Allen wrote a closely related joke in “The Condemned” (1977). The first-person wording displayed here compresses versions of his joke rather than reproducing that story’s sentence.
“I hate reality, but it's still the only place to get a good steak” — Woody Allen; this is a popular first-person paraphrase of his steak joke, not the exact sentence in The Condemned (1977). · Verbatim: “Cloquet hated reality but realized it was still the only place to get a good steak.”
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In context
Evoking the themes of truth and happiness. Theme: "I hate reality, but it's still the only place to get a good steak". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "I hate reality, but it's still the only place to get a good steak". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
The source
Source
The Condemned
Evidence
Primary text checked
Documented date
1977
Cloquet hated reality but realized it was still the only place to get a good steak.
The documented story was published in 1977 and remains under copyright. Only its short identifying sentence is reproduced for verification and criticism.
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Fact-check
Often misattributed
The shortened first-person version should not be presented as the exact sentence from “The Condemned”.
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Popular creditWoody Allen
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Explore
Filed under
More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
Woody Allen is an American writer, filmmaker and comedian. His fiction and stand-up often turn abstract questions into everyday jokes.
For writers & researchers
Cite this
The primary source (Chicago)
Allen, Woody. “The Condemned.” The New Yorker, November 21, 1977. Wording compared with Quote Investigator, “Cloquet Hated Reality,” October 18, 2015.
This verification page
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘I hate reality, but it's still the only place to get a good steak’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/i-hate-reality-but-its-still-the-only-place-to-get-a-good/