--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But earth and heart don't have much of a…" description: "\"“But earth and heart don't have much of a membrane between them. Sometimes decided on grounds as elusive as that single transposable h , this matter of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/ivan-doig-28213_earth_but-earth-and-heart-don-t-have-much-of-a_1950417.png" --- # But earth and heart don't have much of a membrane between… ![“But earth and heart don't have much of a membrane between them. Sometimes decided on grounds as elusive as that single transposable h , this matter of siting ourselves. Of a place insisting itself to us.” quote by Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/ivan-doig-28213_earth_but-earth-and-heart-don-t-have-much-of-a_1950417.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/ivan-doig-28213_earth_but-earth-and-heart-don-t-have-much-of-a_1950417.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/ivan-doig-28213_earth_but-earth-and-heart-don-t-have-much-of-a_1950417.png) > ““But earth and heart don't have much of a membrane between them. Sometimes decided on grounds as elusive as that single transposable h , this matter of siting ourselves. Of a place insisting itself to us.”” [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The excerpt reflects on the thin boundary between humanity and nature, suggesting our sense of place is both fragile and self‑determined. **In simple terms:** Humanity and nature are closely linked, and our sense of belonging is fragile. Key Takeaway Acknowledge our deep connection to the earth. Themes nature identity place philosophy Mood contemplative poetic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - environmental stewardship - creative writing - mindfulness - education Key Concepts existentialism environmentalism self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment shape your identity? - In what ways can we honor the thin line between self and nature? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be too abstract for practical application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [The earth was all before me. With a heart Joyous, nor scared at its own liberty, I look about; and should the chosen guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-earth-was-all-before-me-with-a-heart-joyous-nor-scared-at-its-own/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [“Nothing of heaven or earth Can take this heart Filled with love Nothing of heaven or earth Can divide us From cosmic energy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/nothing-of-heaven-or-earth-can-take-this-heart-filled-with-love/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [I am earth, earth My heart's love Bursts with hay and flowers. I am a lake of blue air In which my own appointed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-am-earth-earth-my-heart-s-love-bursts-with-hay-and-flowers-i-am-a/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Egypt is the mind of the Earth. The heart actually is in Mexico, and some say in Columbia. Tahiti/Morea sits in the feminine South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drunvalo-melchizedek/egypt-is-the-mind-of-the-earth-the-heart-actually-is-in-mexico-and/) [Drunvalo Melchizedek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drunvalo-melchizedek/) > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [When the Sun Clearest shineth Serenest in the heaven, Quickly are obscured All over the earth Other stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/when-the-sun-clearest-shineth-serenest-in-the-heaven-quickly-are/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [One of the most abused country on earth is Mexico. The marketing spills over the border, and people are persuaded to eat food that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/one-of-the-most-abused-country-on-earth-is-mexico-the-marketing/) [Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) ## More by Ivan Doig > [“My books already threatened to take over my part of the room and keep on going . . . whatever cargoes of words I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/my-books-already-threatened-to-take-over-my-part-of-the-room-and-keep/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [It came to me more as a whisper of suggestion than the fundamental adage that it is - if this is not biblical, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/it-came-to-me-more-as-a-whisper-of-suggestion-than-the-fundamental/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [“Life is wide. There's room to take a new run at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/life-is-wide-there-s-room-to-take-a-new-run-at-it/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [“Thinking is thinking. It happens in spite of a person. … I don’t have any choice. This stuff I’m talking about is on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/thinking-is-thinking-it-happens-in-spite-of-a-person-i-don-t-have-any/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [“... hindsight is always through bifocals: it peers specifically instead of seeing whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/hindsight-is-always-through-bifocals-it-peers-specifically-instead-of/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [The nature of love is that it catches you off-guard, subjects you to rules you have never faced, some of them contradictory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/the-nature-of-love-is-that-it-catches-you-off-guard-subjects-you-to/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [Every soldier in the course of time exists only in the breath of written word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/every-soldier-in-the-course-of-time-exists-only-in-the-breath-of/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [“I thought again what an achievement a book is, a magic box simultaneously holding the presence of the author and the wonders of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/i-thought-again-what-an-achievement-a-book-is-a-magic-box/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [“Nightly awaits that sweet address Principality of Sleep Happy Land of Forgetfullness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/nightly-awaits-that-sweet-address-principality-of-sleep-happy-land-of/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [“Men and women are hard ore, we do not go to slag in a mere few seasons of forge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/men-and-women-are-hard-ore-we-do-not-go-to-slag-in-a-mere-few-seasons/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [Childhood is the one story that stands by itself in every soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/childhood-is-the-one-story-that-stands-by-itself-in-every-soul/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [“I am a writer, not a transcriber.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/i-am-a-writer-not-a-transcriber/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [There is more time than there is expanse of the world and so any voyage at last will end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/there-is-more-time-than-there-is-expanse-of-the-world-and-so-any/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [The spaces between stars are where the work of the universe is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/the-spaces-between-stars-are-where-the-work-of-the-universe-is-done/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) > [Life is mostly freehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-doig/life-is-mostly-freehand/) [Ivan Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) [Explore all 19 Ivan Doig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-doig/) ## More Earth quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [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/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [What did you do to save the world today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie/what-did-you-do-to-save-the-world-today/) [Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie/) [Browse all 15,455 Earth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But earth and heart don't have much of a membrane between them. Sometimes decided on grounds as elusive as that single transposable h , this matter of siting ourselves. 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