--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality…" description: "\"“Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality. Reality is brutal, it’s beautiful, it’s every shade between black and white, and it’s magical. Yes, magical...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/tara-kelly-25759_black-and-white_normal-is-an-ideal-but-it-s-not-reality_1905056.jpg" --- # Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality. Reality is… ![“Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality. Reality is brutal, it’s beautiful, it’s every shade between black and white, and it’s magical. Yes, magical. Because every now and then, it turns nothing into something.” quote by Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/tara-kelly-25759_black-and-white_normal-is-an-ideal-but-it-s-not-reality_1905056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/tara-kelly-25759_black-and-white_normal-is-an-ideal-but-it-s-not-reality_1905056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/tara-kelly-25759_black-and-white_normal-is-an-ideal-but-it-s-not-reality_1905056.jpg) > ““Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality. Reality is brutal, it’s beautiful, it’s every shade between black and white, and it’s magical. Yes, magical. Because every now and then, it turns nothing into something.”” [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reality is messy and beautiful, not an ideal; its unpredictability can create magic. **In simple terms:** Reality is imperfect yet magical. Key Takeaway Find wonder in life's contradictions. Themes philosophy creativity reality Mood inspired hopeful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic practice - mindfulness - writing prompts Key Concepts existentialism beauty transformation Questions to Reflect On - How do you embrace both harshness and beauty? - When have you seen chaos become something wonderful? A Different Perspective Idealizing reality can cause disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black and white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-and-white/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [The normal is what you find but rarely. The normal is an ideal. It is a picture that one fabricates of the average characteristics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-normal-is-what-you-find-but-rarely-the-normal-is-an-ideal-it-is-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [In order for an ideal to become a reality, there must be a person, a personality to translate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/in-order-for-an-ideal-to-become-a-reality-there-must-be-a-person-a/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [You always think another time would have been ideal for you . . . the reality is there was no novocaine when you went to the dentist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-always-think-another-time-would-have-been-ideal-for-you-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There is only one reality - the reality knowable to reason. And if man does not choose to perceive it, there is nothing else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/there-is-only-one-reality-the-reality-knowable-to-reason-and-if-man/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [I create my own reality. And I'm not the only one. My reality is becoming more prominent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-june/i-create-my-own-reality-and-i-m-not-the-only-one-my-reality-is/) [Valerie June](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-june/) > [“mind is not a product of reality, but that reality is a product of the mind, or consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crawford/mind-is-not-a-product-of-reality-but-that-reality-is-a-product-of-the/) John Crawford > [The key word about The West Wing is show. It is not a reality show. It has nothing to do with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/the-key-word-about-the-west-wing-is-show-it-is-not-a-reality-show-it/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [With photography a new language has been created. Now for the first time it is possible to express reality by reality. We can look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/with-photography-a-new-language-has-been-created-now-for-the-first/) [Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/) > [We all know that the 'reality' of reality TV is an artful construction, an effect not only of editing but of a Lorenzian rat-in-a-mirrored-labyrinth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-fisher/we-all-know-that-the-reality-of-reality-tv-is-an-artful-construction/) [Mark Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-fisher/) > [... there are not two realities, but only one reality, and that is the reality of God, which has become manifest in the Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-are-not-two-realities-but-only-one-reality-and-that-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [My reality is my reality, and I stand within myself on my reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/my-reality-is-my-reality-and-i-stand-within-myself-on-my-reality/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [“Because memory and sensations are so uncertain, so biased, we always rely on a certain reality-call it an alternate reality-to prove the reality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/because-memory-and-sensations-are-so-uncertain-so-biased-we-always/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Reality became for me a problem after my experience with LSD. Before, I had believed there was only one reality, the reality of everyday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hofmann/reality-became-for-me-a-problem-after-my-experience-with-lsd-before-i/) [Albert Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hofmann/) > [Being in the ring became my reality, and, in my reality, I'd think I was someone special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/being-in-the-ring-became-my-reality-and-in-my-reality-i-d-think-i-was/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Art is not a reflection of reality, it is the reality of a reflection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/art-is-not-a-reflection-of-reality-it-is-the-reality-of-a-reflection/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) ## More by Tara Kelly > [“Everything you say is worthwile to me. Even when you don't let me finish a sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/everything-you-say-is-worthwile-to-me-even-when-you-don-t-let-me/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“If you don't care, don't ask me how I am. Chances are, I don't care how you are, either. And it's not because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/if-you-don-t-care-don-t-ask-me-how-i-am-chances-are-i-don-t-care-how/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“I guess music is your drug of choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/i-guess-music-is-your-drug-of-choice/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“I'd been preparing myself to apologize. Forgive and forget, as Mom says. "Fuck you," I said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/i-d-been-preparing-myself-to-apologize-forgive-and-forget-as-mom-says/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“I really wanted something, giving myself permission to screw up wasn't an option”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/i-really-wanted-something-giving-myself-permission-to-screw-up-wasn-t/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“Do you have a name I asked?" I asked. "Yes." He stared back at me, blinking. "What is it?" "Clover." He looked away and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/do-you-have-a-name-i-asked-i-asked-yes-he-stared-back-at-me-blinking/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“If only I could freeze this moment, this feeling, because right now, nothing else mattered. I was f\*\*\*ing flying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/if-only-i-could-freeze-this-moment-this-feeling-because-right-now/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“Why was the world so obsessed with sameness?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/why-was-the-world-so-obsessed-with-sameness/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“Dave walked closer to me, his dark eyes combing my every move. "Do you always hold your guitar like that?" I dropped my pick.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/dave-walked-closer-to-me-his-dark-eyes-combing-my-every-move-do-you/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“He said, 'Jasmine actually seemed like part of the band tonight.'" A smile twitched his lips. "Then he questioned his sanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/he-said-jasmine-actually-seemed-like-part-of-the-band-tonight-a-smile/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“Why was it considered normal for a girl to live for fashion and makeup, but not car engines or bugs? And what about sports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/why-was-it-considered-normal-for-a-girl-to-live-for-fashion-and/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“I love who you are. Because you accept me for who I am. You make me laugh, sometimes even at myself. And you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/i-love-who-you-are-because-you-accept-me-for-who-i-am-you-make-me/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“First loves can fuck you up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/first-loves-can-fuck-you-up/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“She knows her place in this world. She can tear down its walls, and still nobody knows her name. - Naomi”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/she-knows-her-place-in-this-world-she-can-tear-down-its-walls-and/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) > [“He'd probably spent as much time practicing scales as he had jacking off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-kelly/he-d-probably-spent-as-much-time-practicing-scales-as-he-had-jacking/) [Tara Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) [Explore all 22 Tara Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-kelly/) ## More Black and white quotes > [“In the picture, Ava Gardner's tousled black hair obscured her right eye, and her full, closed lips were pulled slightly to the right, resulting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gifford/in-the-picture-ava-gardner-s-tousled-black-hair-obscured-her-right/) [Barry Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gifford/) > [The world doesn't see a lot of gray. 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Life is either marvelous or notworth living. School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/teenage-girls-are-extremists-who-see-the-world-in-black-and-white/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [I remember thinking all TV was black and white, but that was because we had a really old, broken TV. And then I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-rose/i-remember-thinking-all-tv-was-black-and-white-but-that-was-because/) [Ruby Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-rose/) > [Everything is not black-and-white . I'm really interested in the gray area - not justifying it, not glorifying it, not condoning it, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-washington/everything-is-not-black-and-white-i-m-really-interested-in-the-gray/) [Isaiah Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-washington/) > [Anyone who will look at my life from the outside won't see the struggles inside. 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Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) > [Which is probably the reason why I work exclusively in black and white... to highlight that contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/which-is-probably-the-reason-why-i-work-exclusively-in-black-and/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-nothing-gray-about-whether-a-follower-of-christ-should-see/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) [Browse all 1,368 Black and white quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-and-white/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality. Reality is brutal, it’s beautiful, it’s every shade between black and white, and it’s magical. Yes, magical. 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