--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When reality looks too ugly, fantasize." description: "\"When reality looks too ugly, fantasize.\" — Jimmy Buffett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/jimmy-buffett-1774_fantasize_when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize-24_2449107.jpg" --- # When reality looks too ugly, fantasize. ![“When reality looks too ugly, fantasize.” quote by Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/jimmy-buffett-1774_fantasize_when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize-24_2449107.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/jimmy-buffett-1774_fantasize_when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize-24_2449107.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/jimmy-buffett-1774_fantasize_when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize-24_2449107.jpg) > “When reality looks too ugly, fantasize.” [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When reality feels harsh, imagination offers an escape, allowing mental relief and creative problem‑solving. **In simple terms:** Escape harsh reality by imagining. Key Takeaway Use imagination to cope. Themes coping creativity escape mental health Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - stressful work - personal crises - artistic creation Key Concepts Psychology fantasy resilience Questions to Reflect On - When is imagination a hindrance? - How can we balance dreaming with doing? A Different Perspective Overreliance on fantasy may avoid needed action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fantasize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasize/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-looks-555305/) [Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugly/) [Ugly Fantasize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugly-fantasize-555304/) ## Related quotes > [“What We are living is just a dream, this dream in reality, which looks so real and we never know when it’s gonna break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam/what-we-are-living-is-just-a-dream-this-dream-in-reality-which-looks/) [Pritam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam/) > [You always Fall For the one with the look but in reality the one without the looks are really the sweetest one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielyferrer/you-always-fall-for-the-one-with-the-look-but-in-reality-the-one/) [MarielyFerrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielyferrer/) > [When I was a kid, I used to fantasize about death. Not that I was suicidal, but there was an attraction there. I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-fantasize-about-death-not-that-i-was/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [“Don't ever quit pretending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/don-t-ever-quit-pretending/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Well, I'll say I have an incredible ability to fantasize - I really do. I don't have to have things tangible to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-summer/well-i-ll-say-i-have-an-incredible-ability-to-fantasize-i-really-do-i/) [Donna Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-summer/) > [“I fantasize about my own mini-van on a daily basis, complete with automatic sliding doors,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-o-bryant/i-fantasize-about-my-own-mini-van-on-a-daily-basis-complete-with/) [Robin O'Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-o-bryant/) > [I just close my eyes and I fantasize what I would like to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-just-close-my-eyes-and-i-fantasize-what-i-would-like-to-see/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [Here is Heimel's Law: Anything you fantasize about won't come true. So just cut it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-heimel/here-is-heimel-s-law-anything-you-fantasize-about-won-t-come-true-so/) [Cynthia Heimel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-heimel/) > [Look, I like to fantasize that there's more to reality than what we have here, and that's why, from a young age, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-coscarelli/look-i-like-to-fantasize-that-there-s-more-to-reality-than-what-we/) [Don Coscarelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-coscarelli/) > [There are resurrection themes in every society that has ever been studied, and it is because not just only do we fantasize about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/there-are-resurrection-themes-in-every-society-that-has-ever-been/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [We all fantasize about work that uses our creativity, is self-directed, happens during the hours we choose, and occurs in an attractively lit setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-tsing-loh/we-all-fantasize-about-work-that-uses-our-creativity-is-self-directed/) [Sandra Tsing Loh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-tsing-loh/) > [Is the destiny of the human species to sit back and play with our mouse and computer and imagine, fantasize?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/is-the-destiny-of-the-human-species-to-sit-back-and-play-with-our/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I think that we all fantasize about that teeny tiny time in the film industry when women ruled, back in the '40s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/i-think-that-we-all-fantasize-about-that-teeny-tiny-time-in-the-film/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [“I like to fantasize about how far I’ll have come in a year. A year from now, I’ll be 12 months further than where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-like-to-fantasize-about-how-far-i-ll-have-come-in-a-year-a-year/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Say she fantasize bout Spectac. I fucked a week ago she still got her back (back).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pretty-ricky/say-she-fantasize-bout-spectac-i-fucked-a-week-ago-she-still-got-her/) [Pretty Ricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pretty-ricky/) ## More by Jimmy Buffett > [Where it all ends I can't fathom, my friends. If I knew, I might toss out my anchor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/where-it-all-ends-i-can-t-fathom-my-friends-if-i-knew-i-might-toss/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [I still consider it a summer job, though. So, I try to maintain that summer job as long as I can. But it's exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/i-still-consider-it-a-summer-job-though-so-i-try-to-maintain-that/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [I've done a bit of smuggling, I've run my share of grass. I made enough money to buy Miami, but I piss it away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/i-ve-done-a-bit-of-smuggling-i-ve-run-my-share-of-grass-i-made-enough/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Don't try to describe the ocean if you've never seen it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/don-t-try-to-describe-the-ocean-if-you-ve-never-seen-it/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Humor has bailed me out of more tight situations than I can think of. If you go with your instincts and keep your humor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/humor-has-bailed-me-out-of-more-tight-situations-than-i-can-think-of/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [I still believe in rock and roll, it pays my bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/i-still-believe-in-rock-and-roll-it-pays-my-bills/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Under the heavens and under the sea there's a friend I don't know, who holds the right key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/under-the-heavens-and-under-the-sea-there-s-a-friend-i-don-t-know-who/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Pickup's washed and you just got paid, with any luck at all you might even get laid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/pickup-s-washed-and-you-just-got-paid-with-any-luck-at-all-you-might/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Give me oysters and beer, for dinner every day of the year, and I'll be fine...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/give-me-oysters-and-beer-for-dinner-every-day-of-the-year-and-i-ll-be/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [“Some of its magic, some its tragic, but I've had a good life along the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/some-of-its-magic-some-its-tragic-but-i-ve-had-a-good-life-along-the/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Back to my childhood where those monsters reside. They snack on innocence and dine on self esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/back-to-my-childhood-where-those-monsters-reside-they-snack-on/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years to late. Cannons don't thunder, there's nothing to plunder, I'm an over forty victim of fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/yes-i-am-a-pirate-two-hundred-years-to-late-cannons-don-t-thunder/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [If the phone doesn't ring, it's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/if-the-phone-doesn-t-ring-it-s-me/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/i-d-rather-die-while-i-m-living-then-live-while-i-m-dead/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) [Explore all 209 Jimmy Buffett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) ## More Fantasize quotes > [Say she fantasize bout Spectac. I fucked a week ago she still got her back (back).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pretty-ricky/say-she-fantasize-bout-spectac-i-fucked-a-week-ago-she-still-got-her/) [Pretty Ricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pretty-ricky/) > [“I like to fantasize about how far I’ll have come in a year. A year from now, I’ll be 12 months further than where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-like-to-fantasize-about-how-far-i-ll-have-come-in-a-year-a-year/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I think that we all fantasize about that teeny tiny time in the film industry when women ruled, back in the '40s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/i-think-that-we-all-fantasize-about-that-teeny-tiny-time-in-the-film/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [Is the destiny of the human species to sit back and play with our mouse and computer and imagine, fantasize?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/is-the-destiny-of-the-human-species-to-sit-back-and-play-with-our/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [We all fantasize about work that uses our creativity, is self-directed, happens during the hours we choose, and occurs in an attractively lit setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-tsing-loh/we-all-fantasize-about-work-that-uses-our-creativity-is-self-directed/) [Sandra Tsing Loh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-tsing-loh/) > [There are resurrection themes in every society that has ever been studied, and it is because not just only do we fantasize about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/there-are-resurrection-themes-in-every-society-that-has-ever-been/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [Look, I like to fantasize that there's more to reality than what we have here, and that's why, from a young age, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-coscarelli/look-i-like-to-fantasize-that-there-s-more-to-reality-than-what-we/) [Don Coscarelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-coscarelli/) > [Here is Heimel's Law: Anything you fantasize about won't come true. So just cut it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-heimel/here-is-heimel-s-law-anything-you-fantasize-about-won-t-come-true-so/) [Cynthia Heimel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-heimel/) > [I just close my eyes and I fantasize what I would like to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-just-close-my-eyes-and-i-fantasize-what-i-would-like-to-see/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [“I fantasize about my own mini-van on a daily basis, complete with automatic sliding doors,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-o-bryant/i-fantasize-about-my-own-mini-van-on-a-daily-basis-complete-with/) [Robin O'Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-o-bryant/) > [Well, I'll say I have an incredible ability to fantasize - I really do. I don't have to have things tangible to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-summer/well-i-ll-say-i-have-an-incredible-ability-to-fantasize-i-really-do-i/) [Donna Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-summer/) > [“Don't ever quit pretending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/don-t-ever-quit-pretending/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [When I was a kid, I used to fantasize about death. Not that I was suicidal, but there was an attraction there. I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-fantasize-about-death-not-that-i-was/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [You can dream and fantasize all you want but reality will always welcome you back with open arms and a pin to burst your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-tibs/you-can-dream-and-fantasize-all-you-want-but-reality-will-always/) [Jimmy Tibs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-tibs/) > [I fantasize and idealize myself as Bugs Bunny, but I know deep down I'm Daffy Duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patton-oswalt/i-fantasize-and-idealize-myself-as-bugs-bunny-but-i-know-deep-down-i/) [Patton Oswalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patton-oswalt/) [Browse all 90 Fantasize quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasize/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When reality looks too ugly, fantasize.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jimmy Buffett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fantasize" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/jimmy-buffett-1774_fantasize_when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize-24_2449107.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/jimmy-buffett-1774_fantasize_when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize-24_2449107.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/jimmy-buffett-1774_fantasize_when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize-24_2449107.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When reality looks too ugly, fantasize.” — Jimmy Buffett", "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": "Jimmy Buffett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When reality looks too ugly, fantasize.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/when-reality-looks-too-ugly-fantasize/#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 } } ] } ```