---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He said, \"Just as there exists in writing…"
description: "\"“He said, \"Just as there exists in writing a literal truth and a poetic truth, there also exists in a human being a literal anatomy and a poetic anatom..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/elizabeth-gilbert-131_eat_he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing_3129342.jpg"
---

#  He said, "Just as there exists in writing a literal truth…

![“He said, &quot;Just as there exists in writing a literal truth and a poetic truth, there also exists in a human being a literal anatomy and a poetic anatomy. One, you can see; one, you cannot. One is made of bones and teeth and flesh; the other is made of energy and memory and faith. But both are…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/elizabeth-gilbert-131_eat_he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing_3129342.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/elizabeth-gilbert-131_eat_he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing_3129342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/elizabeth-gilbert-131_eat_he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing_3129342.jpg)

> ““He said, "Just as there exists in writing a literal truth and a poetic truth, there also exists in a human being a literal anatomy and a poetic anatomy. One, you can see; one, you cannot. One is made of bones and teeth and flesh; the other is made of energy and memory and faith. But both are equally true.””

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

## About This Quote

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

Human beings have both tangible, physical aspects and intangible, poetic dimensions, each equally valid.

**In simple terms:** People have physical and poetic sides.

Key Takeaway

Honor both the literal and the poetic in yourself.

Themes

identity creativity truth

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

essay philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- writing
- self‑discovery

Key Concepts

philosophy artistic expression

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance your literal and poetic selves?
- What value does each side bring?

A Different Perspective

Focusing only on one side limits understanding.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anatomy Poetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anatomy-poetic-5331704/) [Eat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eat/) [Literal Anatomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal-anatomy-5331703/) [Literal Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal-truth-447090/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Poetic Anatomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetic-anatomy-5331705/) [Poetic Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetic-truth-1253220/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [Just as there exists in writing a literal truth and a poetic truth, there also exists in a human being a literal anatomy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/just-as-there-exists-in-writing-a-literal-truth-and-a-poetic-truth/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“You adulterate the truth as you write. There isn't any pretense that you try to arrive at the literal truth. And the only consolation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald-2/you-adulterate-the-truth-as-you-write-there-isn-t-any-pretense-that/)

[W.G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald-2/)

> [Have not all poetic truths been already stated? The essence of a poetic truth is that no statement of it can be final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/have-not-all-poetic-truths-been-already-stated-the-essence-of-a/)

[Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/)

> [“This observation, understanding, and appreciation, when combined with the excellence of poetic expression, produce the best poetry, steeped in poetic truth and served with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alok-mishra/this-observation-understanding-and-appreciation-when-combined-with/)

[Alok Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alok-mishra/)

> [Poetry; a criticism of life under the conditions fixed for such a criticism by the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/poetry-a-criticism-of-life-under-the-conditions-fixed-for-such-a/)

[Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/)

> [I'm hunting for the truth. It might be a kind of poetic truth, and not just a factual one, because behind everything that happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-m-hunting-for-the-truth-it-might-be-a-kind-of-poetic-truth-and-not/)

[Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/)

> [There is nothing more poetic than the truth. He who does not see poetry in it will always be a poor versifier outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/multatuli/there-is-nothing-more-poetic-than-the-truth-he-who-does-not-see/)

[Multatuli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/multatuli/)

> [“It is true that this general truth was hidden from many by certain definite assertions. I can only call them, in simple language, Protestant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-true-that-this-general-truth-was-hidden-from-many-by-certain/)

[G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/)

> [A knowledge of the true age of the Earth and of the fossil record makes it impossible for any balanced intellect to believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/a-knowledge-of-the-true-age-of-the-earth-and-of-the-fossil-record/)

[Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/)

> [In order to deliver the emotional truth in the story, you have to include some of the literal truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/in-order-to-deliver-the-emotional-truth-in-the-story-you-have-to/)

[Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/)

> [“And after all, our mythology may be much nearer to literal truth than we suppose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/and-after-all-our-mythology-may-be-much-nearer-to-literal-truth-than/)

[c.s. lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [In its natural state, the child tells the literal truth because it is too naive to think of anything else. Blurting out the complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/in-its-natural-state-the-child-tells-the-literal-truth-because-it-is/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [“It's safer to use fiction, which will not be taken for literal truth, but which, like Jesus' stories, can tell the truth indirectly yetpowerfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-martindale/it-s-safer-to-use-fiction-which-will-not-be-taken-for-literal-truth/)

[Wayne Martindale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-martindale/)

> [I liked the thought of being a country clergyman. Accordingly I read with care Pearson on the Creed and a few other books on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-liked-the-thought-of-being-a-country-clergyman-accordingly-i-read/)

[Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/)

> [ “...\[A\] strange necessity has been laid upon me to devote my life to the central concern that transcends the walls that divide and would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/a-strange-necessity-has-been-laid-upon-me-to-devote-my-life-to-the/)

[Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/)

## More by Elizabeth Gilbert

> [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. He's just the guy who's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-your-friend-my-husband-is-my-best-friend-he-s-not-the-mirror/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Not to mention that I have finally arrived at that age where a woman starts to question whether the wisest way to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/not-to-mention-that-i-have-finally-arrived-at-that-age-where-a-woman/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“The Buddha taught that all human suffering is rooted in desire. Don't we all know this to be true? Any of us who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-buddha-taught-that-all-human-suffering-is-rooted-in-desire-don-t/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/learn-your-way-around-loneliness-make-a-map-of-it-sit-with-it-for/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [If we never leave our house except to drive to work, do we need to be even remotely aware of this powerful, humbling, extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-we-never-leave-our-house-except-to-drive-to-work-do-we-need-to-be/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker," he continued, as though he had not heard her. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-will-tell-you-why-we-have-these-extraordinary-minds-and-souls-miss/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-ingredients-of-both-darkness-and-light-are-equally-present-in-all/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-live-in-nature-where-everything-is-connected-circular-the-seasons/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“His spelling was several degrees beyond arbitrary, and his punctuation brought reason to sigh with unhappiness. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/his-spelling-was-several-degrees-beyond-arbitrary-and-his-punctuation/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

[Explore all 1,156 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

## More Eat quotes

> [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/)

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

> [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/)

[Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/)

> [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/)

[Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/)

> [You get those hunger pains. 'I am so hungry. We don't have any food. What are we going to eat?' Your stomach hurts. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mclemore/you-get-those-hunger-pains-i-am-so-hungry-we-don-t-have-any-food-what/)

[Ben McLemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mclemore/)

> [We need to be more conversant with it because science is in our lives. It's in everything. It's in the food we eat. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/we-need-to-be-more-conversant-with-it-because-science-is-in-our-lives/)

[Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/)

> [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/)

[Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/)

> [Conventional agriculture has never succeeded in feeding the world, and it's never produced anything good to eat. For the future, we need to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barber/conventional-agriculture-has-never-succeeded-in-feeding-the-world-and/)

[Dan Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barber/)

> [I take apart restaurant menus everywhere I go. I kind of tick off a lot of chefs in restaurants because I'll say, 'You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/i-take-apart-restaurant-menus-everywhere-i-go-i-kind-of-tick-off-a/)

[Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/)

> [I don't like to eat in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/i-don-t-like-to-eat-in-front-of-people/)

[John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/)

> [When I heard that the bees were in trouble, the fact that they're disappearing and not coming back to the hive, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-schwartzberg/when-i-heard-that-the-bees-were-in-trouble-the-fact-that-they-re/)

[Louie Schwartzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-schwartzberg/)

> [I could spend a whole day at a spa. I'd get a facial, a scalp rub, massages, then eat some grapes and be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dule-hill/i-could-spend-a-whole-day-at-a-spa-i-d-get-a-facial-a-scalp-rub/)

[Dule Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dule-hill/)

> [I love to feed people, and I like to cook food they want to eat and food that will be good for them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-glick/i-love-to-feed-people-and-i-like-to-cook-food-they-want-to-eat-and/)

[Ruth Glick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-glick/)

> [When I eat cilantro, it's like someone sprayed perfume down my throat. It closes up my throat, even if there's only a little piece.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rose/when-i-eat-cilantro-it-s-like-someone-sprayed-perfume-down-my-throat/)

[Amber Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rose/)

> [It's like the code of living by yourself. People who are single know what I'm talking about. You eat standing up, reading the paper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/it-s-like-the-code-of-living-by-yourself-people-who-are-single-know/)

[Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/)

> [“Looks delicious," he lied. "A mite crispy along the edges - but then, I like it that way." Incredulous eyes met his own. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/looks-delicious-he-lied-a-mite-crispy-along-the-edges-but-then-i-like/)

[Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/)

[Browse all 1,673 Eat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eat/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“He said, \"Just as there exists in writing a literal truth and a poetic truth, there also exists in a human being a literal anatomy and a poetic anatomy. One, you can see; one, you cannot. One is made of bones and teeth and flesh; the other is made of energy and memory and faith. But both are equally true.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth Gilbert"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing-a-literal-truth-and-a-poetic/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Eat"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing-a-literal-truth-and-a-poetic/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/elizabeth-gilbert-131_eat_he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing_3129342.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/elizabeth-gilbert-131_eat_he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing_3129342.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/elizabeth-gilbert-131_eat_he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing_3129342.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He said, \"Just as there exists in writing a literal truth and a poetic truth, there also exists in a human…” — Elizabeth Gilbert",
                "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": "Elizabeth Gilbert",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“He said, \"Just as there exists...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing-a-literal-truth-and-a-poetic/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/he-said-just-as-there-exists-in-writing-a-literal-truth-and-a-poetic/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
