--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't live without illusions, even if…" description: "\"You can't live without illusions, even if you must fight for them.\" — Marlene Dietrich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/marlene-dietrich-4460_fight_you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if_2729883.jpg" --- # You can't live without illusions, even if you must fight… ![“You can't live without illusions, even if you must fight for them.” quote by Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/marlene-dietrich-4460_fight_you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if_2729883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/marlene-dietrich-4460_fight_you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if_2729883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/marlene-dietrich-4460_fight_you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if_2729883.jpg) > “You can't live without illusions, even if you must fight for them.” [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States that illusions are essential for life, even if they must be defended. **In simple terms:** Illusions sustain existence. Key Takeaway Protect hopeful narratives. Themes psychology hope illusion Mood hopeful reflective Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - artistic creation - political propaganda Key Concepts Coping mechanisms creative arts Questions to Reflect On - When do illusions become harmful? - How to balance realism and hope? A Different Perspective Risk of denial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusions/) ## Related quotes > [“Why don't they live in Illusions?' suggested the Humbug. 'It's much prettier.' 'Many of them do,' he answered, walking in the direction of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/why-don-t-they-live-in-illusions-suggested-the-humbug-it-s-much/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Most people like to live in illusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/most-people-like-to-live-in-illusions/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [If I live by illusions, you live by excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/if-i-live-by-illusions-you-live-by-excuses/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [I am determined to live without illusions. I want to look at reality straight. Without hiding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-am-determined-to-live-without-illusions-i-want-to-look-at-reality/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [A man loses his illusions first, his teeth second, and his follies last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/a-man-loses-his-illusions-first-his-teeth-second-and-his-follies-last/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [The mere reality of life would be inconceivably poor without the charm of fancy, which brings in its bosom, no doubt, as many vain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-mere-reality-of-life-would-be-inconceivably-poor-without-the/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [If silence only conveys the Self, if all words and thoughts are illusions, why do we discuss it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-silence-only-conveys-the-self-if-all-words-and-thoughts-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The most important part of our lives-our sensations, emotions, desires, and aspirations-takes place in a universe of illusions which science can attenuate or destroy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/the-most-important-part-of-our-lives-our-sensations-emotions-desires/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [Of course she had some pathetic illusions about herself or she would not be able to go on living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/of-course-she-had-some-pathetic-illusions-about-herself-or-she-would/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [“The more you think about illusions, the more they'll swell up and take on form. And no longer be an illusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-more-you-think-about-illusions-the-more-they-ll-swell-up-and-take/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“A great magician is not more magical than other magicians; he is just more magical in his presentation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-great-magician-is-not-more-magical-than-other-magicians-he-is-just/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Strange, isn't it, that no chemical will give a human being the iridescence that illusions have given them? Give me your hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/strange-isn-t-it-that-no-chemical-will-give-a-human-being-the/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing things to be a certain way because I want them to be that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve-been-believing-things-to-be/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/life-and-death-are-illusions-we-are-in-a-constant-state-of/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) ## More by Marlene Dietrich > [What a man notices first about a woman is whether she notices him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/what-a-man-notices-first-about-a-woman-is-whether-she-notices-him/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [ \[The lover says:\] How beautiful you are, now that you love me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/the-lover-says-how-beautiful-you-are-now-that-you-love-me/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [To lose your prejudices you must travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/to-lose-your-prejudices-you-must-travel/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [“There is a gigantic difference between earning a great deal of money and being rich" Under a picture of a mom holding a baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/there-is-a-gigantic-difference-between-earning-a-great-deal-of-money/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [one should be afraid of life, not of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/one-should-be-afraid-of-life-not-of-death/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [Tenderness is greater proof of love than the most passionate of vows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/tenderness-is-greater-proof-of-love-than-the-most-passionate-of-vows/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [There's something about an American soldier you can't explain. They're so grateful for anything, even a film actress coming to see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/there-s-something-about-an-american-soldier-you-can-t-explain-they-re/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [Writers, Composers, Painters, - also artists like directors and actors fall into the same category. They have to be handled with kid gloves, mentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/writers-composers-painters-also-artists-like-directors-and-actors/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [Lover's words: “How beautiful you are, now that you love me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/lover-s-words-how-beautiful-you-are-now-that-you-love-me/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [Love affairs are the real only education in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/love-affairs-are-the-real-only-education-in-life/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [ \[On Orson Welles:\] When I talk to him, I feel like a plant that's been watered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/on-orson-welles-when-i-talk-to-him-i-feel-like-a-plant-that-s-been/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [It is my private life which no one knows anything about, nor ever will. It needs more than half my time if it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/it-is-my-private-life-which-no-one-knows-anything-about-nor-ever-will/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [Habit: Often mistaken for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/habit-often-mistaken-for-love/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [Love for the joy of loving, and not for the offerings of someone else's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/love-for-the-joy-of-loving-and-not-for-the-offerings-of-someone-else/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [Gentleman. A man who buys two of the same morning paper from the doorman of his favorite nightclub when he leaves with his girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/gentleman-a-man-who-buys-two-of-the-same-morning-paper-from-the/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) [Explore all 110 Marlene Dietrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) ## More Fight quotes > [“I wanted a fight. I needed a fight. I was sick and tired of playing nice. I AM NOT NICE. - Caleb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-roberts/i-wanted-a-fight-i-needed-a-fight-i-was-sick-and-tired-of-playing/) [C.J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-roberts/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-am-a-fighter-and-i-am-in-that-fight-and-i-have-to-make-sure-that-i/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [I want to fight the fights that fans want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/i-want-to-fight-the-fights-that-fans-want-to-see/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-shall-fight-against-them-throw-them-in-prisons-and-destroy-them/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I really believe if GSP and Silva fight, Georges will have his hand raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-really-believe-if-gsp-and-silva-fight-georges-will-have-his-hand/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Therefore, our fight must primarily be a political mass struggle with revolutionary goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/therefore-our-fight-must-primarily-be-a-political-mass-struggle-with/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) [Browse all 9,748 Fight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't live without illusions, even if you must fight for them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marlene Dietrich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if-you-must-fight-for-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if-you-must-fight-for-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/marlene-dietrich-4460_fight_you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if_2729883.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/marlene-dietrich-4460_fight_you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if_2729883.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b1/marlene-dietrich-4460_fight_you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if_2729883.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't live without illusions, even if you must fight for them.” — Marlene Dietrich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marlene Dietrich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't live without illusions, even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if-you-must-fight-for-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/you-can-t-live-without-illusions-even-if-you-must-fight-for-them/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```