---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't happen all at once. You…"
description: "\"It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time.\" — Margery Williams"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/margery-williams-33742_becoming-real_it-doesn-t-happen-all-at-once-you-become_2533554.jpg"
---

#  It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long…

![“It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time.” quote by Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/margery-williams-33742_becoming-real_it-doesn-t-happen-all-at-once-you-become_2533554.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/margery-williams-33742_becoming-real_it-doesn-t-happen-all-at-once-you-become_2533554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/margery-williams-33742_becoming-real_it-doesn-t-happen-all-at-once-you-become_2533554.jpg)

> “It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time.”

[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.

Growth and transformation are gradual, not instantaneous

**In simple terms:** Becoming something new takes time and patience

Key Takeaway

Embrace the long process of personal growth

Themes

growth patience transformation

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- learning new hobbies
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

personal development skill mastery character building

Questions to Reflect On

- What small steps can you take daily?
- How do you measure progress over time?

A Different Perspective

Expecting instant results leads to frustration

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## Related quotes

> [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/)

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> [By becoming self-aware, you gain ownership of reality; in becoming real, you become the master of both inner and outer life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-becoming-self-aware-you-gain-ownership-of-reality-in-becoming-real/)

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> [“Form an image in your mind of what you want to happen, then do what it takes to make it happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-krumwiede/form-an-image-in-your-mind-of-what-you-want-to-happen-then-do-what-it/)

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> [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/)

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> [Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, so that, together we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/because-it-is-the-nature-of-love-to-create-a-marriage-itself-is-2/)

[Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/)

> [Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/love-is-a-temporary-madness-it-erupts-like-an-earthquake-and-then-3/)

[Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/)

> [“We were laughing about nothing. At one point, we stumbled upon a chapel. There was a sign that read, Fake Weddings Here. Chance stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-ward/we-were-laughing-about-nothing-at-one-point-we-stumbled-upon-a-chapel/)

[Penelope Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-ward/)

> [A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/a-soulmate-is-someone-who-has-locks-that-fit-our-keys-and-keys-to-fit/)

[Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/)

> [Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/love-is-a-temporary-madness-it-erupts-like-an-earthquake-and-then-2/)

[Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/)

> [Instead of reading vows at the wedding ceremony, they read hacked Sony emails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/instead-of-reading-vows-at-the-wedding-ceremony-they-read-hacked-sony/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [“ I now pronounce you husband and wife. I hadn’t considered the kiss. Not once. I suppose I’d assumed it would be the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-now-pronounce-you-husband-and-wife-i-hadn-t-considered-the-kiss-not/)

[Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/)

> [“Saul tapped his wife's obstinate chin. "Mrs. Benedict, you certainly are. You promised to obey." "That was thirty years ago! Before the wedding ceremony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/saul-tapped-his-wife-s-obstinate-chin-mrs-benedict-you-certainly-are/)

[Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/)

> [“He supposed there were worse things than marriage, although right now he couldn't seem to think of any. 'Cade looks happy enough,' Jack reasoned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/he-supposed-there-were-worse-things-than-marriage-although-right-now/)

[Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/)

> [How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/how-do-i-love-thee-let-me-count-the-ways-i-love-thee-to-the-depth-and/)

[Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/)

> [“She glanced over her shoulder at him. “So until the wedding ceremony in your chapel, we’ll be chaste?” Her smile flirted and taunted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/she-glanced-over-her-shoulder-at-him-so-until-the-wedding-ceremony-in/)

[Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/)

## 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/)

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> [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/)

> [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/does-it-hurt-asked-the-rabbit-sometimes-said-the-skin-horse-for-he/)

[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/)

> [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 Becoming real quotes

> [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [By becoming self-aware, you gain ownership of reality; in becoming real, you become the master of both inner and outer life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-becoming-self-aware-you-gain-ownership-of-reality-in-becoming-real/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [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/)

[Browse all 4 Becoming real quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-real-16668/)

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