--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You owe reality nothing and the truth…" description: "\"You owe reality nothing and the truth about your feelings everything.\" — Richard Hugo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/richard-hugo-14365_feelings_you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-ab_1308523.png" --- # You owe reality nothing and the truth about your feelings… ![“You owe reality nothing and the truth about your feelings everything.” quote by Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/richard-hugo-14365_feelings_you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-ab_1308523.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/richard-hugo-14365_feelings_you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-ab_1308523.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/richard-hugo-14365_feelings_you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-ab_1308523.png) > “You owe reality nothing and the truth about your feelings everything.” [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging that reality offers no obligations, while honesty about emotions is essential. **In simple terms:** Reality owes nothing; truth about feelings matters. Key Takeaway Be honest with your emotions. Themes self-awareness honesty emotional intelligence Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal relationships - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance reality’s indifference with emotional truth? - What fears arise when you are fully honest? A Different Perspective Emotions can be messy and hard to confront. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Truth is always about something, but reality is that about which truth is".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cs-lewis/truth-is-always-about-something-but-reality-is-that-about-which-truth/) [CS Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cs-lewis/) > [Hiding the truth about your feelings towards someone from them isn't pathetic, it's pretty smart actually...Because why ruin everything?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hiding-the-truth-about-your-feelings-towards-someone-from-them-isn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You want the truth? I still have feelings for you. No matter how hard I try, a part of me just wont let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-want-the-truth-i-still-have-feelings-for-you-no-matter-how-hard-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God’s word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/my-feelings-are-not-god-god-is-god-my-feelings-do-not-define-truth/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Hey I have a crush on you so pls let me in coz I dont want my feelings to be crushed by someone when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sikhwetha-ms/hey-i-have-a-crush-on-you-so-pls-let-me-in-coz-i-dont-want-my/) [Sikhwetha Ms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sikhwetha-ms/) > [I have noticed that if you look carefully at people's eyes the first five seconds they look at you, the truth of their feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/i-have-noticed-that-if-you-look-carefully-at-people-s-eyes-the-first/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [If a man truly loves,…He does not consider the obstacles, the restrictions, the reasons why his choice may be flawed or impratical. He gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/if-a-man-truly-loves-he-does-not-consider-the-obstacles-the/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [“The truth is that feelings aren't always comfortable, but feeling them is the only way to get comfortable with feeling something new.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-viramontez/the-truth-is-that-feelings-aren-t-always-comfortable-but-feeling-them/) [Jackie Viramontez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-viramontez/) > [“If a man truly loves, he gives no heed to what others may think. His heart has no room for that, for it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/if-a-man-truly-loves-he-gives-no-heed-to-what-others-may-think-his/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [“Art has two great functions. First, it provides an emotional experience. And then, if we have the courage of our own feelings, it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/art-has-two-great-functions-first-it-provides-an-emotional-experience/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [Either you will determine truth by your feelings or truth will determine your feelings. Be careful following feelings alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/either-you-will-determine-truth-by-your-feelings-or-truth-will/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [“Objective Reality and Truth requires neither ones consent nor dissent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/objective-reality-and-truth-requires-neither-ones-consent-nor-dissent/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [Reality (i.e., the truth) is that there is a God in heaven. Reality is that He made us and we are accountable to Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-berg/reality-i-e-the-truth-is-that-there-is-a-god-in-heaven-reality-is/) [Jim Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-berg/) > [Perception is one millionth of one percent reality (truth in fact).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/perception-is-one-millionth-of-one-percent-reality-truth-in-fact/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Man keeps looking for a truth that fits his reality. Given our reality, the truth doesn't fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-erhard/man-keeps-looking-for-a-truth-that-fits-his-reality-given-our-reality/) [Werner Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-erhard/) ## More by Richard Hugo > [“there’s too many people in here. If I had my way, I’d have nothing but young chicks, the innocent ones you can teach something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/there-s-too-many-people-in-here-if-i-had-my-way-i-d-have-nothing-but/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [I will garden on the double run, my rhythm obvious in the ringing rakes, and trust in fate to keep me poor and kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/i-will-garden-on-the-double-run-my-rhythm-obvious-in-the-ringing/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [“I fear, trying to improve human nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/i-fear-trying-to-improve-human-nature/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [A poet is seldom hard up for advice. The worst part of it all is that sometimes the advice is coming from other poets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/a-poet-is-seldom-hard-up-for-advice-the-worst-part-of-it-all-is-that/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [...an imagined town is at least as real as an actual town. If it isn't, you may be in the wrong business. Our words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/an-imagined-town-is-at-least-as-real-as-an-actual-town-if-it-isn-t/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [“The imagination is a cynic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/the-imagination-is-a-cynic/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [“…I’ve seen the world tell us with wars and real estate developments and bad politics and odd court decisions that our lives don’t matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/i-ve-seen-the-world-tell-us-with-wars-and-real-estate-developments/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [An act of imagination is an act of self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/an-act-of-imagination-is-an-act-of-self-acceptance/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [A creative writing class may be one of the last places you can go where your life still matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/a-creative-writing-class-may-be-one-of-the-last-places-you-can-go/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [Maximum sentence length: seventeen words. Minimum:one No semicolons. Semicolons indicate relationships that only idiots need defined by punctuation. Besides, they are ugly. Make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/maximum-sentence-length-seventeen-words-minimum-one-no-semicolons/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [A good creative-writing teacher can save a good writer a lot of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/a-good-creative-writing-teacher-can-save-a-good-writer-a-lot-of-time/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [“We won’t all disappear on a remote country road in the Monroe Valley, but like The Admiral and his wife we are all going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/we-won-t-all-disappear-on-a-remote-country-road-in-the-monroe-valley/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [“You might come here Sunday on a whim. Say your life broke down. The last good kiss you had was years ago. You walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/you-might-come-here-sunday-on-a-whim-say-your-life-broke-down-the/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [Assuming you can write clear English sentences, give up all worry about communication. If you want to communicate, use the telephone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/assuming-you-can-write-clear-english-sentences-give-up-all-worry/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [Don't write love poems when you're in love. Write them when you're not in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/don-t-write-love-poems-when-you-re-in-love-write-them-when-you-re-not/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) [Explore all 46 Richard Hugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) ## More Feelings quotes > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [We never realize the importance of any our action until we be the hunt of same situation in reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fadi/we-never-realize-the-importance-of-any-our-action-until-we-be-the/) [Fadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fadi/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [You will never fully understand how much you mean to me, because there are no amount of words that can begin to describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-fully-understand-how-much-you-mean-to-me-because-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 21,172 Feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You owe reality nothing and the truth about your feelings everything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Hugo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-about-your-feelings-everything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feelings" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-about-your-feelings-everything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/richard-hugo-14365_feelings_you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-ab_1308523.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/richard-hugo-14365_feelings_you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-ab_1308523.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/richard-hugo-14365_feelings_you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-ab_1308523.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You owe reality nothing and the truth about your feelings everything.” — Richard Hugo", "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": "Richard Hugo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You owe reality nothing and the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-about-your-feelings-everything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/you-owe-reality-nothing-and-the-truth-about-your-feelings-everything/#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 } } ] } ```