--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's pretend that we're human beings and…" description: "\"Let's pretend that we're human beings and that we're actually alive.\" — John Osborne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/john-osborne-12988_alive_let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-an_2619488.jpg" --- # Let's pretend that we're human beings and that we're… ![“Let's pretend that we're human beings and that we're actually alive.” quote by John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/john-osborne-12988_alive_let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-an_2619488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/john-osborne-12988_alive_let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-an_2619488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/john-osborne-12988_alive_let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-an_2619488.jpg) > “Let's pretend that we're human beings and that we're actually alive.” [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pretend to be fully alive and human, rejecting detached or mechanical existence. **In simple terms:** Embrace authentic humanity. Key Takeaway Live consciously and authentically. Themes authenticity humanity existence awareness presence Mood reflective existential Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - creative expression Key Concepts existentialism theatre philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What does being truly alive mean? - How to avoid mechanical living? A Different Perspective Pretending may feel inauthentic; risk of denial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-alive-2097402/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Beings Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-actually-332266/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Let Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-pretend-332260/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend/) [Pretend Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend-human-332262/) ## Related quotes > [“Why don't we have a little game? Let's pretend that we're human beings, and that we're actually alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/why-don-t-we-have-a-little-game-let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“ How I long for a little ordinary human enthusiasm. Just enthusiasm- that's all. I want to hear a warm, thrilling voice cry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/how-i-long-for-a-little-ordinary-human-enthusiasm-just-enthusiasm/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“I've admired a lot of people in my life time and some of them were actually alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-ve-admired-a-lot-of-people-in-my-life-time-and-some-of-them-were/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [It's a miracle that David Bowie, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop are actually still alive today, given how hard they lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-rock/it-s-a-miracle-that-david-bowie-lou-reed-and-iggy-pop-are-actually/) [Mick Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-rock/) > [For a second I thought I might actually be alive," I said, looking at Nick's unshaven face. "Now I know- I've gone to Hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/for-a-second-i-thought-i-might-actually-be-alive-i-said-looking-at/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Human beings actually have quite a bit of willpower. They don't know too much about it, but they have quite a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/human-beings-actually-have-quite-a-bit-of-willpower-they-don-t-know/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When we start to talk about gurus, we're talking about beings who actually know what this is all about. They know who we were,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/when-we-start-to-talk-about-gurus-we-re-talking-about-beings-who/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [“a reason why not. And—and, let’s pretend”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/a-reason-why-not-and-and-let-s-pretend/) [Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/) > [Don't. Don't let's pretend when there's no one around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/don-t-don-t-let-s-pretend-when-there-s-no-one-around/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [And I wonder if there is really any point to what I'm doing, or what I'm supposed to make of a world where a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/and-i-wonder-if-there-is-really-any-point-to-what-i-m-doing-or-what-i/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When you have spent an important part of your life playing Let's Pretend, it's often easy to see symbolism where none exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/when-you-have-spent-an-important-part-of-your-life-playing-let-s/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [Let's not pretend that all of a sudden, this is some new system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/let-s-not-pretend-that-all-of-a-sudden-this-is-some-new-system/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Let's not pretend we have too much of a democracy here, because we don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/let-s-not-pretend-we-have-too-much-of-a-democracy-here-because-we-don/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [I work on a laptop specifically so I can work in cafes and pretend I'm part of the human world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/i-work-on-a-laptop-specifically-so-i-can-work-in-cafes-and-pretend-i/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [“If I were a monster, I'd pretend to be human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-miranda/if-i-were-a-monster-i-d-pretend-to-be-human/) [Megan Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-miranda/) ## More by John Osborne > [“Why don't we have a little game? Let's pretend that we're human beings, and that we're actually alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/why-don-t-we-have-a-little-game-let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Go on - but don't think you can kill my confidence. I've had experts doing it for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/go-on-but-don-t-think-you-can-kill-my-confidence-i-ve-had-experts/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Don't clap too hard - it's a very old building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/don-t-clap-too-hard-it-s-a-very-old-building/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [It is not true that drink changes a man's character. It may reveal it more clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/it-is-not-true-that-drink-changes-a-man-s-character-it-may-reveal-it/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [And even in the hatred of the majority, there's a kind of triumph because I know that, although they'd never admit it, they secretly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/and-even-in-the-hatred-of-the-majority-there-s-a-kind-of-triumph/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Laughter's the nearest we ever get, or should get, to sainthood. It's the state of grace that saves most of us from contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/laughter-s-the-nearest-we-ever-get-or-should-get-to-sainthood-it-s/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [There's no such thing as failure - just waiting for success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/there-s-no-such-thing-as-failure-just-waiting-for-success/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Yes, I loved her. I was in love with her, whatever that may mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/yes-i-loved-her-i-was-in-love-with-her-whatever-that-may-mean/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“I suppose people of our generation aren't able to die for good causes any longer. We had all that done for us, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/i-suppose-people-of-our-generation-aren-t-able-to-die-for-good-causes/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [I never deliberately set out to shock, but when people don't walk out of my plays I think there is something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/i-never-deliberately-set-out-to-shock-but-when-people-don-t-walk-out/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Heroes, whatever high ideas we may have of them, are mortal and not divine. We are all as God made us and many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/heroes-whatever-high-ideas-we-may-have-of-them-are-mortal-and-not/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“To be as vehement as he is is to be almost non-committal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/to-be-as-vehement-as-he-is-is-to-be-almost-non-committal/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Here we are, we're alone in the universe, there's no God, it just seems that it all began by something as simple as sunlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/here-we-are-we-re-alone-in-the-universe-there-s-no-god-it-just-seems/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“Alison: I don't think I want anything more to do with love. Any more. I can't take it on. Cliff: You're too young to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/alison-i-don-t-think-i-want-anything-more-to-do-with-love-any-more-i/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [You see I learnt at an early age what it was to be angry - angry and helpless. And I can never forget it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/you-see-i-learnt-at-an-early-age-what-it-was-to-be-angry-angry-and/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) [Explore all 51 John Osborne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let's pretend that we're human beings and that we're actually alive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Osborne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-and-that-we-re-actually-alive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-and-that-we-re-actually-alive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/john-osborne-12988_alive_let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-an_2619488.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/john-osborne-12988_alive_let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-an_2619488.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/john-osborne-12988_alive_let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-an_2619488.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let's pretend that we're human beings and that we're actually alive.” — John Osborne", "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": "John Osborne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let's pretend that we're human beings...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-and-that-we-re-actually-alive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/let-s-pretend-that-we-re-human-beings-and-that-we-re-actually-alive/#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 } } ] } ```