But what is Hope? Nothing but the paint on the face of Existence; the least touch of truth rubs it off, and then we see what a hollow-cheeked harlot we have got hold of.
Lord ByronRead
Tis strange,-but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction: if it could be told, How much would novels gain by the exchange! How differently the world would men behold!
Interpretation
What this quote means
Truth can be more astonishing than fiction, and if it were fully understood, it would change people's perceptions.
This quote by Lord Byron highlights the idea that reality often surpasses the incredible scenarios portrayed in works of fiction. It implies that the authenticity of lived experiences and events can be so extraordinary and unexpected that they would shift people's views and understanding of the world, possibly even rendering fictional stories pale in comparison.
Themes
TruthFictionPerceptionNovelsReality
In practice
Example use cases
During a book club discussion about how fiction sometimes fails to capture real-life absurdities.
More from Lord Byron
All quotes →It is the lava of the imagination whose eruption prevents an earthquake.
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For what were all these country patriots born? To hunt, and vote, and raise the price of corn?
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Absence - that common cure of love.
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Her great merit is finding out mine; there is nothing so amiable as discernment.
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But words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.
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