--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reality is never as bad as a nightmare…" description: "\"Reality is never as bad as a nightmare, as the mental tortures we inflict on ourselves.\" — Sammy Davis, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b6/sammy-davis-jr-9783_mental-health_reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-a_547901.png" --- # Reality is never as bad as a nightmare, as the mental… ![“Reality is never as bad as a nightmare, as the mental tortures we inflict on ourselves.” quote by Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b6/sammy-davis-jr-9783_mental-health_reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-a_547901.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b6/sammy-davis-jr-9783_mental-health_reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-a_547901.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b6/sammy-davis-jr-9783_mental-health_reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-a_547901.png) > “Reality is never as bad as a nightmare, as the mental tortures we inflict on ourselves.” [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our minds can magnify suffering, making imagined pain seem worse than reality. **In simple terms:** Our thoughts can make problems seem worse than they are. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge negative self‑talk. Themes mental health perception self‑talk Mood reflective calm Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - relationship breakup - career setbacks - health anxieties - everyday stress Key Concepts cognitive distortion mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate real threats from imagined ones? - What practices help calm mental torment? A Different Perspective Positive thinking alone may not fix deep emotional wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Mental Tortures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-tortures-4567318/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [Nightmare Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare-mental-4567319/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Tortures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tortures/) [Tortures Inflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tortures-inflict-4567320/) ## Related quotes > [The music of Wagner imposes mental tortures that only algebra has the right to inflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-saint-victor-paul-bins/the-music-of-wagner-imposes-mental-tortures-that-only-algebra-has-the/) [comte de Saint-Victor Paul Bins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-saint-victor-paul-bins/) > [No ear can hear nor tongue can tell the tortures of the inward hell!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/no-ear-can-hear-nor-tongue-can-tell-the-tortures-of-the-inward-hell/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [One of the tortures of jealousy is, that it can never turn away its eyes from the thing that pains it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/one-of-the-tortures-of-jealousy-is-that-it-can-never-turn-away-its/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Healthy men do not turn into tortures generally it is the tortured that turn into the torturers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/healthy-men-do-not-turn-into-tortures-generally-it-is-the-tortured/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not believe that God tortures any person simply for its own sake. I believe that God enables all things to work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/i-do-not-believe-that-god-tortures-any-person-simply-for-its-own-sake/) [James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/) > [The Jesuits were quite balked by those Indians who, being burned at the stake, suggested new modes of tortures to their tormentors. Being superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-jesuits-were-quite-balked-by-those-indians-who-being-burned-at/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [White men should exhibit the same insensibility to moral tortures that red men do to physical torments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophile-gautier/white-men-should-exhibit-the-same-insensibility-to-moral-tortures/) [Theophile Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophile-gautier/) > [The debility to which Nature condemned women incontestably proves that her design is for man, who then more than ever enjoys his strength, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/the-debility-to-which-nature-condemned-women-incontestably-proves/) [Marquis De Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [To ruminate upon evils, to make critical notes upon injuries, and be too acute in their apprehensions, is to add unto our own tortures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/to-ruminate-upon-evils-to-make-critical-notes-upon-injuries-and-be/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [To bear all kinds of tortures without a murmur of resentment is not possible for a human being without the strength that comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/to-bear-all-kinds-of-tortures-without-a-murmur-of-resentment-is-not/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [For the world is founded and built up on death, and the reality of death is neither to be questioned nor feared. Death is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/for-the-world-is-founded-and-built-up-on-death-and-the-reality-of/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) > [“But man is a strayed animal, and when he falls victim to doubt, if he should happen to take no further pleasure in attacking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/but-man-is-a-strayed-animal-and-when-he-falls-victim-to-doubt-if-he/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [Men have to be freed from the tortures of heavy clothing that covers everything but the face and hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-schiaparelli/men-have-to-be-freed-from-the-tortures-of-heavy-clothing-that-covers/) [Elsa Schiaparelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-schiaparelli/) > [“Nothing has changed. The body is susceptible to pain, It must eat and breath air and sleep, It has thin skin and blood right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wislawa-szymborska/nothing-has-changed-the-body-is-susceptible-to-pain-it-must-eat-and/) [Wislawa Szymborska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wislawa-szymborska/) > [The tortures of present death disturb him not, but the recollection of his fall, fills him with a holy sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-strachan/the-tortures-of-present-death-disturb-him-not-but-the-recollection-of/) [John Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-strachan/) ## More by Sammy Davis, Jr > [After I decided to become a Jew, only then did I learn that the Jews don't have all the money. When I found out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/after-i-decided-to-become-a-jew-only-then-did-i-learn-that-the-jews/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/alcohol-gives-you-infinite-patience-for-stupidity/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [I don't have many easy songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/i-don-t-have-many-easy-songs/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [My home has always been show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/my-home-has-always-been-show-business/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Everything Michael Jackson does on stage is exactly right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/everything-michael-jackson-does-on-stage-is-exactly-right/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [There's nothing that can match Broadway for stature and dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/there-s-nothing-that-can-match-broadway-for-stature-and-dignity/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Being in public with May and the children was too heavy. I was irreversibly tuned in to everyone around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/being-in-public-with-may-and-the-children-was-too-heavy-i-was/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > ["The Entertainer" He did it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/the-entertainer-he-did-it-all/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Most orgies that you go to, I have found, most of it is sad. All that wildness, all those laughs were like the shining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/most-orgies-that-you-go-to-i-have-found-most-of-it-is-sad-all-that/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [During three decades, along all the highways of my youth, Frank had always been there for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/during-three-decades-along-all-the-highways-of-my-youth-frank-had/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [There are certain romances that belong in certain cities, in a certain atmosphere, in a certain time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/there-are-certain-romances-that-belong-in-certain-cities-in-a-certain/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [I hadn't been in Vegas 20 minutes when I got word that the bookmakers were offering three to one that Frank wouldn't show for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/i-hadn-t-been-in-vegas-20-minutes-when-i-got-word-that-the-bookmakers/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [Once I get outside my house in the morning, I'm on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/once-i-get-outside-my-house-in-the-morning-i-m-on/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [I'd learned a lot in the Army. I knew that above all things in the world I had to become so big, so strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/i-d-learned-a-lot-in-the-army-i-knew-that-above-all-things-in-the/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [The only person I ever hurt was myself and even that I did to the minimum. If you can do that and you're still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/the-only-person-i-ever-hurt-was-myself-and-even-that-i-did-to-the/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) [Explore all 70 Sammy Davis, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) ## More Mental health quotes > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [If you have time to be mindful, you have time to meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/if-you-have-time-to-be-mindful-you-have-time-to-meditate/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [“Mindfulness is an invitation to change that pattern and to become aware of where we are and how we got here. Mindfulness gives us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maia-duerr/mindfulness-is-an-invitation-to-change-that-pattern-and-to-become/) [Maia Duerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maia-duerr/) > [“Good morning,” one of the soldiers said. “I’m Captain Joseph Walker and this is Sergeant James Vanetten. We are members of the One-Hundred-and-First Airborne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shafter-bailey/good-morning-one-of-the-soldiers-said-i-m-captain-joseph-walker-and/) [Shafter Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shafter-bailey/) > [Life is a collection of moments. Mindfulness is beautification of the moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/life-is-a-collection-of-moments-mindfulness-is-beautification-of-the/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [“For example, the sound of the telephone can make us irritated and anxious. That is the sound of the telephone which comes as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/for-example-the-sound-of-the-telephone-can-make-us-irritated-and/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [“Recognize that your attention is the most valuable thing you can ever own, and you alone have the ultimate power to choose where to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/recognize-that-your-attention-is-the-most-valuable-thing-you-can-ever/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [“What I would say is this: writing poems doesn't make you a poet. … It is only with poetry, for some reason, that everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/what-i-would-say-is-this-writing-poems-doesn-t-make-you-a-poet-it-is/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [“The word ghost sounds like memory. The word therapy means exorcism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/the-word-ghost-sounds-like-memory-the-word-therapy-means-exorcism/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/for-years-mental-health-professionals-taught-people-that-they-could/) [Bruce D. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-d-perry/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Make no mistake: conversion therapy is not about 'praying away the gay.' It's an emotional torture against our most innocent citizens: our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/make-no-mistake-conversion-therapy-is-not-about-praying-away-the-gay/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) [Browse all 3,803 Mental health quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Reality is never as bad as a nightmare, as the mental tortures we inflict on ourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sammy Davis, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-as-the-mental-tortures-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mental health" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-as-the-mental-tortures-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b6/sammy-davis-jr-9783_mental-health_reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-a_547901.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b6/sammy-davis-jr-9783_mental-health_reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-a_547901.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b6/sammy-davis-jr-9783_mental-health_reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-a_547901.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Reality is never as bad as a nightmare, as the mental tortures we inflict on ourselves.” — Sammy Davis, Jr", "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": "Sammy Davis, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Reality is never as bad as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-as-the-mental-tortures-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/reality-is-never-as-bad-as-a-nightmare-as-the-mental-tortures-we/#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 } } ] } ```