--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I adore imaginary monsters, but I am…" description: "\"I adore imaginary monsters, but I am terrified of real ones.\" — Teju Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/teju-cole-2851_adore_i-adore-imaginary-monsters-but-i-am-terr_1009404.png" --- # I adore imaginary monsters, but I am terrified of real ones. ![“I adore imaginary monsters, but I am terrified of real ones.” quote by Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/teju-cole-2851_adore_i-adore-imaginary-monsters-but-i-am-terr_1009404.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/teju-cole-2851_adore_i-adore-imaginary-monsters-but-i-am-terr_1009404.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/teju-cole-2851_adore_i-adore-imaginary-monsters-but-i-am-terr_1009404.png) > “I adore imaginary monsters, but I am terrified of real ones.” [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imaginary fears are safe, but real threats provoke terror, revealing how we confront the unknown. **In simple terms:** Imaginary monsters feel safe; real ones scare us. Key Takeaway Recognize and address real fears. Themes fear imaginary vs reality psychology Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health counseling - creative writing Key Concepts anxiety perception cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What real fear are you avoiding? - How can imagination help manage real danger? A Different Perspective Real threats can be exaggerated by imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Terrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrified/) ## Related quotes > [“Once upon a time, I was a little girl with a mom and a dad and a sister, and the only monsters in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/once-upon-a-time-i-was-a-little-girl-with-a-mom-and-a-dad-and-a/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [As we grow up we we stop having a ton of friends and we learn that it's more important to have a few real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-grow-up-we-we-stop-having-a-ton-of-friends-and-we-learn-that-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/we-make-up-horrors-to-help-us-cope-with-the-real-ones/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Every story is made up. 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"Sometimes, it's much simpler than seeing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/how-can-you-see-something-that-isn-t-there-yawned-the-humbug-who-wasn/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [You don't lose friends, you just find out who your real ones are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ramkran/you-don-t-lose-friends-you-just-find-out-who-your-real-ones-are/) [Christine Ramkran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-ramkran/) > [There are two kinds of world: the one we dream about and the real one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/there-are-two-kinds-of-world-the-one-we-dream-about-and-the-real-one/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [A painted landscape is always more beautiful than a real one, because there's more there. 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It's a book about a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/it-s-an-obama-book-certainly-i-was-delighted-and-astonished-to-hear/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [Because I'm an art historian, I have some experience of writing that comes out of close attention. That's what really art history is. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/because-i-m-an-art-historian-i-have-some-experience-of-writing-that/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [For purposes of marketing, writers are designated as poets, novelists, or something else. But writing is about matchmaking, an attempt to marry sensations with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/for-purposes-of-marketing-writers-are-designated-as-poets-novelists/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [“Most of the people around me yesterday were middle-aged or old. 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