--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think you can do a lot, like describing…" description: "\"I think you can do a lot, like describing people with their physical characteristics, things like that, but to me, I've always found it to be a much mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/gabrielle-zevin-626_always_i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing_1016020.png" --- # I think you can do a lot, like describing people with… ![“I think you can do a lot, like describing people with their physical characteristics, things like that, but to me, I've always found it to be a much more informative question to ask somebody what they read.” quote by Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/gabrielle-zevin-626_always_i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing_1016020.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/gabrielle-zevin-626_always_i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing_1016020.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/gabrielle-zevin-626_always_i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing_1016020.png) > “I think you can do a lot, like describing people with their physical characteristics, things like that, but to me, I've always found it to be a much more informative question to ask somebody what they read.” [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading habits reveal deeper aspects of identity than physical description. **In simple terms:** Ask what people read to understand them. Key Takeaway Use reading choices to gauge values and perspectives. Themes identity literature conversation self‑expression Mood thoughtful curious Type literary conversational When to use this quote - book clubs - interviews - social networking - educational settings Key Concepts reading preferences cultural insight personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - What does your reading list say about you? - How can reading choices foster connection? A Different Perspective People may hide true preferences or be judged superficially. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Without sounding overly sentimental about the process, I'd say trying to describe how you tend to conceive of a book is like describing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/without-sounding-overly-sentimental-about-the-process-i-d-say-trying/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [I have trouble describing my own style, since it's sort of like describing my own eye color or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/i-have-trouble-describing-my-own-style-since-it-s-sort-of-like/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [To try to explain something as "I love it" and "It's fun" would be like describing the sunset over the middle of the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-dakides/to-try-to-explain-something-as-i-love-it-and-it-s-fun-would-be-like/) Tara Dakides > [He's a boating enthusiast, although that phrase seems too weak to describe the level of his interest, kind of like describing someone as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-s-a-boating-enthusiast-although-that-phrase-seems-too-weak-to/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I'm not promoting myself as the next great American driver, as some people are describing me. 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No matter what it is we are describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/poetry-is-the-most-informative-of-all-of-the-arts-because-everything/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [Explaining why you love someone is like describing water tastes like , completely undefined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-colleen/explaining-why-you-love-someone-is-like-describing-water-tastes-like/) [Sabrina Colleen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-colleen/) > [Explaining why you love someone is like describing what water taste like, COMPLETELY UNDEFINED.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrin-o28/explaining-why-you-love-someone-is-like-describing-what-water-taste/) Katrin\_o28 > [I still do not know what impels anyone sound of mind to leave dry land and spend a lifetime describing people who do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-gallant/i-still-do-not-know-what-impels-anyone-sound-of-mind-to-leave-dry/) [Mavis Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-gallant/) > [Yes, of course, there's something fishy about describing people's feelings. You try hard to be accurate, but as soon as you start to define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/yes-of-course-there-s-something-fishy-about-describing-people-s/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“For three decades, in describing people’s relationships with computers, I have often used the metaphor of the Rorschach, the inkblot test that psychologists use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/for-three-decades-in-describing-people-s-relationships-with-computers/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“I once heard Jerry Yang, the cofounder of Yahoo!, quote a senior Chinese government official as saying, "Where people have hope, you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-friedman/i-once-heard-jerry-yang-the-cofounder-of-yahoo-quote-a-senior-chinese/) [Thomas L. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-friedman/) > [I would never ask somebody to do something where I felt that it's not right or it puts someone in an uncomfortable position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juergen-teller/i-would-never-ask-somebody-to-do-something-where-i-felt-that-it-s-not/) [Juergen Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juergen-teller/) ## More by Gabrielle Zevin > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [That Woman is in love with her own grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/that-woman-is-in-love-with-her-own-grief/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [He kissed me, though not in a sexy way. Gentle. Tender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-kissed-me-though-not-in-a-sexy-way-gentle-tender/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Daddy always said the only thing worth begging for was your life, but maybe he was wrong. Maybe sometimes your love is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/daddy-always-said-the-only-thing-worth-begging-for-was-your-life-but/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“I am repulsed by ghostwritten novels by reality television stars, celebrity picture books, sports memoirs, movie tie-in editions, novelty items, and—I imagine this goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-am-repulsed-by-ghostwritten-novels-by-reality-television-stars/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [I wish I could tell you to always follow your heart, but I think it is bad advice. You have a heart, yes, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-wish-i-could-tell-you-to-always-follow-your-heart-but-i-think-it-is/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“It is a lie that you should only speak from your heart- you ought to let your brain play a part too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-is-a-lie-that-you-should-only-speak-from-your-heart-you-ought-to/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [I wondered if the person who really loves you is the person who knows all your stories, the person who WANTS to know all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-wondered-if-the-person-who-really-loves-you-is-the-person-who-knows/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Most people's problems would be solved if they would only give more things a chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/most-people-s-problems-would-be-solved-if-they-would-only-give-more/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“It is lucky, she thinks, that we don’t feel all the love inside us every moment. We couldn’t breathe or walk or eat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-is-lucky-she-thinks-that-we-don-t-feel-all-the-love-inside-us/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Real love' is not just instinct, but intent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/real-love-is-not-just-instinct-but-intent/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Hi there," squeaked a precocious little voice, "you are speaking to Chloe Fusakawa, and I have just learned how to answer the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/hi-there-squeaked-a-precocious-little-voice-you-are-speaking-to-chloe/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Well, I’m warning you. I could be a bad book with a good jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/well-i-m-warning-you-i-could-be-a-bad-book-with-a-good-jacket/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“A place ain’t a place without a bookstore,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/a-place-ain-t-a-place-without-a-bookstore/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) [Explore all 425 Gabrielle Zevin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think you can do a lot, like describing people with their physical characteristics, things like that, but to me, I've always found it to be a much more informative question to ask somebody what they read.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gabrielle Zevin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing-people-with-their-physical/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing-people-with-their-physical/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/gabrielle-zevin-626_always_i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing_1016020.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/gabrielle-zevin-626_always_i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing_1016020.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/gabrielle-zevin-626_always_i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing_1016020.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think you can do a lot, like describing people with their physical characteristics, things like that, but…” — Gabrielle Zevin", "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": "Gabrielle Zevin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think you can do a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing-people-with-their-physical/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-think-you-can-do-a-lot-like-describing-people-with-their-physical/#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 } } ] } ```