--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine that the universe is a great…" description: "\"Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You want to stay near the core of the thing - right in the hub of the wheel - not out at the edge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/elizabeth-gilbert-131_answers_imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spi_598605.jpg" --- # Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You… ![“Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You want to stay near the core of the thing - right in the hub of the wheel - not out at the edges where all the wild whirling takes place, where you can get frayed and crazy. The hub of calmness - that's your heart. That's where God lives…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/elizabeth-gilbert-131_answers_imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spi_598605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/elizabeth-gilbert-131_answers_imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spi_598605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/elizabeth-gilbert-131_answers_imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spi_598605.jpg) > “Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You want to stay near the core of the thing - right in the hub of the wheel - not out at the edges where all the wild whirling takes place, where you can get frayed and crazy. The hub of calmness - that's your heart. That's where God lives within you. So stop looking for answers in the world. Just keep coming back to that center and you'll always find peace.” [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. Finding inner peace involves focusing on the core of oneself rather than external chaos. **In simple terms:** Focus on your inner center for peace. Key Takeaway Cultivate a calm inner core. Themes spirituality inner peace mindfulness Mood peaceful reflective Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - meditation - stress management - spiritual practice Key Concepts centeredness self‑reliance tranquility Questions to Reflect On - What practices help you return to your inner hub? - How can you maintain calm amid turmoil? A Different Perspective External circumstances can still disturb inner calm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Calmness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calmness/) [Calmness Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calmness-heart-1609166/) [Coming back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-back/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Finding peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-peace/) [God life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-life/) [God Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-lives/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-god/) [Hub Calmness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hub-calmness-4884319/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Imagine that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine-that/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Spinning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spinning/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wheels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheels/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The unwavering truth is life is good all the time. For even in the darkest valley of your life, if you stay still, life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naide-p-obiang/the-unwavering-truth-is-life-is-good-all-the-time-for-even-in-the/) [Naide P Obiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naide-p-obiang/) > [“He that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16). True faith in God brings a calmness to the heart that keeps us from rushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/he-that-believeth-shall-not-make-haste-isa-28-16-true-faith-in-god/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Beyond drama and chaos, beyond anxiety and fear, lies a zone of endless peace and love. Let's all take a very deep breath, slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/beyond-drama-and-chaos-beyond-anxiety-and-fear-lies-a-zone-of-endless/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [The only place the mind will ever find peace is inside the silence of the heart. That's where you need to go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-only-place-the-mind-will-ever-find-peace-is-inside-the-silence-of-2/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Your job then, should you choose to accept it, is to keep searching for the metaphors, rituals and teachers that will help you move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/your-job-then-should-you-choose-to-accept-it-is-to-keep-searching-for/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I think you have every right to cherry-pick when it comes to moving your spirit and finding peace in God. You take whatever works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-think-you-have-every-right-to-cherry-pick-when-it-comes-to-moving/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The resting place of the mind is the heart. The only thing the mind hears all day is clanging bells and noise and argument,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-resting-place-of-the-mind-is-the-heart-the-only-thing-the-mind/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Conscience is the light by which we interpret the will of God in our own lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/conscience-is-the-light-by-which-we-interpret-the-will-of-god-in-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [God lives in cozy homes. Happiness, which a cozy home can give you, is so divine on this Earth, you don't need anything more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/god-lives-in-cozy-homes-happiness-which-a-cozy-home-can-give-you-is/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [Living as we do with a veil over our eyes, we cannot remember what it was like to be with our Heavenly Father and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/living-as-we-do-with-a-veil-over-our-eyes-we-cannot-remember-what-it/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [“Our worship of God is not a part of our lives; worship is our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/our-worship-of-god-is-not-a-part-of-our-lives-worship-is-our-lives/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [No one has seen God, but as we love one another, God lives in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/no-one-has-seen-god-but-as-we-love-one-another-god-lives-in-us/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [“Who or what takes priority over God in our lives?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/who-or-what-takes-priority-over-god-in-our-lives/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [They say that God lives very high! But if you look above the pines You cannot see our God. And why? And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/they-say-that-god-lives-very-high-but-if-you-look-above-the-pines-you/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [“and after all in this house what have we to fear? There is always someone with us who is stronger. The devil may visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/and-after-all-in-this-house-what-have-we-to-fear-there-is-always/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## 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 Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You want to stay near the core of the thing - right in the hub of the wheel - not out at the edges where all the wild whirling takes place, where you can get frayed and crazy. The hub of calmness - that's your heart. That's where God lives within you. So stop looking for answers in the world. Just keep coming back to that center and you'll always find peace.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Gilbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spinning-engine-you-want-to-stay/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spinning-engine-you-want-to-stay/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/elizabeth-gilbert-131_answers_imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spi_598605.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/elizabeth-gilbert-131_answers_imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spi_598605.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/elizabeth-gilbert-131_answers_imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spi_598605.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You want to stay near the core of the thing - right in…” — 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": "Imagine that the universe is a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spinning-engine-you-want-to-stay/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/imagine-that-the-universe-is-a-great-spinning-engine-you-want-to-stay/#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 } } ] } ```