--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Until the war, life was never more real…" description: "\"“Until the war, life was never more real to me than a shadow show on a curtain. And I preferred it so. I do not like the outlines of things to be too s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/margaret-mitchell-692_curtain_until-the-war-life-was-never-more-real-t_360491.jpg" --- # Until the war, life was never more real to me than a… ![“Until the war, life was never more real to me than a shadow show on a curtain. And I preferred it so. I do not like the outlines of things to be too sharp. I like them gently blurred, a little hazy.” quote by Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/margaret-mitchell-692_curtain_until-the-war-life-was-never-more-real-t_360491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/margaret-mitchell-692_curtain_until-the-war-life-was-never-more-real-t_360491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/margaret-mitchell-692_curtain_until-the-war-life-was-never-more-real-t_360491.jpg) > ““Until the war, life was never more real to me than a shadow show on a curtain. And I preferred it so. I do not like the outlines of things to be too sharp. I like them gently blurred, a little hazy.”” [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preferring vague, softened realities over harsh truths reflects a desire for emotional comfort. **In simple terms:** Blurred edges feel safer than sharp realities. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty for emotional safety. Themes perception comfort reality Mood contemplative melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - art appreciation - personal reflection - coping strategies Key Concepts psychology aesthetic preference defense mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - When do you choose clarity over comfort? - How does blurring affect decision‑making? A Different Perspective May discourage confronting important issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [It's a curse - this not wanting to look on naked realities. Until the war, life was never more real to me than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/it-s-a-curse-this-not-wanting-to-look-on-naked-realities-until-the/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“Real shadow work does not leave us intact; it is not some neat and tidy process, but rather an inherently messy one, as vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sera-beak/real-shadow-work-does-not-leave-us-intact-it-is-not-some-neat-and/) [Sera Beak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sera-beak/) > [“We knew what we had and what it meant, and though so much had happened since for both of us, there was nothing like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/we-knew-what-we-had-and-what-it-meant-and-though-so-much-had-happened/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [War is life war is the origin of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/war-is-life-war-is-the-origin-of-all-things/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [In war as in life, it is often necessary when some cherished scheme has failed, to take up the best alternative open, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/in-war-as-in-life-it-is-often-necessary-when-some-cherished-scheme/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [War is not a life: it is a situation, one which may neither be ignored nor accepted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-not-a-life-it-is-a-situation-one-which-may-neither-be-ignored/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To me it was real war and my life was at stake, and I believe that all those clandestine spy games we played as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diet-eman/to-me-it-was-real-war-and-my-life-was-at-stake-and-i-believe-that-all/) [Diet Eman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diet-eman/) > [In war as in life, it is often necessary whensome cherished scheme has failed, to take up the best alternative open, and if so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/in-war-as-in-life-it-is-often-necessary-whensome-cherished-scheme-has/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [War that I have anywhere in my life should stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/war-that-i-have-anywhere-in-my-life-should-stop/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [War can't give life, it can only take it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-starr/war-can-t-give-life-it-can-only-take-it-away/) [Edwin Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-starr/) > [“Life was a bloody battlefield until I conquered the enemy and won the war. Now, life is a journey, and I am a warrior.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-g-bowers/life-was-a-bloody-battlefield-until-i-conquered-the-enemy-and-won-the/) [B.G. Bowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-g-bowers/) > [I think when war becomes your life, I think its very difficult to have the proper perspective to be able to create a fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/i-think-when-war-becomes-your-life-i-think-its-very-difficult-to-have/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [War is life multiplied by some number that no one has ever heard of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-junger/war-is-life-multiplied-by-some-number-that-no-one-has-ever-heard-of/) [Sebastian Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-junger/) > [After a war life catches desperately at passing hints of normalcy like vines entwining a hollow twig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/after-a-war-life-catches-desperately-at-passing-hints-of-normalcy/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“She might not be as hard-hitting as Tzivia, but she had a depth of sincerity and gentleness that he appreciated. Needed. She cared about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronie-kendig/she-might-not-be-as-hard-hitting-as-tzivia-but-she-had-a-depth-of/) [Ronie Kendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronie-kendig/) ## More by Margaret Mitchell > [I won't think of it now. I can't stand it now. I'll think of it later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/i-won-t-think-of-it-now-i-can-t-stand-it-now-i-ll-think-of-it-later/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“I don't want any money for it," he said. "It's a gift." Scarlett's mouth dropped open. The line was so closely, so carefully drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/i-don-t-want-any-money-for-it-he-said-it-s-a-gift-scarlett-s-mouth/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [Until you lose your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/until-you-lose-your-reputation-you-never-realize-what-a-burden-it-was/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“There was a glow of grim pride in her usually gentle face, approbation and a fierce joy in her smile that equaled the fiery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/there-was-a-glow-of-grim-pride-in-her-usually-gentle-face-approbation/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [Her lips on his could tell him better than all her stumbling words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/her-lips-on-his-could-tell-him-better-than-all-her-stumbling-words/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [The way to get a man interested and to hold his interest was to talk about himself, and then gradually lead the conversation around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/the-way-to-get-a-man-interested-and-to-hold-his-interest-was-to-talk/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [She was as forthright and simple as the winds that blew over Tara and the yellow river that wound around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/she-was-as-forthright-and-simple-as-the-winds-that-blew-over-tara-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“The very mystery of him excited her curiosity like a door that had neither lock nor key.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/the-very-mystery-of-him-excited-her-curiosity-like-a-door-that-had/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“He had never once crossed the borders of friendliness with her and, when she thought of this, fresh anger rose, the anger of hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/he-had-never-once-crossed-the-borders-of-friendliness-with-her-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“The husband is always the last to find out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/the-husband-is-always-the-last-to-find-out/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [People must do what they must do. We all don't think alike or act alike and it's wrong to-to judge others by ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/people-must-do-what-they-must-do-we-all-don-t-think-alike-or-act/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [All you have done is to be different from other women and you have made a little success of it. This is unforgivable sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/all-you-have-done-is-to-be-different-from-other-women-and-you-have/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“She felt puzzled and ashamed, as always when people attributed to her emotions and motives they possessed and thought she shared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/she-felt-puzzled-and-ashamed-as-always-when-people-attributed-to-her/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“I do not want to marry you or anyone else. I am not a marrying man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/i-do-not-want-to-marry-you-or-anyone-else-i-am-not-a-marrying-man/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) [Explore all 391 Margaret Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) ## More Curtain quotes > [“From his angle, the curtain seems to form itself into a shrouded, wavering figure, indescribably terrifying in its very indistinctness. Something waiting, hovering on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/from-his-angle-the-curtain-seems-to-form-itself-into-a-shrouded/) [Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/) > [As an actor, you know that every act has a closing curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/as-an-actor-you-know-that-every-act-has-a-closing-curtain/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/when-we-went-on-the-air-i-didn-t-want-to-be-interrupted-for-an-act/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [It was the Victorians who covered the piano legs and drew a heavy curtain over what a lady got up to in her boudoir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-graham/it-was-the-victorians-who-covered-the-piano-legs-and-drew-a-heavy/) [Laurie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-graham/) > [I have a small room to write in. One wall is completely covered in books. And I face the window with the curtain closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/i-have-a-small-room-to-write-in-one-wall-is-completely-covered-in/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [Someone asked me who I would be if I were a character in the 'Wizard of Oz.' I would be the curtain. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/someone-asked-me-who-i-would-be-if-i-were-a-character-in-the-wizard/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [“It's a simple world for her. A curtain fluttering - that's how she is - lives, moves - obediently, yet with every appearnace of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/it-s-a-simple-world-for-her-a-curtain-fluttering-that-s-how-she-is/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [Americans have always risen to the moment, from defeating the scourge of fascism to bringing down the Iron Curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/americans-have-always-risen-to-the-moment-from-defeating-the-scourge/) [John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [We are surrounded by curtains. We only perceive the world behind a curtain of semblance. At the same time, an object needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-magritte/we-are-surrounded-by-curtains-we-only-perceive-the-world-behind-a/) [Rene Magritte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-magritte/) > [We use a curtain, so we don't use a net, so there's nothing sea life can get entangled with. And also, the system moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyan-slat/we-use-a-curtain-so-we-don-t-use-a-net-so-there-s-nothing-sea-life/) [Boyan Slat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyan-slat/) > [“I didn’t like the play, but than I saw it under adverse conditions – the curtain was up. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/i-didn-t-like-the-play-but-than-i-saw-it-under-adverse-conditions-the/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [“the bouquet Between me and the world you are a bay, a sail the faithful ends of a rope you are a fountain, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bei-dao/the-bouquet-between-me-and-the-world-you-are-a-bay-a-sail-the/) [Bei Dao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bei-dao/) > [Life is just a show and I just can't stand the fact that one day the curtain is going to close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-cortez/life-is-just-a-show-and-i-just-can-t-stand-the-fact-that-one-day-the/) [Elias Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-cortez/) > [“The final curtain of life’s play is dropp’d.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/the-final-curtain-of-life-s-play-is-dropp-d/) [Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/) Browse all 154 Curtain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Until the war, life was never more real to me than a shadow show on a curtain. 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