---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In real life, things don't all end at the…"
description: "\"In real life, things don't all end at the nice same place. To keep the story real, there has to be kind of a ragged edge at the end of a novel.\" — Robi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/robin-hobb-489_be-kind_in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the_1907448.jpg"
---

#  In real life, things don't all end at the nice same place…

![“In real life, things don't all end at the nice same place. To keep the story real, there has to be kind of a ragged edge at the end of a novel.” quote by Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/robin-hobb-489_be-kind_in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the_1907448.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/robin-hobb-489_be-kind_in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the_1907448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/robin-hobb-489_be-kind_in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the_1907448.jpg)

> “In real life, things don't all end at the nice same place. To keep the story real, there has to be kind of a ragged edge at the end of a novel.”

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Stories need imperfections at the end to feel realistic and resonant.

**In simple terms:** A tidy ending feels false; messiness adds truth.

Key Takeaway

Embrace unresolved threads for authenticity.

Themes

storytelling realism imperfection

Mood

reflective melancholy

Type

literary analytical

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- film endings
- personal narratives

Key Concepts

narrative theory human experience

Questions to Reflect On

- What unresolved element makes a story linger?
- How does imperfection affect emotional impact?

A Different Perspective

Some audiences prefer closure; balance is key.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Be kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-kind/) [Edge End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edge-end-2851246/) [End Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-nice-1229649/) [End Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-novel-657540/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Ragged Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ragged-edge-2851245/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Story Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-real-576149/)

## Related quotes

> [“I always walked the ragged edge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mantchev/i-always-walked-the-ragged-edge/)

[Lisa Mantchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mantchev/)

> [“Novels are nice,' my friend said. 'They stop.' He waggled his fingers to make quotation marks in the air. 'They say, 'The End.' Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gourevitch/novels-are-nice-my-friend-said-they-stop-he-waggled-his-fingers-to/)

[Philip Gourevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gourevitch/)

> [The end of secrecy would be the end of the novel - especially the English novel. The English novel requires social secrecy, personal secrecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/the-end-of-secrecy-would-be-the-end-of-the-novel-especially-the/)

[Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [The end of a novel, like the end of a children's dinner-party, must be made up of sweetmeats and sugar-plums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-end-of-a-novel-like-the-end-of-a-children-s-dinner-party-must-be/)

[Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/)

> [When I start getting close to the end of a novel, something registers in the back of my mind for the next novel, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/when-i-start-getting-close-to-the-end-of-a-novel-something-registers/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [“Careful, or you'll end up in novel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/careful-or-you-ll-end-up-in-novel/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Be careful what you tell me. You could end up in my next novel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-c-zick/be-careful-what-you-tell-me-you-could-end-up-in-my-next-novel/)

[P.C. Zick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-c-zick/)

> [“The end of a novel, like the end of children’s dinner-party, must be made up of sweetmeats and sugar-plum”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-end-of-a-novel-like-the-end-of-children-s-dinner-party-must-be/)

[Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/)

> [I don't see the direct correlation between my personal life and the novel I'm writing until I'm at the end of the novel or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-foos/i-don-t-see-the-direct-correlation-between-my-personal-life-and-the/)

[Laurie Foos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-foos/)

> [A lot of people have come up after Brookland and asked, "What happens to her at the end of the novel?" and I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-barton/a-lot-of-people-have-come-up-after-brookland-and-asked-what-happens/)

[Emily Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-barton/)

> [Always, at the end of every book, there are things you will be unsatisfied with, and still more things that later on you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-o-farrell/always-at-the-end-of-every-book-there-are-things-you-will-be/)

[Maggie O'Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-o-farrell/)

> [What usually happens is that when I'm nearing the end of one novel a vague idea about what I want to do next begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/what-usually-happens-is-that-when-i-m-nearing-the-end-of-one-novel-a/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [Writers begin changing the instant they append 'The End' to a novel. Readers begin changing the moment they encounter that same phrase. And even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/writers-begin-changing-the-instant-they-append-the-end-to-a-novel/)

[Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/)

> [“Every story is made up. Even the real ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-reid/every-story-is-made-up-even-the-real-ones/)

[Iain Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-reid/)

> [“Everything you’re telling me was just a story, and now it’s real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bryson/everything-you-re-telling-me-was-just-a-story-and-now-it-s-real/)

[Kathy Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bryson/)

## More by Robin Hobb

> [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“But that is not true for all folk. Some folk are meant to argue with fate. And win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-that-is-not-true-for-all-folk-some-folk-are-meant-to-argue-with/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I tried to leave you alone, Fitz. To find what peace you could, even if it excluded me from your life.” Ten years ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-tried-to-leave-you-alone-fitz-to-find-what-peace-you-could-even-if/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“Do you think you're taking Etta out of here?" "Yes," Kennit called over his shoulder up the sairs. "What about all these dead men?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/do-you-think-you-re-taking-etta-out-of-here-yes-kennit-called-over/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“A way out is a way in. Then,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/a-way-out-is-a-way-in-then/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“Die in your dreams, wake up insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/die-in-your-dreams-wake-up-insane/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I felt a familiar squeezing in what I thought must be my heart. I had heard of being "heartbroken" or "heavy-hearted" but I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-felt-a-familiar-squeezing-in-what-i-thought-must-be-my-heart-i-had/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“They spoke of a dream of a child who bore the heart of a wolf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/they-spoke-of-a-dream-of-a-child-who-bore-the-heart-of-a-wolf/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“We all perish in our last attempt to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/we-all-perish-in-our-last-attempt-to-live/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“There is always power in holding a secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/there-is-always-power-in-holding-a-secret/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“... finally realizing that life was to be lived, rather than hoarded against an unseen tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/finally-realizing-that-life-was-to-be-lived-rather-than-hoarded/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“Why, I suddenly wondered, had I wasted all those hours I could have spent with her? Why hadn’t I gone with them, to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/why-i-suddenly-wondered-had-i-wasted-all-those-hours-i-could-have/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I think I made a better boy than I do a man, I admitted ruefully to the wolf. Why not wait until you've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-think-i-made-a-better-boy-than-i-do-a-man-i-admitted-ruefully-to/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“So, with all the wide world to choose from, you didn't choose at all. You simply stopped wandering one day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/so-with-all-the-wide-world-to-choose-from-you-didn-t-choose-at-all/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I don't think I can stand it much longer,” he warned her. “Something will have to give way. And I fear it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-don-t-think-i-can-stand-it-much-longer-he-warned-her-something-will/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

[Explore all 500 Robin Hobb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

## More Be kind quotes

> [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/)

[Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/)

> [Volunteer. Find ways to be useful. Be kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/volunteer-find-ways-to-be-useful-be-kind/)

[Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/)

> [Remember to be kind. Remember to be loving. Remember to feel all your feelings and to take care of yourself. But most of all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/remember-to-be-kind-remember-to-be-loving-remember-to-feel-all-your/)

[Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/)

> [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let me be patient, let me be kind, make me unselfish, without being blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/let-me-be-patient-let-me-be-kind-make-me-unselfish-without-being-blind/)

[Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/)

> [But I believed in starting over. There was finally, I knew, only rupture and hurt and falling short between all persons, but, Shirley, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/but-i-believed-in-starting-over-there-was-finally-i-knew-only-rupture/)

[Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/)

> [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I thought being in the wheelchair might be kind of limiting for me as an actor. It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/)

[Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/)

> [When you have the choice between being right and being kind just choose kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/when-you-have-the-choice-between-being-right-and-being-kind-just/)

[Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/)

> [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [What one thing does the world need most today-apart, that is, from the all-inclusive thing we call righteousness? Aren't you inclined to agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/what-one-thing-does-the-world-need-most-today-apart-that-is-from-the/)

[B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/)

> [At least with pets, and for all I know, people too, intelligence and quick-wittedness have nothing to do with a talent for being loved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baxter/at-least-with-pets-and-for-all-i-know-people-too-intelligence-and/)

[Charles Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baxter/)

> [“A part of a healthy conscience is being able to confront consciencelessness. When you teach your daughter, explicitly or by passive rejection, that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/a-part-of-a-healthy-conscience-is-being-able-to-confront/)

[Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/)

> [Don't let fear or insecurity stop you from trying new things. Believe in yourself. Do what you love. And most importantly, be kind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/don-t-let-fear-or-insecurity-stop-you-from-trying-new-things-believe/)

[Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/)

> [Technology has just been the major progression of the last 15 years - instant communication. That stuff has gone so global. That's what's interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/technology-has-just-been-the-major-progression-of-the-last-15-years/)

[Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/)

[Browse all 873 Be kind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-kind/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In real life, things don't all end at the nice same place. To keep the story real, there has to be kind of a ragged edge at the end of a novel.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robin Hobb"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the-nice-same-place-to-keep-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Be kind"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the-nice-same-place-to-keep-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/robin-hobb-489_be-kind_in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the_1907448.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/robin-hobb-489_be-kind_in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the_1907448.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/robin-hobb-489_be-kind_in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the_1907448.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In real life, things don't all end at the nice same place. To keep the story real, there has to be kind of a…” — Robin Hobb",
                "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": "Robin Hobb",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In real life, things don't all...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the-nice-same-place-to-keep-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/in-real-life-things-don-t-all-end-at-the-nice-same-place-to-keep-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
