--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can’t change an unpleasant reality if…" description: "\"“You can’t change an unpleasant reality if you won’t acknowledge it, Mac. You can only control what you’re willing to face. Truth hurts. But lies can k..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/karen-marie-moning-189_lies_you-can-t-change-an-unpleasant-reality-i_1241150.png" --- # You can’t change an unpleasant reality if you won’t… ![“You can’t change an unpleasant reality if you won’t acknowledge it, Mac. You can only control what you’re willing to face. Truth hurts. But lies can kill.” quote by Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/karen-marie-moning-189_lies_you-can-t-change-an-unpleasant-reality-i_1241150.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/karen-marie-moning-189_lies_you-can-t-change-an-unpleasant-reality-i_1241150.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/karen-marie-moning-189_lies_you-can-t-change-an-unpleasant-reality-i_1241150.png) > ““You can’t change an unpleasant reality if you won’t acknowledge it, Mac. You can only control what you’re willing to face. Truth hurts. But lies can kill.”” [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging painful truths is essential; denial leads to greater harm, while confronting reality enables control and healing. **In simple terms:** Face truth, avoid lies. Key Takeaway Accept reality to gain power. Themes truth acknowledgment healing control danger Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal crisis - political negotiations - media reporting - relationship conflicts Key Concepts Cognitive dissonance psychological resilience ethical decision making Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you avoiding? - How might confronting them change your situation? A Different Perspective Denial can be a coping mechanism that temporarily eases pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Truth hurts. But lies can kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/truth-hurts-but-lies-can-kill/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [My only wish is I die real cause that truth hurts and those lies kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/my-only-wish-is-i-die-real-cause-that-truth-hurts-and-those-lies-kill/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Sometimes you have to be mean and hurt someone's feeling to help and save their heart. Because the truth hurts, but lies kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-be-mean-and-hurt-someone-s-feeling-to-help-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Truth hurts but lies do too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-williams/truth-hurts-but-lies-do-too/) [Craig Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-williams/) > [The truth hurts, but lies are worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proudlesbian/the-truth-hurts-but-lies-are-worse/) ProudLesbian > [My only wish is I die real. Cause that truth hurts, and those lies heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-only-wish-is-i-die-real-cause-that-truth-hurts-and-those-lies-heal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth hurts; Where lies are haunting. - Loverboi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-melvin-jr/the-truth-hurts-where-lies-are-haunting-loverboi/) [Kenneth Melvin Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-melvin-jr/) > [The truth hurts, but those lies heals :3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/choupiz/the-truth-hurts-but-those-lies-heals-3/) ChOupiz > [Truth hurts but lies hurts more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erdem-gezer/truth-hurts-but-lies-hurts-more/) [Erdem Gezer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erdem-gezer/) > [My only wish is that I die real cuz the truth hurts and those lies heal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/my-only-wish-is-that-i-die-real-cuz-the-truth-hurts-and-those-lies/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [The truth hurts, but those lies heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/the-truth-hurts-but-those-lies-heal/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [My only wish is I die real cuz that truth hurts and those lies heal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/my-only-wish-is-i-die-real-cuz-that-truth-hurts-and-those-lies-heal/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [My only wish iz I die real… bekuz that truth hurts and those lies heal...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swaggie-shru/my-only-wish-iz-i-die-real-bekuz-that-truth-hurts-and-those-lies-heal/) SwaGGie Shru > [Some say that the truth hurts but lies heal. In my mind the truth may hurt but them lies may kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darcy-laurent/some-say-that-the-truth-hurts-but-lies-heal-in-my-mind-the-truth-may/) Darcy Laurent > [My only wish is I die real cause that truth hurts, and those and those lies heal..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-hanson/my-only-wish-is-i-die-real-cause-that-truth-hurts-and-those-and-those/) Kyle Hanson ## More by Karen Marie Moning > [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Some things are sacred. Until you act like they're not. Then you lose them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/some-things-are-sacred-until-you-act-like-they-re-not-then-you-lose/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Who would ever understand me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/who-would-ever-understand-me/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I think I’m under control, that I’ve stripped away all weaknesses. That committing to my mission has made me impervious. I’m wrong. The thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-think-i-m-under-control-that-i-ve-stripped-away-all-weaknesses-that/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Desire makes life happen. Makes it matter. Makes everything worth it. Desire is life. Hunger to see the next sunrise or sunset, to touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/desire-makes-life-happen-makes-it-matter-makes-everything-worth-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Our sex is fierce. We will both be bruised. "I want it to always be like this," I tell him. "Try holding onto that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/our-sex-is-fierce-we-will-both-be-bruised-i-want-it-to-always-be-like/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Keep hoping to see the light in her eyes. Even knowing it'll mean she's saying good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/keep-hoping-to-see-the-light-in-her-eyes-even-knowing-it-ll-mean-she/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“He swapped the fistful of my shirt for one in my hair, and ground his mouth against mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-swapped-the-fistful-of-my-shirt-for-one-in-my-hair-and-ground-his/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [He’s so beautiful,” she said wistfully. “He’s like an angel.” “Yep,” I agreed flatly. “The one that fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-s-so-beautiful-she-said-wistfully-he-s-like-an-angel-yep-i-agreed/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) [Explore all 940 Karen Marie Moning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## More Lies quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [Heaven lies around us in our infancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/heaven-lies-around-us-in-our-infancy/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The greatest gift you can give to those around you is honesty. Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“It's the basic truth of the human condition: everybody lies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/house/it-s-the-basic-truth-of-the-human-condition-everybody-lies/) [house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/house/) > [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Words To Remember: Nobody's phone is ever off. They're lying...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-to-remember-nobody-s-phone-is-ever-off-they-re-lying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who know New York City primarily through tourism or mass culture may think of us natives as possessing certain shared characteristics, not all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/those-who-know-new-york-city-primarily-through-tourism-or-mass/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [“I'm over your lies and I'm over your games. I'm over you asking me when you know I'm not okay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-mcphee/i-m-over-your-lies-and-i-m-over-your-games-i-m-over-you-asking-me/) [Katharine McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-mcphee/) > [“DIGITAL TRUTH DIGITAL LIES • Searches • Social media posts • Views • Social media likes • Clicks • Dating profiles • Swipes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-stephens-davidowitz/digital-truth-digital-lies-searches-social-media-posts-views-social/) [Seth Stephens-Davidowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-stephens-davidowitz/) > [You said you loved me, You said you cared for me, you said you wouldn't let anything happen to me. Then we got into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nohaterzz/you-said-you-loved-me-you-said-you-cared-for-me-you-said-you-wouldn-t/) NoHaterzz [Browse all 4,881 Lies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can’t change an unpleasant reality if you won’t acknowledge it, Mac. You can only control what you’re willing to face. Truth hurts. 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