--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing that struck you about…" description: "\"“The first thing that struck you about Claire’s plate was its vast emptiness. Of course I’m well aware that, in the better restaurants, quality takes p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/herman-koch-7856_food_the-first-thing-that-struck-you-about-cl_2083611.jpg" --- # The first thing that struck you about Claire’s plate was… ![“The first thing that struck you about Claire’s plate was its vast emptiness. Of course I’m well aware that, in the better restaurants, quality takes precedence over quantity, but there are voids and then there are voids. The void here, that part of the plate on which no food at all was present…” quote by Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/herman-koch-7856_food_the-first-thing-that-struck-you-about-cl_2083611.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/herman-koch-7856_food_the-first-thing-that-struck-you-about-cl_2083611.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f4/herman-koch-7856_food_the-first-thing-that-struck-you-about-cl_2083611.jpg) > ““The first thing that struck you about Claire’s plate was its vast emptiness. Of course I’m well aware that, in the better restaurants, quality takes precedence over quantity, but there are voids and then there are voids. The void here, that part of the plate on which no food at all was present, had clearly been raised to a matter of principle. It was as though the empty plate was challenging you to say something about it, to go to the open kitchen and demand an explanation. ‘You wouldn’t even dare!’ the plate said, and laughed in your face.”” [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The empty plate symbolizes a deliberate omission that forces diners to confront expectations and hidden meanings. **In simple terms:** An empty plate challenges you to question its purpose. Key Takeaway Notice what is left unsaid. Themes perception communication absurdity Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - fine dining - restaurant critique - artistic commentary Key Concepts existentialism symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What does the empty space represent for you? - How does silence shape conversation? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be too abstract for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Claire Plate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claire-plate-4082423/) [Emptiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emptiness/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Humorous-quotations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous-quotations/) [Plate Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plate-food-1365455/) [Plate Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plate-said-3432441/) [Restaurants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurants/) [Void Plate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void-plate-4082424/) ## Related quotes > [“I want to be awful. I want to do awful things and why not? Dull is dull is dull is my life. Like now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lodato/i-want-to-be-awful-i-want-to-do-awful-things-and-why-not-dull-is-dull/) [Victor Lodato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lodato/) > [I hate when the microwave decides to heat my plate, but not my food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-when-the-microwave-decides-to-heat-my-plate-but-not-my-food/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lovers of print are simply confusing the plate for the food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/lovers-of-print-are-simply-confusing-the-plate-for-the-food/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The best thing you can do for someone is make them a beautiful plate of food. How else can you invade someone's body without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/the-best-thing-you-can-do-for-someone-is-make-them-a-beautiful-plate/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [It doesn't matter to me whether it's the 12th or the 90th minute, I'll go for the ball the same way as I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casemiro/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-whether-it-s-the-12th-or-the-90th-minute-i-ll/) [Casemiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casemiro/) > [I have a certain point of view, a certain way to plate food, certain ingredients that I like to use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/i-have-a-certain-point-of-view-a-certain-way-to-plate-food-certain/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [Sometimes I've looked at a plate of food and wondered if it wouldn't look better as a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-street-porter/sometimes-i-ve-looked-at-a-plate-of-food-and-wondered-if-it-wouldn-t/) [Janet Street-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-street-porter/) > [A plate of food hits the table, lands right in front of you. One of two things happens. Either you sit up and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-taffer/a-plate-of-food-hits-the-table-lands-right-in-front-of-you-one-of-two/) [Jon Taffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-taffer/) > [A plate of food has to have balance. For example, a mild fish like skate mustnt be overwhelmed by the side dishes. They should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/a-plate-of-food-has-to-have-balance-for-example-a-mild-fish-like/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [“I've always worried a lot. And frankly I'm good at it." The late Erma Bombeck, one of the funniest women ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-robertson/i-ve-always-worried-a-lot-and-frankly-i-m-good-at-it-the-late-erma/) [Catherine Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-robertson/) > [“I'm an American, our names don't mean shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-m-an-american-our-names-don-t-mean-shit/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [“Yea though I walk through the Valley of Death, I shall fear no evil, for I am the baddest M-F in the valley.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/yea-though-i-walk-through-the-valley-of-death-i-shall-fear-no-evil/) [Cherise Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“If the pen is mightier than the sword, then what is the laptop? A light saber or a life saver?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-then-what-is-the-laptop-a-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When we removed your son, we replaced him with nothing!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-malema/when-we-removed-your-son-we-replaced-him-with-nothing/) [Julius Malema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-malema/) ## More by Herman Koch > [“We looked at each other. At that moment, I was also a hundred percent sure that Van Dieren and I were thinking the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/we-looked-at-each-other-at-that-moment-i-was-also-a-hundred-percent/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [The stupid woman is the one who thinks she doesn’t need any help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/the-stupid-woman-is-the-one-who-thinks-she-doesn-t-need-any-help/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Christ, what an asshole!" Babette said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/christ-what-an-asshole-babette-said/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Some people might say it's not smart to be so insecure about what you wear. But that's not how I see it. The stupid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/some-people-might-say-it-s-not-smart-to-be-so-insecure-about-what-you/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“… when Michel came home from school, for example, and everything was as it should be. My own voice, above all, asking him what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/when-michel-came-home-from-school-for-example-and-everything-was-as/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“They all had to do something: they had to make a start in life; they had to go through life. Even though a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/they-all-had-to-do-something-they-had-to-make-a-start-in-life-they/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [In one way or another, every parent is curious what their children... what are they doing when we don't see?... What double lives are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/in-one-way-or-another-every-parent-is-curious-what-their-children/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Life as a widow, she thinks, will always be like this. The friends will go on proposing toasts for months (for years!). To her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/life-as-a-widow-she-thinks-will-always-be-like-this-the-friends-will/) [Herman koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Er was een dokter in de zaal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/er-was-een-dokter-in-de-zaal/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“The smile remained suspended on her face, but it was as though it had been disconnected from the emotion behind it – if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/the-smile-remained-suspended-on-her-face-but-it-was-as-though-it-had/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“I let go of the pump as well now. I registered a sense of fatigue. And regret. It was the same fatigue and regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/i-let-go-of-the-pump-as-well-now-i-registered-a-sense-of-fatigue-and/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“Is it life threatening?” they asked. They said it slightly sotto voce, but you could hear the thirst for sensation right through it: when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/is-it-life-threatening-they-asked-they-said-it-slightly-sotto-voce/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“happiness needs nothing but itself, it doesn’t have to be validated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/happiness-needs-nothing-but-itself-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-validated/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [Around here, we're as happy as God in France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/around-here-we-re-as-happy-as-god-in-france/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“...het was van dat weer dat je niet weet of het al avond wordt of dat de dag nog moet beginnen...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/het-was-van-dat-weer-dat-je-niet-weet-of-het-al-avond-wordt-of-dat-de/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) [Explore all 65 Herman Koch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) ## More Emptiness quotes > [Tell the truth about your wound, and then you will get a truthful picture of the remedy to apply to it. Don't pack whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/tell-the-truth-about-your-wound-and-then-you-will-get-a-truthful/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“I've decided that has been the great achievement of our age: to so thoroughly flood the planet with megabits that every image and fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/i-ve-decided-that-has-been-the-great-achievement-of-our-age-to-so/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“ Desolation would not be the proper word to describe his feelings now; it was more the sense of emptiness he imagined he might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shusaku-endo/desolation-would-not-be-the-proper-word-to-describe-his-feelings-now/) [Shusaku Endo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shusaku-endo/) > [“those of little merit would not even have doubts about this doctrine of emptiness. even suspicion that objects are empty wrecks the seeds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aryadeva/those-of-little-merit-would-not-even-have-doubts-about-this-doctrine/) [aryadeva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aryadeva/) > [Anyone whose goal is 'something higher' must expect someday to suffer vertigo. What is vertigo? Fear of falling? No, Vertigo is something other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/anyone-whose-goal-is-something-higher-must-expect-someday-to-suffer-2/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“I close my eyes and I let my body shut itself down and I let my mind wander. It wanders to a familiar place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-close-my-eyes-and-i-let-my-body-shut-itself-down-and-i-let-my-mind/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Only the thirsty knows the real taste of water; only the lonely knows the real weight of emptiness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/only-the-thirsty-knows-the-real-taste-of-water-only-the-lonely-knows/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [What I was trying to convey there was the kind of waste land that was left after the war. It was a bit like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-martin/what-i-was-trying-to-convey-there-was-the-kind-of-waste-land-that-was/) [George Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-martin/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [But what was there to say? Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-what-was-there-to-say-only-that-there-were-tears-only-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [“As we see it, space is possible only when the primordial Being swallows emptiness. Space is born when the Being accepts emptiness, the Nonbeing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/as-we-see-it-space-is-possible-only-when-the-primordial-being/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) [Browse all 1,374 Emptiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emptiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The first thing that struck you about Claire’s plate was its vast emptiness. Of course I’m well aware that, in the better restaurants, quality takes precedence over quantity, but there are voids and then there are voids. The void here, that part of the plate on which no food at all was present, had clearly been raised to a matter of principle. 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