“There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.”

“Failure is a reality; we all fail at times, and it's painful when we do. But it's better to fail while striving for something wonderful, challenging, adventurous, and uncertain than to say, " I don't want to try because I may not succeed completely.”

Jimmy Carter (1924) American politician, 39th president of the United States (in office from 1977 to 1981)

“The world and the mind are states of being. The supreme is not a state. It pervades all states, but it is not a state of something else. It is entirely uncaused, independent, complete in itself, beyond time and space, mind and matter. (…) it leaves no traces. There is nothing to recognize it by. It must be seen directly, by giving up all search for signs and approaches. When all names and forms have been given up, the real is with you. You need not seek it. Plurality and diversity are the play of the mind only. Reality is one.”

Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981) Indian guru

“That was when I realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real.”

Ernest Cline book Ready Player One

“But I escaped from reality
Escaped from the pain
I said to myself
"Some day, I'll be as I should be
Though I'm far from there now"
After such excuses, my eyes were opened
All I could do was to live in the present time.”

Ayumi Hamasaki (1978) Japanese recording artist, lyricist, model, and actress

“When Reality is a prison, Your mind can set you free.”

Zack Snyder (1966) American film director, film producer, and screenwriter

“When people kill themselves, they think they're ending the pain, but all they're doing is passing it on to those they leave behind.”

Jeannette Walls (1960) American writer and journalist

“Space and time are the framework within which the mind is constrained to construct its experience of reality.”

Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) German philosopher

“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus

“Rid the mind of knowledge when looking for pleasure. Or start thinking and find a lot of pain.”

J. P. Donleavy (1926–2017) Novelist, playwright, essayist