--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can feel a thing I cannot touch and…" description: "\"I can feel a thing I cannot touch and touch a thing I cannot feel. The first is sad and sorry, the second is your heart.\" — James Thurber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/james-thurber-1534_feel_i-can-feel-a-thing-i-cannot-touch-and-to_2776294.jpg" --- # I can feel a thing I cannot touch and touch a thing I… ![“I can feel a thing I cannot touch and touch a thing I cannot feel. The first is sad and sorry, the second is your heart.” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/james-thurber-1534_feel_i-can-feel-a-thing-i-cannot-touch-and-to_2776294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/james-thurber-1534_feel_i-can-feel-a-thing-i-cannot-touch-and-to_2776294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f6/james-thurber-1534_feel_i-can-feel-a-thing-i-cannot-touch-and-to_2776294.jpg) > “I can feel a thing I cannot touch and touch a thing I cannot feel. The first is sad and sorry, the second is your heart.” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The paradox of longing for the intangible and feeling the intangible reveals deep emotional conflict. **In simple terms:** Longing for what can't be touched creates sadness. Key Takeaway Accept emotional contradictions. Themes longing paradox emotional conflict Mood melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - unrequited love - grief - creative inspiration Key Concepts desire absence heartache Questions to Reflect On - What intangible do you chase? - How does this longing affect your choices? A Different Perspective Such yearning can hinder present joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-thing-754747/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Thing Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-feel/) [Thing Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-touch-2520120/) [Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch/) ## Related quotes > [“I can do a score of things that can’t be done. I can find a thing I can’t see, and I see a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-can-do-a-score-of-things-that-can-t-be-done-i-can-find-a-thing-i/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“When you open yourself to somebody, when you feel these thing that you feel, well, what do you do? You can try to ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/when-you-open-yourself-to-somebody-when-you-feel-these-thing-that-you/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [I sort of missed one big thing, to touch first base. I hope I didn't act foolish, but this is history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-sort-of-missed-one-big-thing-to-touch-first-base-i-hope-i-didn-t/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I've never seen a wild thing feel sorry for itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/i-ve-never-seen-a-wild-thing-feel-sorry-for-itself/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [Hollywood is a strange, strange thing. I feel like I've been invited to a very exclusive ball and I'm just trying to make nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-criss/hollywood-is-a-strange-strange-thing-i-feel-like-i-ve-been-invited-to/) [Darren Criss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-criss/) > [I like to wear my dad's shoes to auditions as sort of a lucky thing. I feel like I'm on solid ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/i-like-to-wear-my-dad-s-shoes-to-auditions-as-sort-of-a-lucky-thing-i/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [I feel that the thing that probably aided me the most in that scene with the dog was the utilization and using an actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-walston/i-feel-that-the-thing-that-probably-aided-me-the-most-in-that-scene/) [Ray Walston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-walston/) > [I'm not human. I'm a piece of machinery. I don't need to feel a thing. 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I got so much sensation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-small/too-many-commercials-too-many-lies-too-many-celebrities-i-don-t/) [Fred Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-small/) > [When I'm in New York, I just want to walk down the street and feel this thing like I'm in a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/when-i-m-in-new-york-i-just-want-to-walk-down-the-street-and-feel/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > […and I wonder if u feel it too if not here's the one thing I wish u knew I think about u every mornin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cr-a-a/and-i-wonder-if-u-feel-it-too-if-not-here-s-the-one-thing-i-wish-u/) [Cr A&A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cr-a-a/) > [For me, it's a feel thing; it's a mechanical thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-harvey/for-me-it-s-a-feel-thing-it-s-a-mechanical-thing/) [Matt Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-harvey/) > [“It doesn’t matter what you think, what you believe or what you feel the only thing that ultimately matters is what you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubair-ahmed/it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-think-what-you-believe-or-what-you-feel/) [Zubair Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubair-ahmed/) > [If I had to feel one thing towards Jim Hellwig, I guess it would be pity a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/if-i-had-to-feel-one-thing-towards-jim-hellwig-i-guess-it-would-be/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. I was brought up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/salvador-dali-was-brought-up-in-spain-a-country-colored-by-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/her-own-mother-lived-the-latter-years-of-her-life-in-the-horrible/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Against the may, the could be, and the should, folly 'tis to balance doubt or hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/against-the-may-the-could-be-and-the-should-folly-tis-to-balance/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“ There was an old coddle so molly, He talked in a glot that was poly, His gaws were so gew That his laps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/there-was-an-old-coddle-so-molly-he-talked-in-a-glot-that-was-poly/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“you might as well fall on your face as lean over too far backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/you-might-as-well-fall-on-your-face-as-lean-over-too-far-backwards/) [james thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I myself have known some profoundly thoughtful dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-myself-have-known-some-profoundly-thoughtful-dogs/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-knows-all-about-art-but-he-doesn-t-know-what-he-likes/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/all-men-should-strive-to-learn-before-they-die-what-they-are-running/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Quick, name some towns in New Jersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/quick-name-some-towns-in-new-jersey/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Looks can be deceiving; it's eating that's believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/looks-can-be-deceiving-it-s-eating-that-s-believing/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“I don’t understand,” said the scientist, “why you lemmings all rush down to the sea and drown yourselves.” “How curious,” said the lemming. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-don-t-understand-said-the-scientist-why-you-lemmings-all-rush-down/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [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/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) [Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can feel a thing I cannot touch and touch a thing I cannot feel. 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