Life Quote by Margery Williams
“'What is REAL?' asked the Rabbit one day, 'Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?''Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.[...] 'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?''It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to the people who don't understand.'”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, 1922
Being "Real" means being deeply loved over time, which transforms you beyond superficial flaws.
In simple terms: True love changes you inside.
Key Takeaway
Seek lasting, genuine love.
Themes
love
authenticity
transformation
Mood
tender
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- parent‑child relationships
- long‑term friendships
- personal healing
- self‑acceptance
Key Concepts
attachment
identity
growth
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be truly loved?
- How does time affect personal growth?
A Different Perspective
Realness can be delayed or denied for those who resist vulnerability.
![“[O]nce you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." - The Skin Horse from The Velveteen Rabbit” quote by Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a69/margery-williams-33742_horse_o-nce-you-are-real-you-can-t-be-ugly-exc_2085914.jpg)
