--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This sounds so bleak when I say it, but…" description: "\"This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going. And the people who successfully delude themselves seem happier than th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/woody-allen-176_bleak_this-sounds-so-bleak-when-i-say-it-but-w_2527231.jpg" --- # This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some… ![“This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going. And the people who successfully delude themselves seem happier than the people who can't.” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/woody-allen-176_bleak_this-sounds-so-bleak-when-i-say-it-but-w_2527231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/woody-allen-176_bleak_this-sounds-so-bleak-when-i-say-it-but-w_2527231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4d/woody-allen-176_bleak_this-sounds-so-bleak-when-i-say-it-but-w_2527231.jpg) > “This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going. And the people who successfully delude themselves seem happier than the people who can't.” [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Delusional optimism can boost happiness, whereas strict realism may dampen morale. **In simple terms:** A little self‑deception can help. Key Takeaway Allow hopeful delusions. Themes optimism delusion happiness psychology Mood philosophical humorous Type thoughtful lighthearted When to use this quote - goal setting - stress coping - personal development Key Concepts cognitive bias motivation mental health Questions to Reflect On - When is optimism harmful? - How much self‑deception is healthy? A Different Perspective May lead to unrealistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) ## Related quotes > [The way I ought to measure my life is in terms of the others I helped to become better and happier people. 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A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [You are happier because you made more people happy today. You are sad because you made no one happy today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-happier-because-you-made-more-people-happy-today-you-are-sad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The happier people can be, the unhappier they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier-they-are/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I have never seen happier people than those who have repented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-richards/i-have-never-seen-happier-people-than-those-who-have-repented/) [Stephen L. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-richards/) > [Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-days-are-happier-when-we-give-people-a-bit-of-our-heart-rather/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe the only thing that we really have control over is our attitude. If we focus on the positive things in our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-jenner/i-believe-the-only-thing-that-we-really-have-control-over-is-our/) [Brandon Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-jenner/) > [If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-only-wanted-to-be-happy-it-would-be-easy-but-we-want-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's what I think our jobs as parents are, to educate as much as possible... I tell them to follow their bliss. The people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-alexakis/that-s-what-i-think-our-jobs-as-parents-are-to-educate-as-much-as/) [Art Alexakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-alexakis/) > [One reason cats are happier than people is that they have no newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/one-reason-cats-are-happier-than-people-is-that-they-have-no/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [“Family and community seem to have more impact on our happiness than money and health. People with strong families who live in tight-knit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/family-and-community-seem-to-have-more-impact-on-our-happiness-than/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“If only we wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, which is difficult, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-montesquieu/if-only-we-wanted-to-be-happy-it-would-be-easy-but-we-want-to-be/) [Charles de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-montesquieu/) ## More by Woody Allen > [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/bisexuality-immediately-doubles-your-chances-for-a-date-on-saturday/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-food-here-is-terrible-and-the-portions-are-too-small/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! He held my head under the X-ray machine for ten straight minutes and for several hours after I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/gauguin-flew-into-a-frenzy-he-held-my-head-under-the-x-ray-machine/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [What has gotten into you lately? Save a little craziness for menopause!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/what-has-gotten-into-you-lately-save-a-little-craziness-for-menopause/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I enjoy the making of the film and it's something for me to do. If nobody ever comes to my films, if people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-enjoy-the-making-of-the-film-and-it-s-something-for-me-to-do-if/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [A stockbroker is someone who invests other people's money until it is all gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-stockbroker-is-someone-who-invests-other-people-s-money-until-it-is/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Man cannot live by bread alone. Every once in awhile he needs a salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/man-cannot-live-by-bread-alone-every-once-in-awhile-he-needs-a-salad/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [All literature is a footnote to Faust. I have no idea what I mean by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/all-literature-is-a-footnote-to-faust-i-have-no-idea-what-i-mean-by/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There are two important things in the world, the first is sex. The other isn't all that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-are-two-important-things-in-the-world-the-first-is-sex-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You can't ride two horses with one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-can-t-ride-two-horses-with-one-behind/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Is old age really so terrible? Not if you've brushed your teeth faithfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-old-age-really-so-terrible-not-if-you-ve-brushed-your-teeth/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More Bleak quotes > [Single-sex private schools, especially in the middle of nowhere on a bleak hill in County Durham - I don't think they make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-deacon/single-sex-private-schools-especially-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-on-a/) [Giles Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-deacon/) > [I wonder whether my bleak-o-meter is set differently from other people's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-wonder-whether-my-bleak-o-meter-is-set-differently-from-other/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [I felt cheated by the way grown-ups told me that the future of the world was bleak when I became a teenager in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/i-felt-cheated-by-the-way-grown-ups-told-me-that-the-future-of-the/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [No wonder of it: sheer plod makes plough down sillion Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear, Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-manley-hopkins/no-wonder-of-it-sheer-plod-makes-plough-down-sillion-shine-and-blue/) [Gerard Manley Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-manley-hopkins/) > [“During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/during-the-whole-of-a-dull-dark-and-soundless-day-in-the-autumn-of/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [T is liberty crowns Britannia's Isle, And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/t-is-liberty-crowns-britannia-s-isle-and-makes-her-barren-rocks-and/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [The future looks a bit bleak to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/the-future-looks-a-bit-bleak-to-me/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Nothing that's ever happened has taken away the optimist in me. It's always, "Whatever-let's go to Disneyland." Yes, I have my bleak, tortured-artist moments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/nothing-that-s-ever-happened-has-taken-away-the-optimist-in-me-it-s/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [ I think because the show \["Grant MacLaren"\] is essentially a hopeful show. The show says that as bleak as the future is, the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-think-because-the-show-grant-maclaren-is-essentially-a-hopeful-show/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [In his bleak mercy, Death forever strips The soul of light and memory, rendering blind Our vision, lest surmounted deeps appal, As when on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-ashton-smith/in-his-bleak-mercy-death-forever-strips-the-soul-of-light-and-memory/) [Clark Ashton Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-ashton-smith/) > [Gay life in 1970 was very bleak, compartmentalized. You didn't take it to work. You had to really lead a double life. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-kramer/gay-life-in-1970-was-very-bleak-compartmentalized-you-didn-t-take-it/) [Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-kramer/) > [“Life, on Hardcore mode, she thought with a twinge of bleak humor. No do-overs. No save files. Harper”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-bellet/life-on-hardcore-mode-she-thought-with-a-twinge-of-bleak-humor-no-do/) [Annie Bellet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-bellet/) > [A cold and searching wind drives away all contagion, and nothing can withstand it but what has a virtue in it, and accordingly, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-cold-and-searching-wind-drives-away-all-contagion-and-nothing-can/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Killing the poorest third is good genetics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/killing-the-poorest-third-is-good-genetics/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Wyoming, to Annie, was represented by a blank, bleak space in her imagination. It was a place she could hide. The worst that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-wilson/wyoming-to-annie-was-represented-by-a-blank-bleak-space-in-her/) [Kevin Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-wilson/) Browse all 335 Bleak quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This sounds so bleak when I say it, but we need some delusions to keep us going. 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