--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But neither path is safe. Which way would…" description: "\"“But neither path is safe. Which way would you walk—the way of hard truths or the way of fine lies?” Shadow hesitated. “Truths,” he said. “I’ve come to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/neil-gaiman-29_hard-truths_but-neither-path-is-safe-which-way-would_2084987.jpg" --- # But neither path is safe. Which way would you walk—the way… ![“But neither path is safe. Which way would you walk—the way of hard truths or the way of fine lies?” Shadow hesitated. “Truths,” he said. “I’ve come too far for more lies.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/neil-gaiman-29_hard-truths_but-neither-path-is-safe-which-way-would_2084987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/neil-gaiman-29_hard-truths_but-neither-path-is-safe-which-way-would_2084987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/neil-gaiman-29_hard-truths_but-neither-path-is-safe-which-way-would_2084987.jpg) > ““But neither path is safe. Which way would you walk—the way of hard truths or the way of fine lies?” Shadow hesitated. “Truths,” he said. “I’ve come too far for more lies.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character chooses truth over comforting lies, valuing authenticity despite difficulty. **In simple terms:** Choosing truth over lies. Key Takeaway Embrace honesty even when hard. Themes truth courage integrity Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - decision making - self‑discovery - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical dilemmas personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you avoiding? - How does honesty affect your relationships? A Different Perspective Truth can be painful and isolating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-truths/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) ## Related quotes > [“Which way would you walk—the way of hard truths or the way of fine lies?” “Truths,” he said. “I’ve come too far for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/which-way-would-you-walk-the-way-of-hard-truths-or-the-way-of-fine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Take one, and you cannot take the other. But neither path is safe. Which way would you walk — the way of hard truths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/take-one-and-you-cannot-take-the-other-but-neither-path-is-safe-which/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Take one, and you cannot take the other," she said. 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I've told lots of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/the-president-s-biggest-problem-right-now-is-he-s-gotta-tell-the/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [Because others have let us down, it is now our duty to face the hard truths and do the right thing--no matter the personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/because-others-have-let-us-down-it-is-now-our-duty-to-face-the-hard/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [“This is how you explain how you feel: broken words and hard truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-ys-perez/this-is-how-you-explain-how-you-feel-broken-words-and-hard-truths/) [R. YS Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-ys-perez/) > [“Richard had noticed that events were cowards: they didn't occur singly, but instead they would run in packs and leap out at him all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/richard-had-noticed-that-events-were-cowards-they-didn-t-occur-singly/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. 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If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. 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