Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.
Interpretation
Being 'Real' comes from genuine love and connection, often accompanied by pain.
This quote reflects the idea that true authenticity ('Realness') in a person or object is achieved through deep emotional connections, particularly through the unconditional love shared between a child and their beloved toy. The Skin Horse emphasizes that while becoming 'Real' may come with emotional pain, it is a worthwhile transformation, as it signifies a deep bond that transcends superficial interactions.
In practice
This quote can be used at a graduation speech to emphasize the importance of deep relationships.
Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. Sometimes it hurts, but when you are Real you don't mind being hurt. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. Once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand. Once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.
He didn't mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are Real shabbiness doesn't matter.
When you are Real, shabbiness doesn't matter.
When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.
That is love, to give away everything, to sacrifice everything, without the slightest desire to get anything in return.3
Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.
Men often pass from love to ambition, but they seldom come back again from ambition to love.
You are the drop,and the ocean you are kindness,you are anger, you are sweetness,you are poison. Do not make me more disheartened. you are the chamber of the sun, you are the abode of venus, you are the garden of all hope. Oh, Beloved, let me enter.
There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice.
We do not exist for ourselves alone, and it is only when we are fully convinced of this fact that we begin to love ourselves properly and thus also love others.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.