--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is that true,\" I asked, \"that song?\" \"It…" description: "\"“Is that true,\" I asked, \"that song?\" \"It is a metaphor,\" said Mrs. Davis, \"it has metaphorical truth.\" \"And the end of the mechanical age,\" I said, \"i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/donald-barthelme-2980_metaphor_is-that-true-i-asked-that-song-it-is-a-m_2341799.png" --- # Is that true," I asked, "that song?" "It is a metaphor,"… ![“Is that true," I asked, "that song?" "It is a metaphor," said Mrs. Davis, "it has metaphorical truth." "And the end of the mechanical age," I said, "is that a metaphor?" "The end of the mechanical age," said Mrs. Davis, "is in my judgment an actuality straining to become a metaphor. One must wish…” quote by Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/donald-barthelme-2980_metaphor_is-that-true-i-asked-that-song-it-is-a-m_2341799.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/donald-barthelme-2980_metaphor_is-that-true-i-asked-that-song-it-is-a-m_2341799.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/628/donald-barthelme-2980_metaphor_is-that-true-i-asked-that-song-it-is-a-m_2341799.png) > ““Is that true," I asked, "that song?" "It is a metaphor," said Mrs. Davis, "it has metaphorical truth." "And the end of the mechanical age," I said, "is that a metaphor?" "The end of the mechanical age," said Mrs. Davis, "is in my judgment an actuality straining to become a metaphor. One must wish it luck, I suppose. One must cheer it on. Intellectual rigor demands that we give these damned metaphors every chance, even if they are inimical to personal well-being and comfort. We have a duty to understand everything, whether we like it or not–a duty I would scant if I could." At that moment the water jumped into the boat and sank us.”” [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage explores metaphor as a bridge between literal truth and deeper meaning, urging acceptance of ambiguous, transformative ideas. **In simple terms:** Metaphors link reality to deeper truth, even if uncomfortable. Key Takeaway Embrace metaphorical insight despite discomfort. Themes literature philosophy metaphor Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading analysis - creative writing - critical discussion - personal reflection Key Concepts interpretation truth perception intellectual rigor Questions to Reflect On - What role do metaphors play in shaping understanding? - When should we question metaphorical interpretations? A Different Perspective Metaphors can obscure clarity and cause distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Davis Metaphorical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/davis-metaphorical-5669461/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Metaphor End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor-end-5669460/) [Metaphor Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor-said-504042/) [Metaphorical Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphorical-truth-1509845/) [Said Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-metaphor-2035435/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“There're a lot of odd things going on--but I feel like I'm slowly getting closer to the truth." -"Actually getting closer to a metaphorical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-re-a-lot-of-odd-things-going-on-but-i-feel-like-i-m-slowly/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [In deference to such spectacular carnage it is perhaps perverse to dwell upon one person's death, but we are creatures so constituted that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/in-deference-to-such-spectacular-carnage-it-is-perhaps-perverse-to/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [“But people need to cling to something,” Oshima says. “They have to. 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That's how lacking in studliness I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-as-much-of-a-stud-as-i-can-t-come-up-with-a-metaphor-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Despite which, Charlie seems doomed to stumble around in the dark, clutching pieces of a puzzle he still can't see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/despite-which-charlie-seems-doomed-to-stumble-around-in-the-dark/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) > [“No algorithm exists for the metaphor, nor can a metaphor be produced by means of a computer’s precise instructions, no matter what the volume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/no-algorithm-exists-for-the-metaphor-nor-can-a-metaphor-be-produced/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Helvetica is the jeans, and Univers the dinner jacket. Helvetica is here to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-frutiger/helvetica-is-the-jeans-and-univers-the-dinner-jacket-helvetica-is/) [Adrian Frutiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-frutiger/) > [I think zombies have always been an easy metaphor for hard times. Because they're this big, faceless, brainless group of evil things that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/i-think-zombies-have-always-been-an-easy-metaphor-for-hard-times/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) ## More by Donald Barthelme > [And I sat there getting drunker and drunker and more in love and more in love...And you can never touch a girl in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/and-i-sat-there-getting-drunker-and-drunker-and-more-in-love-and-more/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [“The story ends. It was written for several reasons. Nine of them are secrets. 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A few people accumulate big piles, but most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/capitalism-places-every-man-in-competition-with-his-fellows-for-a/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [“You came and fell upon me, I was sitting in the wicker chair. The wicker exclaimed as your weight fell upon me. You were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/you-came-and-fell-upon-me-i-was-sitting-in-the-wicker-chair-the/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [“Mother, have you noticed that this society we’re in tends to be a little…repressive?” “What does that mean, Eugenie? 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That's how lacking in studliness I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-as-much-of-a-stud-as-i-can-t-come-up-with-a-metaphor-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because you continue to inhabit and believe your metaphors, you cannot see what is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/because-you-continue-to-inhabit-and-believe-your-metaphors-you-cannot/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [“The bag contained a pair of white cotton gloves stained the color of age.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/the-bag-contained-a-pair-of-white-cotton-gloves-stained-the-color-of/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“People think blood red, but blood don't got no colour. 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Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-l-marshall/) [Browse all 1,548 Metaphor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Is that true,\" I asked, \"that song?\" \"It is a metaphor,\" said Mrs. Davis, \"it has metaphorical truth.\" \"And the end of the mechanical age,\" I said, \"is that a metaphor?\" \"The end of the mechanical age,\" said Mrs. Davis, \"is in my judgment an actuality straining to become a metaphor. One must wish it luck, I suppose. One must cheer it on. Intellectual rigor demands that we give these damned metaphors every chance, even if they are inimical to personal well-being and comfort. 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