--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once I had feared that telling the truth…" description: "\"“Once I had feared that telling the truth would be like falling, that love would be like hitting the ground, but here I was, my feet firmly planted, st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/rachel-hartman-6350_falling_once-i-had-feared-that-telling-the-truth_2324960.jpg" --- # Once I had feared that telling the truth would be like… ![“Once I had feared that telling the truth would be like falling, that love would be like hitting the ground, but here I was, my feet firmly planted, standing on my own. We were all monsters and bastards, and we were all beautiful.” quote by Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/rachel-hartman-6350_falling_once-i-had-feared-that-telling-the-truth_2324960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/rachel-hartman-6350_falling_once-i-had-feared-that-telling-the-truth_2324960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/rachel-hartman-6350_falling_once-i-had-feared-that-telling-the-truth_2324960.jpg) > ““Once I had feared that telling the truth would be like falling, that love would be like hitting the ground, but here I was, my feet firmly planted, standing on my own. We were all monsters and bastards, and we were all beautiful.”” [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects overcoming fear of vulnerability, embracing self‑acceptance, and recognizing both darkness and beauty within ourselves. **In simple terms:** Facing truth and love can be scary, but we can stand firm and see our worth. Key Takeaway Accept yourself and own your truth. Themes self‑acceptance vulnerability identity beauty darkness Mood reflective hopeful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - relationships - mental health - creative writing - self‑reflection Key Concepts psychology humanism dual nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance acknowledging flaws with celebrating strengths? - What steps help you stay grounded when confronting truth? A Different Perspective It may romanticize pain and ignore the need for external support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Once I had feared that telling the truth would be like falling, that love would be like hitting the ground, but here I was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/once-i-had-feared-that-telling-the-truth-would-be-like-falling-that/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“I rose to standing, like Lars upon the barbican, the dark city spread at my feet. Lights twinkled in tavern windows, bobbed at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-rose-to-standing-like-lars-upon-the-barbican-the-dark-city-spread/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [You feel like your falling in love. Then you decided to look up above. You see another girl fall with you. You both just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamiee-leen/you-feel-like-your-falling-in-love-then-you-decided-to-look-up-above/) [Jamiee Leen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamiee-leen/) > [What if what feels like it's falling apart, is actually falling into place? Don't rush anything. When the time is right, everything will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/what-if-what-feels-like-it-s-falling-apart-is-actually-falling-into/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [“To love someone was not what she had expected. It was like falling from somewhere high up and breaking in half, and only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/to-love-someone-was-not-what-she-had-expected-it-was-like-falling/) [Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/) > [These worst mornings with cold floors and hot windows and merciless light - the soul's certainty that the day will have to be not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/these-worst-mornings-with-cold-floors-and-hot-windows-and-merciless/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“Well… I want to get better,” he said quietly. “So whatever you can do for me, that’d just be great, okay? I don’t like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roanna-sylver/well-i-want-to-get-better-he-said-quietly-so-whatever-you-can-do-for/) [RoAnna Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roanna-sylver/) > [When you feel like everything and everyone is falling upart, look up and show the world it won't .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber/when-you-feel-like-everything-and-everyone-is-falling-upart-look-up/) [Amber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber/) > [“Katie says, "You can't choose the time and place the when and where with whom you fall in love." She says, "It just happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-tregay/katie-says-you-can-t-choose-the-time-and-place-the-when-and-where/) [Sarah Tregay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-tregay/) > [Remember those walls I built? Well, baby they're tumbling down And they didn't even put up a fight They didn't even make a sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prettyblueeyes/remember-those-walls-i-built-well-baby-they-re-tumbling-down-and-they/) PrettyBlueEyes > [I don't think telling the truth ever gets anyone in trouble in the long run. Maybe the day after, but not in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/i-don-t-think-telling-the-truth-ever-gets-anyone-in-trouble-in-the/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [“Publicly telling the truth on social media can be one of the most effective healing journeys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/publicly-telling-the-truth-on-social-media-can-be-one-of-the-most/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-musto/in-the-last-few-years-the-very-idea-of-telling-the-truth-the-whole/) [Michael Musto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-musto/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realize God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-must-be-very-particular-about-telling-the-truth-through-truth-one/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) ## More by Rachel Hartman > [“A feeling rose in me, and I just let it, because what harm could it do? It only had another thirty-two adagio bars of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/a-feeling-rose-in-me-and-i-just-let-it-because-what-harm-could-it-do/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [Sometimes the truth has difficulty breaching the city walls of our beliefs. A lie, dressed in the correct livery, passes through more easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/sometimes-the-truth-has-difficulty-breaching-the-city-walls-of-our/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [I barely noticed loneliness anymore; it was my normal condition, by necessity if not by nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-barely-noticed-loneliness-anymore-it-was-my-normal-condition-by/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“It's such a relief after all these years to learn that you recovered from your fright," he said in a low voice, giving my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/it-s-such-a-relief-after-all-these-years-to-learn-that-you-recovered/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“There are melodies that speak as eloquently as words, that flow logically and inevitably from a single, pure emotion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/there-are-melodies-that-speak-as-eloquently-as-words-that-flow/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“Sir James waved a gnarled hand. "They're nothing but feral file clerks, dragons. They used to alphabetize the coins in their hoards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/sir-james-waved-a-gnarled-hand-they-re-nothing-but-feral-file-clerks/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“He didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve, exactly, but he did keep it in a place where I could see it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/he-didn-t-wear-his-heart-on-his-sleeve-exactly-but-he-did-keep-it-in/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“I’m attracting small children,” Orma muttered, twisting his hat in his hands. “Shoo it away, will you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-m-attracting-small-children-orma-muttered-twisting-his-hat-in-his/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“I heard you, sought you, and have found you. I have reached for you, across space and sense and the laws of nature. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-heard-you-sought-you-and-have-found-you-i-have-reached-for-you/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“I saw the void beneath the surface of the world; it threatened to pull me under.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-saw-the-void-beneath-the-surface-of-the-world-it-threatened-to-pull/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“Art is a conversation we are all invited to and are all worthy to participate in. Yes, great works can be intimidating, but no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/art-is-a-conversation-we-are-all-invited-to-and-are-all-worthy-to/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [The twin gods, Necessity and Chance, walked among the stars. What needed to be, was; what might be, sometimes was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/the-twin-gods-necessity-and-chance-walked-among-the-stars-what-needed/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“Ah, I could last a long time on those smiles. I would sow and reap them like wheat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/ah-i-could-last-a-long-time-on-those-smiles-i-would-sow-and-reap-them/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“Who will kiss you? Who will rock you to sleep?" His voice was slow, drowsy. "You never did," I said, trying to tease him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/who-will-kiss-you-who-will-rock-you-to-sleep-his-voice-was-slow/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [“He was impugning my virtue. I ought to have been offended, but for some reason the idea tickled me. That could be my next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/he-was-impugning-my-virtue-i-ought-to-have-been-offended-but-for-some/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) [Explore all 97 Rachel Hartman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) ## More Falling quotes > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [What if I tell you I'm falling again? what if I tell you I'm willing to stand there till you notice me again? what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/what-if-i-tell-you-i-m-falling-again-what-if-i-tell-you-i-m-willing/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [“We will all, at some point in our lives, fall. Every single one of us. We shouldn't spend our time trying to avoid falling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/we-will-all-at-some-point-in-our-lives-fall-every-single-one-of-us-we/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [“If you ever falling but can't see the bottom be glad you can't because at the bottom it's either a soft land or rocks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelseigh-ashton/if-you-ever-falling-but-can-t-see-the-bottom-be-glad-you-can-t/) Kelseigh Ashton > [They say that if you give your children too much, they don't get the joy out of work. They just want the unearned things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rinehart/they-say-that-if-you-give-your-children-too-much-they-don-t-get-the/) [Gina Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rinehart/) > [Falling for someone who will never notice you no matter how hard you try to get their attention...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/falling-for-someone-who-will-never-notice-you-no-matter-how-hard-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Falling in love is not the problem; hitting your head on the way down is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/falling-in-love-is-not-the-problem-hitting-your-head-on-the-way-down/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/maybe-tonight-you-re-scared-of-falling-and-maybe-there-s-somebody/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [Sometimes when things seem to be falling apart, they are actually falling into place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-when-things-seem-to-be-falling-apart-they-are-actually/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The tides which flow and lapse in the Bristol Channel are often distained by the freshets of many streams falling through wooded coombes below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/the-tides-which-flow-and-lapse-in-the-bristol-channel-are-often/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [Remember those walls I built? Well, baby they're tumbling down And they didn't even put up a fight They didn't even make a sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prettyblueeyes/remember-those-walls-i-built-well-baby-they-re-tumbling-down-and-they/) PrettyBlueEyes > [“When you were young you talked about "falling in love" with such amusing gravity, as if it were an actual recordable event, when what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/when-you-were-young-you-talked-about-falling-in-love-with-such/) [Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/) Browse all 2,510 Falling quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Once I had feared that telling the truth would be like falling, that love would be like hitting the ground, but here I was, my feet firmly planted, standing on my own. 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