--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit…" description: "\"“Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit. 'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.”\" — Marge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/margery-williams-33742_rabbit-said_does-it-hurt-asked-the-rabbit-sometimes_2277154.jpg" --- # Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit. 'Sometimes,' said the… ![“Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit. 'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.” quote by Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/margery-williams-33742_rabbit-said_does-it-hurt-asked-the-rabbit-sometimes_2277154.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/margery-williams-33742_rabbit-said_does-it-hurt-asked-the-rabbit-sometimes_2277154.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/margery-williams-33742_rabbit-said_does-it-hurt-asked-the-rabbit-sometimes_2277154.jpg) > ““Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit. 'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.”” [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authenticity means accepting pain that comes with being truly oneself. **In simple terms:** Being real brings hurt but also truth. Key Takeaway Embrace honesty despite pain. Themes authenticity vulnerability truth pain Mood reflective melancholy Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - relationships - self-discovery Key Concepts self-acceptance emotional honesty Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability shape your identity? - Can you find strength in being hurt? A Different Perspective Pain can be overwhelming and may deter openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/real-isn-t-how-you-are-made-said-the-skin-horse-it-s-a-thing-that-2/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. 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I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/does-it-hurt-i-asked-no-just-he-stared-at-the-ceiling-for-a-long-time/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Between them all the poor little Rabbit was made to feel himself very insignificant and commonplace, and the only person who was kind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/between-them-all-the-poor-little-rabbit-was-made-to-feel-himself-very/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [“What do you say, Pooh?" Pooh opened his eyes with a jerk and said, "Extremely." "Extremely what?" asked Rabbit. "What you were saying," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne-2/what-do-you-say-pooh-pooh-opened-his-eyes-with-a-jerk-and-said/) [A.A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne-2/) > [“Tyson, thank the gods. Annabeth is hurt!' 'You thank the gods she is hurt?' He asked, puzzled. 'No!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/tyson-thank-the-gods-annabeth-is-hurt-you-thank-the-gods-she-is-hurt/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Are you hurt?' she asked. He let his arms fall to the sides. 'I'm slain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/are-you-hurt-she-asked-he-let-his-arms-fall-to-the-sides-i-m-slain/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Hurt me?" he asked. "How would you do that? By taking away everything I love? Everything I honour? You're too late, Hannah. Far too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/hurt-me-he-asked-how-would-you-do-that-by-taking-away-everything-i/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [He closed his eyes and let out a jagged breath. "Okay." He settled between my legs holding himself over me. "I've never been with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/he-closed-his-eyes-and-let-out-a-jagged-breath-okay-he-settled/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [“Does it hurt now?" he asked, his tone rough and seductive. "No." She shook her head again and sighed, trying to pretend his touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-summers/does-it-hurt-now-he-asked-his-tone-rough-and-seductive-no-she-shook/) [Eden Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-summers/) > [“Did I hurt you? he asked”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/did-i-hurt-you-he-asked/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I couldn't joke about the person who'd saved me from facing absolute heartbreak at home, who fed my family boxes of sweets, who ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/i-couldn-t-joke-about-the-person-who-d-saved-me-from-facing-absolute/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [Tyson! Thank the gods, Annabeth is hurt!" "You thank the gods that she is hurt?" he asked, puzzled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/tyson-thank-the-gods-annabeth-is-hurt-you-thank-the-gods-that-she-is/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/what-is-real-asked-the-rabbit-one-day-does-it-mean-having-things-that/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [Of what use was it to be loved and lose one's beauty and become Real if it all ended like this? And a tear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/of-what-use-was-it-to-be-loved-and-lose-one-s-beauty-and-become-real/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [Real isn't how you are made... It's a thing that happens to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/real-isn-t-how-you-are-made-it-s-a-thing-that-happens-to-you-2/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > ['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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/it-doesn-t-happen-all-at-once-said-the-skin-horse-you-become-it-takes/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [“Between them all the poor little Rabbit was made to feel himself very insignificant and commonplace, and the only person who was kind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/between-them-all-the-poor-little-rabbit-was-made-to-feel-himself-very/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby, but the Boy loved him just as much. He loved him so hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/weeks-passed-and-the-little-rabbit-grew-very-old-and-shabby-but-the/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [ \[O\]nce you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." - The Skin Horse from The Velveteen Rabbit ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/o-nce-you-are-real-you-can-t-be-ugly-except-to-people-who-don-t/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [“He said, " You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/he-said-you-become-it-takes-a-long-time-that-s-why-it-doesn-t-happen/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [“He longed to become Real, to know what it felt like; and yet the idea of growing shabby and losing his eyes and whiskers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/he-longed-to-become-real-to-know-what-it-felt-like-and-yet-the-idea/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [Once you are real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/once-you-are-real-you-can-t-become-unreal-again-it-lasts-for-always/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [When you are Real, shabbiness doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/when-you-are-real-shabbiness-doesn-t-matter/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/it-doesn-t-happen-all-at-once-you-become-it-takes-a-long-time/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/real-isn-t-how-you-are-made-said-the-skin-horse-it-s-a-thing-that-2/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) [Explore all 14 Margery Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) ## More Rabbit Said quotes > [“There aren't any dancing girls in Bitter Springs," Finn said. "Leastways not he kind that kick their legs so high in the air you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-goodman/there-aren-t-any-dancing-girls-in-bitter-springs-finn-said-leastways/) [Jo Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-goodman/) > [“He was a peculiar sight. Tears rolling down his face, shouting to drown the sound of the singing rabbit; he said he needed help,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-rosoff/he-was-a-peculiar-sight-tears-rolling-down-his-face-shouting-to-drown/) [Meg Rosoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-rosoff/) > [“I don’t want to wind up some old woman who talks to her rabbit,” she said to Rabbit, who was chewing so furiously he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-don-t-want-to-wind-up-some-old-woman-who-talks-to-her-rabbit-she/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [“How would it be,” said Pooh slowly, “if, as soon as we’re out of sight of this Pit, we try to find it again?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milne-a-a/how-would-it-be-said-pooh-slowly-if-as-soon-as-we-re-out-of-sight-of/) Milne, A. A > [“Hallo, Pooh,” said Rabbit. “Hallo, Rabbit,” said Pooh dreamily. “Did you make that song up?” “Well, I sort of made it up,” said Pooh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne-2/hallo-pooh-said-rabbit-hallo-rabbit-said-pooh-dreamily-did-you-make/) [A.A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne-2/) > [“I don’t want to wind up some old woman who talks to her rabbit,” she said to Rabbit,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-don-t-want-to-wind-up-some-old-woman-who-talks-to-her-rabbit-she-2/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [ \[Jem\] 'It will help you sleep.' 'All I’ve been doing is sleeping!' \[Tessa\] 'And very amusing it is to watch, said Jem. 'Did you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jem-it-will-help-you-sleep-all-i-ve-been-doing-is-sleeping-tessa-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Hello, Rabbit,' he said, 'is that you?' 'Let's pretend it isn't,' said Rabbit, 'and see what happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne-2/hello-rabbit-he-said-is-that-you-let-s-pretend-it-isn-t-said-rabbit/) [A.A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne-2/) > [I therefore invite you all," Mr Fox went on, 'to stay here with me for ever.' For ever!' they cried. 'My goodness! How marvellous!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/i-therefore-invite-you-all-mr-fox-went-on-to-stay-here-with-me-for/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [I don't see much sense in that," said Rabbit. "No," said Pooh humbly, "there isn't. But there was going to be when I began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-see-much-sense-in-that-said-rabbit-no-said-pooh-humbly-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams-bianco/real-isn-t-how-you-are-made-said-the-skin-horse-it-s-a-thing-that/) Margery Williams Bianco > [“No tricks, Syn,” Ryder growled from where he stood a few feet away. “Tricks are for kids, silly rabbit,” I said”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-hutchins/no-tricks-syn-ryder-growled-from-where-he-stood-a-few-feet-away/) [Amelia Hutchins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-hutchins/) > [Hallo, Rabbit,” he said, “is that you?” "Let’s pretend it isn’t,” said Rabbit, “and see what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/hallo-rabbit-he-said-is-that-you-let-s-pretend-it-isn-t-said-rabbit/) [A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/) > [“Between them all the poor little Rabbit was made to feel himself very insignificant and commonplace, and the only person who was kind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/between-them-all-the-poor-little-rabbit-was-made-to-feel-himself-very/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [“The next witness was the Duchess's cook. She carried the pepper-box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was, even before she got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-next-witness-was-the-duchess-s-cook-she-carried-the-pepper-box-in/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) Browse all 20 Rabbit Said quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit. 'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 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