--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There’s no such thing as handsome…" description: "\"There’s no such thing as handsome princes, she told herself. There’s no such thing as happily ever after.\" — Rainbow Rowell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/rainbow-rowell-135_ever-after_there-s-no-such-thing-as-handsome-prince_2002137.jpg" --- # There’s no such thing as handsome princes, she told… ![“There’s no such thing as handsome princes, she told herself. There’s no such thing as happily ever after.” quote by Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/rainbow-rowell-135_ever-after_there-s-no-such-thing-as-handsome-prince_2002137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/rainbow-rowell-135_ever-after_there-s-no-such-thing-as-handsome-prince_2002137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/rainbow-rowell-135_ever-after_there-s-no-such-thing-as-handsome-prince_2002137.jpg) > “There’s no such thing as handsome princes, she told herself. There’s no such thing as happily ever after.” [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator rejects idealized romance, recognizing that fairy‑tale expectations are unrealistic. **In simple terms:** Fairy‑tale romance is unrealistic. Key Takeaway Accept realistic expectations in love. Themes love expectations reality Mood thoughtful melancholic Type literary reflective When to use this quote - dating - self‑reflection - friendship Key Concepts idealization disillusionment Questions to Reflect On - Do you set realistic expectations? - How do you balance hope and realism? A Different Perspective Romantic idealism can still inspire hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ever after](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever-after/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Happily ever after](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happily-ever-after/) [Princes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princes/) ## Related quotes > [“There's not such thing as handsome princes, she told herself. There's no such thing as happily ever after. She looked up at Park. Into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/there-s-not-such-thing-as-handsome-princes-she-told-herself-there-s/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy,” Wren said. “It’s the noblest, like, the most courageous thing two people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/happily-ever-after-or-even-just-together-ever-after-is-not-cheesy-2/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/happily-ever-after-or-even-just-together-ever-after-is-not-cheesy/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [After many decades of Disney movies, we have been conditioned to expect princesses to fall in love quickly with their charming princes and 'live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-el-erian/after-many-decades-of-disney-movies-we-have-been-conditioned-to/) [Mohamed El-Erian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-el-erian/) > [The same as real life, there is no happily ever after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-same-as-real-life-there-is-no-happily-ever-after/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [People in the real world would kill for a happily ever after, and you're willing to just throw it away ?" I look away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/people-in-the-real-world-would-kill-for-a-happily-ever-after-and-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [There's nothing quite as good as folding up into a book and shutting the world outside.If I pick the right one I can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-quite-as-good-as-folding-up-into-a-book-and-shutting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is not where I live happily ever after, or who with. It's the fact that I live happily ever after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/is-not-where-i-live-happily-ever-after-or-who-with-it-s-the-fact-that/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [The modern fairy tale ending is the reverse of the traditional one: A woman does not wait for Prince Charming to bring her happiness;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-faludi/the-modern-fairy-tale-ending-is-the-reverse-of-the-traditional-one-a/) [Susan Faludi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-faludi/) > [Happiness, you see, its just an illusion of Fate, a heavenly sleight of hand designed to make you believe in fairy tales. But there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/happiness-you-see-its-just-an-illusion-of-fate-a-heavenly-sleight-of/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Feel lucky for what you have when you have it. Isn't that the point? Happily ever after doesn't mean happy forever. The ever after,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/feel-lucky-for-what-you-have-when-you-have-it-isn-t-that-the-point/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [There is no need for revenge. Living happily ever after is a sign that you have not let the past beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-need-for-revenge-living-happily-ever-after-is-a-sign-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Cinderella and the prince lived, they say, happily ever after, like two dolls in a museum case never bothered by diapers or dust, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/cinderella-and-the-prince-lived-they-say-happily-ever-after-like-two/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [That means life itself is a fairy tale. Like the characters, we all live and love and search for a happily-ever-after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/that-means-life-itself-is-a-fairy-tale-like-the-characters-we-all/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [Happily ever after never happens in the second act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/happily-ever-after-never-happens-in-the-second-act/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) ## More by Rainbow Rowell > [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/reagan-was-sitting-up-at-cath-s-desk-when-cath-woke-up-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Are you awake?” “Have you been watching me sleep?” “Yes, Bella. Are you awake?” “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-awake-have-you-been-watching-me-sleep-yes-bella-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Someone was knocking on her windshield. Georgie lifted her head off the steering wheel. It was Kendrick. She couldn’t really hear what he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/someone-was-knocking-on-her-windshield-georgie-lifted-her-head-off/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Maybe Park had paralyzed her with his ninja magic, his Vulcan handhold, and now he was going to eat her. That would be awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/maybe-park-had-paralyzed-her-with-his-ninja-magic-his-vulcan-handhold/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“She wouldn't pick up a fight him just because she was bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-wouldn-t-pick-up-a-fight-him-just-because-she-was-bored/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“That person thought that wearing an ugly dress on the happiest day of someone else's life was just the beginning-the line you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/that-person-thought-that-wearing-an-ugly-dress-on-the-happiest-day-of/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Is this where you tell me that I'm a scoundrel, and I say that I think you like me because I'm a scoundrel? Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/is-this-where-you-tell-me-that-i-m-a-scoundrel-and-i-say-that-i-think/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Te informo de que mi respuesta a tus próximas doce afirmaciones va a ser: «¿Cómo dices?»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/te-informo-de-que-mi-respuesta-a-tus-pr-ximas-doce-afirmaciones-va-a/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Dude. Let it go. Good riddance to bad rubbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/dude-let-it-go-good-riddance-to-bad-rubbers/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [He looked exactly like a rat. Like the human being version of a rat. Like the villain in a Don Bluth movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-looked-exactly-like-a-rat-like-the-human-being-version-of-a-rat/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Tell me more about the mountains, Georgie said, because she wasn't really sure what to ask. Because ' tell me where I went wrong'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/tell-me-more-about-the-mountains-georgie-said-because-she-wasn-t/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/god-his-chin-she-wanted-to-make-an-honest-woman-of-his-chin-she/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Wait, I really do need your help with this." He turned his computer monitor toward her and pointed. "Is this funny? It's a Snoopy/Snoop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/wait-i-really-do-need-your-help-with-this-he-turned-his-computer/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“You need to cool down first.” “I’m cool.” “Simon. You’re never cool.” “That hurts, Penny.” “It shouldn’t. It’s one of the reasons I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-need-to-cool-down-first-i-m-cool-simon-you-re-never-cool-that/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“She'd get out of the shower the next morning, and it would be written in the steam on the mirror. Dance. Dress. Try a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-d-get-out-of-the-shower-the-next-morning-and-it-would-be-written/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) [Explore all 1,108 Rainbow Rowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## More Ever after quotes > [Had I been brighter, the ladies been gentler, the Scotch been weaker, had the gods been kinder, had the dice been hotter, this could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/had-i-been-brighter-the-ladies-been-gentler-the-scotch-been-weaker/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [True love is taking the risk that it won't be a happily-ever-after. True love is joining hands with the man who loves you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-lockwood/true-love-is-taking-the-risk-that-it-won-t-be-a-happily-ever-after/) [Cara Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-lockwood/) > [Happily ever after never happens in the second act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/happily-ever-after-never-happens-in-the-second-act/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Believe nothing, O monks, just because you have been told it, or it is commonly believed, or because it is traditional or because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/believe-nothing-o-monks-just-because-you-have-been-told-it-or-it-is/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [- "Women should all move to Amazonia, or at least vacation there four times a year." - "Amazonia?" - "It's the girl world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/women-should-all-move-to-amazonia-or-at-least-vacation-there-four/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [That means life itself is a fairy tale. Like the characters, we all live and love and search for a happily-ever-after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/that-means-life-itself-is-a-fairy-tale-like-the-characters-we-all/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [Cinderella and the prince lived, they say, happily ever after, like two dolls in a museum case never bothered by diapers or dust, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/cinderella-and-the-prince-lived-they-say-happily-ever-after-like-two/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Do you know why happily ever after is a lie?" Snow asked. "Because life is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/do-you-know-why-happily-ever-after-is-a-lie-snow-asked-because-life/) [Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/) > [There is no need for revenge. Living happily ever after is a sign that you have not let the past beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-need-for-revenge-living-happily-ever-after-is-a-sign-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Feel lucky for what you have when you have it. Isn't that the point? Happily ever after doesn't mean happy forever. The ever after,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/feel-lucky-for-what-you-have-when-you-have-it-isn-t-that-the-point/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Even when your dream that you set out comes true, it's not always perfect, and there isn't always the kiss at the end, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/even-when-your-dream-that-you-set-out-comes-true-it-s-not-always/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [I don't know, 'Zorro' was just so great for me because, knowing where I came from, everyone spoke Spanish to me, like, forever after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-don-t-know-zorro-was-just-so-great-for-me-because-knowing-where-i/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [However, after the assassination of Salman Taseer, the killer of Salman Taseer was welcomed by the religious fanatics. And they showered rose petals on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahbaz-bhatti/however-after-the-assassination-of-salman-taseer-the-killer-of-salman/) [Shahbaz Bhatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahbaz-bhatti/) > [An agreeable figure and winning manner, which inspire affection without love, are always new. Beauty loses its relish, the graces never, after the longest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/an-agreeable-figure-and-winning-manner-which-inspire-affection/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) > [Happiness, you see, its just an illusion of Fate, a heavenly sleight of hand designed to make you believe in fairy tales. But there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/happiness-you-see-its-just-an-illusion-of-fate-a-heavenly-sleight-of/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) [Browse all 267 Ever after quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever-after/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There’s no such thing as handsome princes, she told herself. 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