---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think if something resonates, even if…"
description: "\"I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's because it is relatable and I think that that's a core issue for me.\" — Charlie Kaufman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/charlie-kaufman-2409_core_i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-i_11588.jpg"
---

#  I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's…

![“I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's because it is relatable and I think that that's a core issue for me.” quote by Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/charlie-kaufman-2409_core_i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-i_11588.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/charlie-kaufman-2409_core_i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-i_11588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/charlie-kaufman-2409_core_i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-i_11588.jpg)

> “I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's because it is relatable and I think that that's a core issue for me.”

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker suggests that resonance arises from underlying relatability, even when the content appears surreal, indicating a personal preoccupation with connecting disparate ideas.

**In simple terms:** Surreal yet relatable content resonates.

Key Takeaway

Relatability underlies resonance.

Themes

relatability surrealism personal insight creative tension authenticity

Mood

thoughtful introspective

Type

observation philosophical

When to use this quote

- artistic creation
- psychological analysis
- marketing messaging
- storytelling workshops

Key Concepts

emotional connection cognitive dissonance

Practical Applications

- creative writing
- brand storytelling

Questions to Reflect On

- How does relatability shape perception of the surreal?
- What personal experiences influence this view?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Surreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surreal/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I think the one that resonates the most with a lot of people is from The Scream album - 'Father, Mother, Son.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corabi/i-think-the-one-that-resonates-the-most-with-a-lot-of-people-is-from/)

[John Corabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corabi/)

> [I think a lot of what I've done is about people feeling as if they are part of the world but also not part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/i-think-a-lot-of-what-i-ve-done-is-about-people-feeling-as-if-they/)

[Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/)

> [If you notice, the characters in 'PKP 1' &amp; '2' and 'SKTKS' are relatable. I think writer Rahul Modi and Luv sir create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-singh/if-you-notice-the-characters-in-pkp-1-2-and-sktks-are-relatable-i/)

[Sunny Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-singh/)

> [In baseball you have individual responsibility, and if you fail it, you get an error. But at the same time, your focus is on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/in-baseball-you-have-individual-responsibility-and-if-you-fail-it-you/)

[Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/)

> [If what I say resonates with you, it's merely because we're branches of the same tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/if-what-i-say-resonates-with-you-it-s-merely-because-we-re-branches/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [The artists that I love- whether painters or filmmakers- it's because something resonates in me because I've felt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/the-artists-that-i-love-whether-painters-or-filmmakers-it-s-because/)

[PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/)

> [You have to have a strong idea for a hit movie, a strong core idea that resonates emotionally. It also has to technically achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-snider/you-have-to-have-a-strong-idea-for-a-hit-movie-a-strong-core-idea/)

[Stacey Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-snider/)

> [Your best as an artist is to create something that resonates for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/your-best-as-an-artist-is-to-create-something-that-resonates-for-you/)

[Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/)

> [I like to go to Africa purely with something to do. I'm not very comfortable getting into an armor-plated Land Rover and going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-albarn/i-like-to-go-to-africa-purely-with-something-to-do-i-m-not-very/)

[Damon Albarn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-albarn/)

> [When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving something to yourself, too. You're singing and casting these affirmations of love out into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-you-sing-a-song-of-love-you-re-actually-giving-something-to/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [I think the durability of the sedan as well as its worldwide appeal argues well for it as a concept that resonates with people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bangle/i-think-the-durability-of-the-sedan-as-well-as-its-worldwide-appeal/)

[Chris Bangle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bangle/)

> [Though 'Fire and Rain' is very personal, for other people it resonates as a sort of commonly held experience... And that's what happens with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/though-fire-and-rain-is-very-personal-for-other-people-it-resonates/)

[James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/)

> [I just want to say what a tremendous honor it is to be on a show like 'The Newsroom.' I've always dreamed of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/i-just-want-to-say-what-a-tremendous-honor-it-is-to-be-on-a-show-like/)

[Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/)

> [I read all of the books by Tolkien, including 'The Hobbit,' when I was in my twenties, and his deep love of nature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/i-read-all-of-the-books-by-tolkien-including-the-hobbit-when-i-was-in/)

[Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/)

> [This is the kind of discovery that resonates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-perlmutter/this-is-the-kind-of-discovery-that-resonates/)

[Saul Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-perlmutter/)

## More by Charlie Kaufman

> [And then to see the whole movie, you're pretty much waiting until the end of production. And the major lifting in terms of editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/and-then-to-see-the-whole-movie-you-re-pretty-much-waiting-until-the/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [Seriously, I don't consider myself a writer. I don't think I have writing talent. But I will continue to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/seriously-i-don-t-consider-myself-a-writer-i-don-t-think-i-have/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [I spend a lot of time in preproduction working with authors, and a lot of time in postproduction.: editing, music, all that sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-preproduction-working-with-authors-and-a-lot/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [There's a point I can get to where I start writing character and then through the dialogue, after all of this preparation, the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/there-s-a-point-i-can-get-to-where-i-start-writing-character-and-then/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [Sand is overrated. It's just tiny little rocks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/sand-is-overrated-it-s-just-tiny-little-rocks/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [Directing is a more pragmatic experience, where you have to deal with the restrictions of time and money that force you to make certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/directing-is-a-more-pragmatic-experience-where-you-have-to-deal-with/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [I feel like I want to keep moving toward idiosyncracy. Personal, personal, personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-feel-like-i-want-to-keep-moving-toward-idiosyncracy-personal/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [I actually think I'm probably more interested in structure than most people who write screenplays, because I think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-actually-think-i-m-probably-more-interested-in-structure-than-most/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [Yeah, once we decided to use that replacement animation, and the seams are a function of that animation, and other movies paint those out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/yeah-once-we-decided-to-use-that-replacement-animation-and-the-seams/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [I just try to be honest, because I think that's part of my job description as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-just-try-to-be-honest-because-i-think-that-s-part-of-my-job/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [I love working with actors. I love visual things. I always intended to be a writer who directs and a director who writes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-love-working-with-actors-i-love-visual-things-i-always-intended-to/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [“Why didn't I go in? I'm such a chicken. I'm such an idiot. I should have kissed her. I've blown it. I should just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/why-didn-t-i-go-in-i-m-such-a-chicken-i-m-such-an-idiot-i-should-have/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [I try when I'm writing to leave enough "space" for people to have their own interpretation, and not to direct it toward one conclusion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-try-when-i-m-writing-to-leave-enough-space-for-people-to-have-their/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [I don't have a style. I wouldn't say I have a style as a writer, either. I know people have said "This is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-don-t-have-a-style-i-wouldn-t-say-i-have-a-style-as-a-writer-either/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

> [“You realize you're not special, you've slowly slipped into existence and now you're slowly making your way out of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/you-realize-you-re-not-special-you-ve-slowly-slipped-into-existence/)

[Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

[Explore all 168 Charlie Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/)

## More Core quotes

> [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/)

[Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/)

[S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/)

> [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [Mass adulation from the multitudes does not penetrate your soul or your core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-o-donnell/mass-adulation-from-the-multitudes-does-not-penetrate-your-soul-or/)

[Rosie O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-o-donnell/)

> [I think we all have a core that's ecstatic, that knows and that looks up in wonder. We all know that there are marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleman-barks/i-think-we-all-have-a-core-that-s-ecstatic-that-knows-and-that-looks/)

[Coleman Barks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleman-barks/)

> [A classic is like a hidden treasure. Its core is buried under so many layers of varnish that it can be reached only by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-louis-barrault/a-classic-is-like-a-hidden-treasure-its-core-is-buried-under-so-many/)

[Jean-Louis Barrault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-louis-barrault/)

> [I was taking all prints and I brought them to the Magnum meetings, trying the old Josef Koudelka trick: Give them to photographers, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-van-agtmael/i-was-taking-all-prints-and-i-brought-them-to-the-magnum-meetings/)

[Peter van Agtmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-van-agtmael/)

> [Love is the supreme form of communication. In the hierarchy of needs, love stands as the supreme developing agent of the humanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/love-is-the-supreme-form-of-communication-in-the-hierarchy-of-needs/)

[Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/)

> [Consider the core of the mind to be a wagon, with will-power to be carried about in it. Push it to a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takuan-soho/consider-the-core-of-the-mind-to-be-a-wagon-with-will-power-to-be/)

[Takuan Soho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takuan-soho/)

> [Sports have always been a huge part of my life and my conversations. It is a thrill and an honor to be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/sports-have-always-been-a-huge-part-of-my-life-and-my-conversations/)

[Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/)

> [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [Don't underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-your-vision-to-change-the-world/)

[Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/)

> [ Brian Mulroney, myself, \[and\] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core \[of the Commonwealth \]. That was the engine room, I reckon. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i-think-that-was-the-real-core/)

[Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/)

Browse all 1,833 Core quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's because it is relatable and I think that that's a core issue for me.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charlie Kaufman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-it-s-surreal-it-s-because-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Core"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-it-s-surreal-it-s-because-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/charlie-kaufman-2409_core_i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-i_11588.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/charlie-kaufman-2409_core_i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-i_11588.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/charlie-kaufman-2409_core_i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-i_11588.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's because it is relatable and I think that that's a…” — Charlie Kaufman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charlie Kaufman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think if something resonates, even...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-it-s-surreal-it-s-because-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-it-s-surreal-it-s-because-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
