--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What are the unreal things, but the…" description: "\"“What are the unreal things, but the passions that once burned one like fire? What are the incredible things, but the things that one has faithfully be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/oscar-wilde-16_heart-of-stone_what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passi_1052504.jpg" --- # What are the unreal things, but the passions that once… ![“What are the unreal things, but the passions that once burned one like fire? What are the incredible things, but the things that one has faithfully believed? What are the improbable things? The things that one has done oneself. No, Ernest; life cheats us with shadows, like a puppet- master. We ask…” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/oscar-wilde-16_heart-of-stone_what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passi_1052504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/oscar-wilde-16_heart-of-stone_what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passi_1052504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/oscar-wilde-16_heart-of-stone_what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passi_1052504.jpg) > ““What are the unreal things, but the passions that once burned one like fire? What are the incredible things, but the things that one has faithfully believed? What are the improbable things? The things that one has done oneself. No, Ernest; life cheats us with shadows, like a puppet- master. We ask it for pleasure. It gives it to us, with bitterness and disappointment in its train. We come across some noble grief that we think will lend the purple dignity of tragedy to our days, but it passes away from us, and things less noble take its place, and on some grey windy dawn, or odorous eve of silence and of silver, we find ourselves looking with callous wonder, or dull heart of stone, at the tress of gold-flecked hair that we had once so wildly worshipped and so madly kissed.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Passions and beliefs shape our perception of reality, often leading to disillusionment and fleeting glory. **In simple terms:** Passions and beliefs color our view, causing disappointment. Key Takeaway Reflect on what you truly value. Themes illusion disillusionment beauty Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - art criticism - personal growth - relationship dynamics - creative pursuits Key Concepts existentialism aesthetics human desire Questions to Reflect On - What passions have you outgrown? - How do you balance belief with reality? A Different Perspective Romantic idealism can obscure truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Callous Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/callous-wonder-2524613/) [Heart of stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-of-stone/) [Improbable Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improbable-things-2079765/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Things Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-oneself-2426943/) [Things Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-passions-2524612/) [Unreal Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreal-things-2524611/) ## Related quotes > [It is my misfortune - and probably my delight - to use things as my passions tell me. What a miserable fate for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-is-my-misfortune-and-probably-my-delight-to-use-things-as-my/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [There are things one must do for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/there-are-things-one-must-do-for-oneself/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [Ever since school, I got a lot of attention as I was modelling and everyone knew who I was. As a child, you enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-takia/ever-since-school-i-got-a-lot-of-attention-as-i-was-modelling-and/) [Ayesha Takia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-takia/) > [“There are some things about oneself that it’s not very nice to wake up to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevil-shute/there-are-some-things-about-oneself-that-it-s-not-very-nice-to-wake/) [Nevil Shute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevil-shute/) > [The More Real you get, The More Unreal Things will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/the-more-real-you-get-the-more-unreal-things-will/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [“... unreal things have a reality of their own, in poetry as elsewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/unreal-things-have-a-reality-of-their-own-in-poetry-as-elsewhere/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [The more real you get the more unreal things get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-real-you-get-the-more-unreal-things-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In that distant, hopeful way unreal things can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/in-that-distant-hopeful-way-unreal-things-can-be/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At least, I have not made my heart a heart of stone, Nor starved my boyhood of is goodly feast, Nor walked where beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/at-least-i-have-not-made-my-heart-a-heart-of-stone-nor-starved-my/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [one pale woman all alone, The daylight kissing her wan hair, Loitered beneath the gas lamps' flare, With lips of flame and heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/one-pale-woman-all-alone-the-daylight-kissing-her-wan-hair-loitered/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [And thus we rust Life's iron chain Degraded and alone: And some men curse, and some men weep, And some men make no moan:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/and-thus-we-rust-life-s-iron-chain-degraded-and-alone-and-some-men/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [One must have a heart of stone to read the death of little Nell without laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/one-must-have-a-heart-of-stone-to-read-the-death-of-little-nell/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [God's eternal laws are kind-and break the heart of stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/god-s-eternal-laws-are-kind-and-break-the-heart-of-stone/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“When people run out of probable things to do, they do improbable things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hansen/when-people-run-out-of-probable-things-to-do-they-do-improbable-things/) [Joseph Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hansen/) > [“Nothing is impossible no matter how improbable, all things can be done before the rising sun!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misti-renea-neely/nothing-is-impossible-no-matter-how-improbable-all-things-can-be-done/) [Misti Renea Neely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misti-renea-neely/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Heart of stone quotes > [Walking on a path of air See your faces everywhere As you melt this heart of stone You take my hand to guide me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/walking-on-a-path-of-air-see-your-faces-everywhere-as-you-melt-this/) [Superman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/superman/) > [If you are not moved by the cryof the innocent you should get acheckup brother, for you have a heart of stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/if-you-are-not-moved-by-the-cryof-the-innocent-you-should-get/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Theres a wideness in Gods mercy I cannot find in my own And He keeps His fire burning To melt this heart of stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/theres-a-wideness-in-gods-mercy-i-cannot-find-in-my-own-and-he-keeps/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [The same sun that rises over castles and welcomes the day Spills over buildings into the streets where orphans play And only You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-dillon/the-same-sun-that-rises-over-castles-and-welcomes-the-day-spills-over/) [Bethany Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-dillon/) > [Staring at the moon so blue Turning all my thoughts to you I was without hopes or dreams I tried to dull an inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mavis-paul/staring-at-the-moon-so-blue-turning-all-my-thoughts-to-you-i-was/) [John Mavis Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mavis-paul/) > [“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/i-will-give-you-a-new-heart-and-put-a-new-spirit-within-you-i-will/) [Various](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/various/) > [“Heart of stone will be shattered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/heart-of-stone-will-be-shattered/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [God's eternal laws are kind-and break the heart of stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/god-s-eternal-laws-are-kind-and-break-the-heart-of-stone/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [And thus we rust Life's iron chain Degraded and alone: And some men curse, and some men weep, And some men make no moan:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/and-thus-we-rust-life-s-iron-chain-degraded-and-alone-and-some-men/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Very often, we really do want to help the people around us however we can, but we get so focused on finding a quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/very-often-we-really-do-want-to-help-the-people-around-us-however-we/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Life is a lone wolf, scratching out a living with teeth and claws and a heart of stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/life-is-a-lone-wolf-scratching-out-a-living-with-teeth-and-claws-and/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [I'm saying the devils are inside the walls. Igor Karkaroff. He was a Death Eater and no one, \*no one\* stops being a Death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirius-black/i-m-saying-the-devils-are-inside-the-walls-igor-karkaroff-he-was-a/) [Sirius Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sirius-black/) > [“Ricky was a young boy, he had a heart of stone./Tequila in his heartbeat, his veins burned gasoline./18 and life you got it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skid-row/ricky-was-a-young-boy-he-had-a-heart-of-stone-tequila-in-his/) [Skid Row](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skid-row/) > [She might have melted a heart of stone, but nothing can melt a heart of wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/she-might-have-melted-a-heart-of-stone-but-nothing-can-melt-a-heart/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“At least, I have not made my heart a heart of stone, Nor starved my boyhood of is goodly feast, Nor walked where beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/at-least-i-have-not-made-my-heart-a-heart-of-stone-nor-starved-my/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Browse all 53 Heart of stone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-of-stone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What are the unreal things, but the passions that once burned one like fire? 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We come across some noble grief that we think will lend the purple dignity of tragedy to our days, but it passes away from us, and things less noble take its place, and on some grey windy dawn, or odorous eve of silence and of silver, we find ourselves looking with callous wonder, or dull heart of stone, at the tress of gold-flecked hair that we had once so wildly worshipped and so madly kissed.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passions-that-once-burned-one-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Heart of stone" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passions-that-once-burned-one-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/oscar-wilde-16_heart-of-stone_what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passi_1052504.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/oscar-wilde-16_heart-of-stone_what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passi_1052504.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/oscar-wilde-16_heart-of-stone_what-are-the-unreal-things-but-the-passi_1052504.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What are the unreal things, but the passions that once burned one like fire? 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