--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Know yourself and go in swinging, if it…" description: "\"Know yourself and go in swinging, if it hurts when you hit, it might be real, too.\" — Patrick Ness" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/patrick-ness-449_being-real_know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-h_611161.jpg" --- # Know yourself and go in swinging, if it hurts when you… ![“Know yourself and go in swinging, if it hurts when you hit, it might be real, too.” quote by Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/patrick-ness-449_being-real_know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-h_611161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/patrick-ness-449_being-real_know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-h_611161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/patrick-ness-449_being-real_know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-h_611161.jpg) > “Know yourself and go in swinging, if it hurts when you hit, it might be real, too.” [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑awareness may feel painful, but confronting true feelings is essential for growth. **In simple terms:** Knowing yourself can be painful but necessary. Key Takeaway Embrace honest self‑reflection. Themes self‑knowledge growth pain Mood reflective motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - career decisions - mental health - creative work Key Concepts psychology authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What truth are you avoiding? - How can discomfort signal progress? A Different Perspective Pain can lead to denial or avoidance of truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) [Hit Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit-real-4963223/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurts Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurts-hit-4963225/) [It hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/it-hurts/) [Know Swinging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-swinging-2283723/) [Know yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-yourself/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Swinging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swinging/) [Swinging Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swinging-hurts-4963224/) ## Related quotes > [Know yourself and go in swinging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“Know yourself, he thinks, as they sail past his house. And go in swinging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/know-yourself-he-thinks-as-they-sail-past-his-house-and-go-in-swinging/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“go in swinging”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/go-in-swinging/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [The pendulum is swinging back to the HD-DVD camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-freeman/the-pendulum-is-swinging-back-to-the-hd-dvd-camp/) [John Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-freeman/) > [My dad took me and my brother to see Corrosion of Conformity. All I remember was that there was a dude swinging a chain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-tuff/my-dad-took-me-and-my-brother-to-see-corrosion-of-conformity-all-i/) [King Tuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-tuff/) > [I could hit the damn ball. No matter who was throwing. Or where the ball was. I left the bench swinging. I didn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-herman/i-could-hit-the-damn-ball-no-matter-who-was-throwing-or-where-the/) [Billy Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-herman/) > [“Do you know that scientific teams throughout the world have studied the act of swinging? Studies have shown that repetitive self-stimulatory behavior such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-coriell/do-you-know-that-scientific-teams-throughout-the-world-have-studied/) [Shelley Coriell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-coriell/) > [If I get hit, swinging on a big bitch!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/if-i-get-hit-swinging-on-a-big-bitch/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [What's swinging in words? If a guy makes you pat your foot and if you feel it down your back, you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/what-s-swinging-in-words-if-a-guy-makes-you-pat-your-foot-and-if-you/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I was 2 years old and already swinging bats and throwing balls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-alvarez/i-was-2-years-old-and-already-swinging-bats-and-throwing-balls/) [Eddy Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-alvarez/) > [As a team, when you're swinging at strikes and not helping the pitcher... you help out the guy behind you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/as-a-team-when-you-re-swinging-at-strikes-and-not-helping-the-pitcher/) [Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/) > [Man, if I was back home, I'd be swinging with two chicks on my arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-cooke/man-if-i-was-back-home-i-d-be-swinging-with-two-chicks-on-my-arms/) [Sam Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-cooke/) > [A question I get asked a lot in pro-ams is how I'm able to swing the club as hard as I do. Honestly, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-koepka/a-question-i-get-asked-a-lot-in-pro-ams-is-how-i-m-able-to-swing-the/) [Brooks Koepka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-koepka/) > [When I see birches bend to left and right... I like to think some boy's been swinging them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/when-i-see-birches-bend-to-left-and-right-i-like-to-think-some-boy-s/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Some people enjoy taking a light stroll in the morning and that gives them relief and that sort of feeling. That is what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-suzuki/some-people-enjoy-taking-a-light-stroll-in-the-morning-and-that-gives/) [Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/) ## More by Patrick Ness > [“I rub the ears of my dog, my stupid goddam ruddy great dog that I never wanted but who hung around anyway and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-rub-the-ears-of-my-dog-my-stupid-goddam-ruddy-great-dog-that-i/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“The Prince had fallen in love. She was only a farmer's daughter, but she was was beautiful, and also smart, as the daughters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/the-prince-had-fallen-in-love-she-was-only-a-farmer-s-daughter-but/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Here is the boy, drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/here-is-the-boy-drowning/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“This is it. This is goodbye. A goodbye I wasn't even looking for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/this-is-it-this-is-goodbye-a-goodbye-i-wasn-t-even-looking-for/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“ But what is a dream, Conor O'Malley? the monster said, bending down so it's face was close to Conor's. Who is to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-what-is-a-dream-conor-o-malley-the-monster-said-bending-down-so/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“And I feel her against me - And I think Viola - I think VIOLA! - I think VIOLA!!!! ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/and-i-feel-her-against-me-and-i-think-viola-i-think-viola-i-think/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“But I'm still thinking about being born on a spaceship, an honest to badness spaceship. Growing up while flying along the stars, able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-i-m-still-thinking-about-being-born-on-a-spaceship-an-honest-to/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“When luck ain't with you, it's against you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/when-luck-ain-t-with-you-it-s-against-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“You starting to feel hope yet?" Viola asks, her voice curious. "No," I say, fuddling my noise. "You?" Her eyebrows are up but she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/you-starting-to-feel-hope-yet-viola-asks-her-voice-curious-no-i-say/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“I have two maxims that I believe, dear girl. One, if you can control yourself, you can control others. Two, if you can control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-have-two-maxims-that-i-believe-dear-girl-one-if-you-can-control/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [To live is to fight, to preserve life is to fight everything that man stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/to-live-is-to-fight-to-preserve-life-is-to-fight-everything-that-man/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Because he KNEW he was doing wrong. He felt the PAIN of his actions'-- 'But he did not amen them,' shows the Sky. 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/because-he-knew-he-was-doing-wrong-he-felt-the-pain-of-his-actions/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“This was a kingdom. (“What?” Conor said, looking around his backyard. “Here?”) (The monster cocked its head at him curiously. You have not heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/this-was-a-kingdom-what-conor-said-looking-around-his-backyard-here/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [If you ever see a war," she says, not looking up from her clipboard, "you'll learn that war only destroys. No one escapes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/if-you-ever-see-a-war-she-says-not-looking-up-from-her-clipboard-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) [Explore all 527 Patrick Ness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) ## More Being real quotes > [Don't be in such a hurry to condemn a person because she doesn't do what you do, or think as you think or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcom-x/don-t-be-in-such-a-hurry-to-condemn-a-person-because-she-doesn-t-do/) [Malcom X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcom-x/) > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Going through unknown people's profiles and judging them by their pictures is totally normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pradeep-chandra/going-through-unknown-people-s-profiles-and-judging-them-by-their/) [Pradeep Chandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pradeep-chandra/) > [When you are important to another person, they will always find a way to make time for you - no excuses, no lies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-important-to-another-person-they-will-always-find-a-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you speak the truth watch the fuck niggas start hating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-speak-the-truth-watch-the-fuck-niggas-start-hating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think about everyone in my life that was harsh with me or who gave me tough love and told me things that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/i-think-about-everyone-in-my-life-that-was-harsh-with-me-or-who-gave/) [Charlamagne Tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [Laugh at every mistakes and realize that no one is perfect. We are human. All of us are imperfect, so there's no point judging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laugh-at-every-mistakes-and-realize-that-no-one-is-perfect-we-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've noticed a change huh ? She doesn't text you as often . She never calls you anymore . When she does text you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delaney-ridnour/you-ve-noticed-a-change-huh-she-doesn-t-text-you-as-often-she-never/) [Delaney Ridnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delaney-ridnour/) > [I wish that one day you would finally realize that the person that is willing to love you forever is the person you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khat-leen/i-wish-that-one-day-you-would-finally-realize-that-the-person-that-is/) [Khat Leen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khat-leen/) > [..If you love her/him then why give up, nobody said love was easy and nobody said love was hard... a relationship is what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tevin-bostic/if-you-love-her-him-then-why-give-up-nobody-said-love-was-easy-and/) [TEVIN BOSTIC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tevin-bostic/) > [I learned a tremendous amount about what was important to me as a head coach in that I was not in charge. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/i-learned-a-tremendous-amount-about-what-was-important-to-me-as-a/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [Im loving you not because you're giving me what I need, Instead I'm loving you because you're giving me this feeling I never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/im-loving-you-not-because-you-re-giving-me-what-i-need-instead-i-m/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Be who you want to be, not what people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-who-you-want-to-be-not-what-people-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 1,607 Being real quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Know yourself and go in swinging, if it hurts when you hit, it might be real, too.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Ness" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-hurts-when-you-hit-it-might-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being real" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-hurts-when-you-hit-it-might-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/patrick-ness-449_being-real_know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-h_611161.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/patrick-ness-449_being-real_know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-h_611161.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83d/patrick-ness-449_being-real_know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-h_611161.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Know yourself and go in swinging, if it hurts when you hit, it might be real, too.” — Patrick Ness", "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": "Patrick Ness", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Know yourself and go in swinging,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-hurts-when-you-hit-it-might-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-hurts-when-you-hit-it-might-be/#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 } } ] } ```