Intimacy Quote by Elizabeth Gilbert
““One thing I do know about intimacy is that there are certain natural laws which govern the sexual experience of two people, and that these laws cannot be budged any more than gravity can be negotiated with. To feel physically comfortable with someone else's body is not a decision you can make. It has very little to do with how two people think or act or talk or even look. The mysterious magnet is either there, buried somewhere deep behind the sternum, or it is not. When it isn't there (as I have learned in the past, with heartbreaking clarity) you can no more force it to exist than a surgeon can force a patient's body to accept a kidney from the wrong donor. My friend Annie says it all comes down to one simple question: "Do you want your belly pressed against this person's belly forever --or not?””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Intimacy, 2015
Intimacy follows natural, unchangeable laws like gravity; comfort with another’s body cannot be forced, only felt.
In simple terms: Physical closeness follows natural rules, not decisions.
Seek genuine connection, not forced intimacy.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- dating
- long‑term partnership
- sexual health
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Can intimacy be cultivated?
- What role does emotional safety play?
Some may develop intimacy over time despite initial lack of chemistry.