what-if-trying-destroys-us-both/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/for-my-days-vanish-like-smoke-my-bones-burn-like-glowing-embers-my/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“I was about to run, possibly fight, definitely scream...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/i-was-about-to-run-possibly-fight-definitely-scream/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“After everything, you still want to believe that love prevails, that in the end there will be justice. That is an illusion, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/after-everything-you-still-want-to-believe-that-love-prevails-that-in/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“Love is a fairytale blah, blah, blah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/love-is-a-fairytale-blah-blah-blah/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“I screeched with frustration, which in hindsight is never okay when there are people trying to kill you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/i-screeched-with-frustration-which-in-hindsight-is-never-okay-when/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“You think me noble?” She rolled to her side facing him. “Am I saint-like? Do I slay dragons and hang the moon as well?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/you-think-me-noble-she-rolled-to-her-side-facing-him-am-i-saint-like/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“Living on steam isn't easy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/living-on-steam-isn-t-easy/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“There are no saints either. We are immortal, but not so unlike the humans as you think. We have enemies, we have duties, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/there-are-no-saints-either-we-are-immortal-but-not-so-unlike-the/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) > [“Every part of life changes with every breath we take. If you don’t like where your story is headin’, you fight your fate with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-fortunato/every-part-of-life-changes-with-every-breath-we-take-if-you-don-t/) [Jessica Fortunato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) [Explore all 36 Jessica Fortunato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-fortunato/) ## More Fairy quotes > [Once upon a time. Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know my hair is out of the '60's, my clothes are '50's and the shoes I wear are from the '40's. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-my-hair-is-out-of-the-60-s-my-clothes-are-50-s-and-the-shoes-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I have always been fascinated by the supernatural elements in stories, whether fairy tales, myths, film or literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/i-have-always-been-fascinated-by-the-supernatural-elements-in-stories/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [“You can't get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. It's the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-can-t-get-mad-at-a-real-ending-some-of-them-are-ugly-it-s-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“ Happily-ever-afters don't come in happily-every-days . They are found at the end of challenges-ever-met, promises-ever-kept, and tears-ever-wept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/happily-ever-afters-don-t-come-in-happily-every-days-they-are-found/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“But even if they could go home it would be difficult for me to tell you what the moral of the story is. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/but-even-if-they-could-go-home-it-would-be-difficult-for-me-to-tell/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [One of the first houses we lived in was like out of a fairy story. We had a stream that ran through our garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/one-of-the-first-houses-we-lived-in-was-like-out-of-a-fairy-story-we/) [Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/) > [“If two people see a fairy appear, eat a starfish, and dive into the tile floor without so much as a splash, neither can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaydeon-k-moore/if-two-people-see-a-fairy-appear-eat-a-starfish-and-dive-into-the/) Kaydeon K. Moore > [Poems come from ordinary experiences and objects, I think. Out of memory - a dress I lent my daughter on her way back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/poems-come-from-ordinary-experiences-and-objects-i-think-out-of/) [Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/) > [Here is the world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. 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