--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don’t create a fantasy world to escape…" description: "\"We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality, we create it to be able to stay. I believe we have always done this, used images to stand and unders..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/lynda-barry-3343_able_we-don-t-create-a-fantasy-world-to-escap_1869597.jpg" --- # We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality, we… ![“We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality, we create it to be able to stay. I believe we have always done this, used images to stand and understand what otherwise would be intolerable.” quote by Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/lynda-barry-3343_able_we-don-t-create-a-fantasy-world-to-escap_1869597.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/lynda-barry-3343_able_we-don-t-create-a-fantasy-world-to-escap_1869597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/lynda-barry-3343_able_we-don-t-create-a-fantasy-world-to-escap_1869597.jpg) > “We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality, we create it to be able to stay. I believe we have always done this, used images to stand and understand what otherwise would be intolerable.” [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We use imagination as a coping mechanism, shaping fantasies that help us endure harsh truths. **In simple terms:** Fantasy helps us survive reality. Key Takeaway Use imagination to process difficult experiences. Themes creativity coping imagination Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - creative writing - mental health support - education - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology narrative therapy Questions to Reflect On - How does your imagination help you face pain? - When might fantasy become avoidance? A Different Perspective Fantasy may delay confronting reality directly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Escape reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape-reality/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Fantasy world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy-world/) [Fantasy worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy-worlds/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [We don't create a fantasy world to escape reality. We create it to be able to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/we-don-t-create-a-fantasy-world-to-escape-reality-we-create-it-to-be-2/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Play and transformation were a bit part of my childhood - using whatever materials were at our disposal, my brothers and I would constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockwell/play-and-transformation-were-a-bit-part-of-my-childhood-using/) [David Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockwell/) > [“There are certain children who are told they are too sensitive, and there are certain adults who believe sensitivity is a problem that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/there-are-certain-children-who-are-told-they-are-too-sensitive-and/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Imagination should be used, not to escape reality but to create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-wilson/imagination-should-be-used-not-to-escape-reality-but-to-create-it/) [Colin Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-wilson/) > [“Would you mind a mind blindfold, a block on your imagination? You couldn’t create a fantasy world to live in, but you could create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/would-you-mind-a-mind-blindfold-a-block-on-your-imagination-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“When I create a fantasy world, I want it all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/when-i-create-a-fantasy-world-i-want-it-all/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [The best I do, if I'm just playing around and riffing in a fantasy world, and then I'll write something down. Hopefully I write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/the-best-i-do-if-i-m-just-playing-around-and-riffing-in-a-fantasy/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [I was always really drawn to that fantasy world, more than a sci-fi world, in terms of outer space stuff. I think it's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-silk/i-was-always-really-drawn-to-that-fantasy-world-more-than-a-sci-fi/) [Anna Silk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-silk/) > [In Republican fantasy world, everything is always Obama's fault. Somehow, he's weak and he's ineffective, and yet he pulls the strings on everything in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/in-republican-fantasy-world-everything-is-always-obama-s-fault/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [While growing up, I lived in my own fantasy world. I had kind of a rough childhood, so I created my own reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/while-growing-up-i-lived-in-my-own-fantasy-world-i-had-kind-of-a/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [I had a book that was given to me as a kid that was called 'Faeries.' It was this dark, sinister book with pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-silk/i-had-a-book-that-was-given-to-me-as-a-kid-that-was-called-faeries-it/) [Anna Silk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-silk/) > [Playing baseball is not real life. It's a fantasy world... It's a dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-murphy/playing-baseball-is-not-real-life-it-s-a-fantasy-world-it-s-a-dream/) [Dale Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-murphy/) > [Glamour's my thing. The glamour is what got me into this business in the first place. I lived in a fantasy world in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-randle/glamour-s-my-thing-the-glamour-is-what-got-me-into-this-business-in/) Theresa Randle > [Also, worldbuilding touches all aspects of your story. It touches plot and character as well. If you don't know the culture your character comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/also-worldbuilding-touches-all-aspects-of-your-story-it-touches-plot/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [If this were a fantasy world, there would be ten of me and we would each be doing what we wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-this-were-a-fantasy-world-there-would-be-ten-of-me-and-we-would/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) ## More by Lynda Barry > [ “i believe \[images\] are the soul's immune system and transit system.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-believe-images-are-the-soul-s-immune-system-and-transit-system/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [The happy ending is hardly important, though we may be glad its there. The real joy is knowing that if you felt the trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-happy-ending-is-hardly-important-though-we-may-be-glad-its-there/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“As I enter the small intestine I get squeezed by muscles. Its dark and the walls look like slimey crushed velvet theres pancreas juice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/as-i-enter-the-small-intestine-i-get-squeezed-by-muscles-its-dark-and/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [I look crazy. I know I do. Been true since I was a kid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-look-crazy-i-know-i-do-been-true-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [In life there are always these things happening if you can just get the joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/in-life-there-are-always-these-things-happening-if-you-can-just-get/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [You may be a lady but you are still the man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/you-may-be-a-lady-but-you-are-still-the-man/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [The minute you understand racism, you're responsible for being racist. It's like eating from the tree of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-minute-you-understand-racism-you-re-responsible-for-being-racist/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“Same circus, different clowns, and without a doubt I'm one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/same-circus-different-clowns-and-without-a-doubt-i-m-one-of-them/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“Above me soft footsteps, the sound through the ceiling of a teenager haunted by a door to the night. My cousin Maybonne lights up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/above-me-soft-footsteps-the-sound-through-the-ceiling-of-a-teenager/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Dear Anyone Who Finds This, Do not blame the drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/dear-anyone-who-finds-this-do-not-blame-the-drugs/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [There was a beautiful time in the beginning when I just did it and didn't analyze the consequences, but I think that time ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/there-was-a-beautiful-time-in-the-beginning-when-i-just-did-it-and/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [The library was open for one hour after school let out. I hid there, looking at art books and reading poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-library-was-open-for-one-hour-after-school-let-out-i-hid-there/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“Mr. Harmong is the cheapest chinztiest most pig-lipped tightwad skanked-out lardo king landlord of all time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/mr-harmong-is-the-cheapest-chinztiest-most-pig-lipped-tightwad/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Love will make a way out of no way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/love-will-make-a-way-out-of-no-way/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) [Explore all 133 Lynda Barry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. 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