---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m just barely scratching the surface…"
description: "\"“I’m just barely scratching the surface. And that surface is broth, so why is the soup itchy?”\" — Jarod Kintz"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/jarod-kintz-2_quote_i-m-just-barely-scratching-the-surface-a_1031868.jpg"
---

#  I’m just barely scratching the surface. And that surface…

![“I’m just barely scratching the surface. And that surface is broth, so why is the soup itchy?” quote by Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/jarod-kintz-2_quote_i-m-just-barely-scratching-the-surface-a_1031868.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/jarod-kintz-2_quote_i-m-just-barely-scratching-the-surface-a_1031868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18f/jarod-kintz-2_quote_i-m-just-barely-scratching-the-surface-a_1031868.jpg)

> ““I’m just barely scratching the surface. And that surface is broth, so why is the soup itchy?””

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker feels they have only begun to understand a complex topic, yet the current knowledge feels uncomfortable and unsatisfying.

**In simple terms:** Only a shallow understanding, and it feels unsettling.

Key Takeaway

Embrace deeper inquiry.

Themes

curiosity learning discomfort

Mood

thoughtful conflicted

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

- academic research
- personal growth
- creative brainstorming

Key Concepts

epistemology introspection

Questions to Reflect On

- What deeper layers are you avoiding?
- How can you turn discomfort into motivation?

A Different Perspective

The metaphor may oversimplify nuanced issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Barely Scratching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barely-scratching-2362369/) [Broth Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broth-soup-2362370/) [Scratching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scratching/) [Scratching Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scratching-surface-2362371/) [Soup Itchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soup-itchy-2362368/)

## Related quotes

> [“I stitched an itch to my side. As far as surgeries go, I’m just barely scratching the surface.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-stitched-an-itch-to-my-side-as-far-as-surgeries-go-i-m-just-barely/)

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> [“After months of training, I broke the record. Then right after that I celebrated by scratching all my CDs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/after-months-of-training-i-broke-the-record-then-right-after-that-i/)

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> [“You know cats, always scratching on this or that, but never scratching what you want when you want it. (Like my balls, when they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/you-know-cats-always-scratching-on-this-or-that-but-never-scratching/)

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> [Scratching and itching I'll keep biting my lip, from this pain that I'm feeling, picking wounds of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn/scratching-and-itching-i-ll-keep-biting-my-lip-from-this-pain-that-i/)

[Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn/)

> [I was never good at scratching, but I was good at collecting old records. Florida was a great place for that, because it's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/i-was-never-good-at-scratching-but-i-was-good-at-collecting-old/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [Scratching is one of nature's sweetest gratifications, and nearest at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/scratching-is-one-of-nature-s-sweetest-gratifications-and-nearest-at/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [Scratching and crawling along the floor to touch you and just when it feels right you say you found someone else to hold you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/scratching-and-crawling-along-the-floor-to-touch-you-and-just-when-it/)

[Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/)

> [Cricket often leaves you scratching your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anderson/cricket-often-leaves-you-scratching-your-head/)

[James Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anderson/)

> [“You're not leaving us, are you, cousin?" "If you're going into the city, you may want to have a healer look at that chest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-aiken-2/you-re-not-leaving-us-are-you-cousin-if-you-re-going-into-the-city/)

[G A Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-aiken-2/)

> [It was a real honor to be able to work with someone like that that I've been watching since I was a kid. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/it-was-a-real-honor-to-be-able-to-work-with-someone-like-that-that-i/)

[Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/)

> [I love watching amazing actors and actresses that you can't take your eyes off of because everything they are doing - even if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paxton/i-love-watching-amazing-actors-and-actresses-that-you-can-t-take-your/)

[Sara Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paxton/)

> [“Like everyone, I want my soul to thrum. I run my long nails over the keys like I'm scratching the back of a lover.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-hern-ndez/like-everyone-i-want-my-soul-to-thrum-i-run-my-long-nails-over-the/)

[Carlos Hernández](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-hern-ndez/)

> [The first four months of writing the book, my mental image is scratching with my hands through granite. My other image is pushing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-higgins-clark/the-first-four-months-of-writing-the-book-my-mental-image-is/)

[Mary Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-higgins-clark/)

> [“You wonder if that really constitutes being ‘a coincidence’ but don’t press her on the issue, instead sticking your hand down your pocket to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-kerkhoven/you-wonder-if-that-really-constitutes-being-a-coincidence-but-don-t/)

[Rudolf Kerkhoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-kerkhoven/)

> [Some people aren't touchy-feely, but I grew up in a family where you'd walk into the family room and there'd be five people on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-o-donnell/some-people-aren-t-touchy-feely-but-i-grew-up-in-a-family-where-you-d/)

[Chris O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-o-donnell/)

## More by Jarod Kintz

> [“I notice when you’re gone. Or do I? How can I observe something that isn’t there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-notice-when-you-re-gone-or-do-i-how-can-i-observe-something-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I wouldn’t love you if you were the last Sodomite in Gomorrah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wouldn-t-love-you-if-you-were-the-last-sodomite-in-gomorrah/)

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> [“A blanket could be used to make sweet, sweet music with the love of your life. Hopefully that person is me, because I’ve been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-make-sweet-sweet-music-with-the-love-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“A brick could be used to slow down time. Sort of like a camel in a wheelchair pushed by a thirsty Arab. Hey, Khalid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-to-slow-down-time-sort-of-like-a-camel-in-a/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“We have a love so pure that it makes snow seem yellow. (Don’t eat it!)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-have-a-love-so-pure-that-it-makes-snow-seem-yellow-don-t-eat-it/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I hid Mrs. Frozenwater’s body in the ice cube trays in my freezer. Better to keep her there than let her memory thaw out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-hid-mrs-frozenwater-s-body-in-the-ice-cube-trays-in-my-freezer/)

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> [“Two similar words might lead to two similar ideas. They might also lead to the basement, which I recently converted into a dungeon/torture chamber.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/two-similar-words-might-lead-to-two-similar-ideas-they-might-also/)

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[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Embossed letters represent the topography of typography.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/embossed-letters-represent-the-topography-of-typography/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“There’s only one piece of clothing I could eat fast, and that’s a scarf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/there-s-only-one-piece-of-clothing-i-could-eat-fast-and-that-s-a-scarf/)

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> [“Dora J. Arod is to Jarod Ora, as yes is to yes. Yes is also the correct answer to “Will you marry me?” Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/dora-j-arod-is-to-jarod-ora-as-yes-is-to-yes-yes-is-also-the-correct/)

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[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

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[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I’d like to file a missing person’s report—on my clone. It’s nearly 2012. He should have been here by now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-like-to-file-a-missing-person-s-report-on-my-clone-it-s-nearly/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

[Explore all 6,921 Jarod Kintz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## More Scratching quotes

> [Some people aren't touchy-feely, but I grew up in a family where you'd walk into the family room and there'd be five people on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-o-donnell/some-people-aren-t-touchy-feely-but-i-grew-up-in-a-family-where-you-d/)

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> [The first four months of writing the book, my mental image is scratching with my hands through granite. My other image is pushing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-higgins-clark/the-first-four-months-of-writing-the-book-my-mental-image-is/)

[Mary Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-higgins-clark/)

> [“Like everyone, I want my soul to thrum. I run my long nails over the keys like I'm scratching the back of a lover.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-hern-ndez/like-everyone-i-want-my-soul-to-thrum-i-run-my-long-nails-over-the/)

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> [I love watching amazing actors and actresses that you can't take your eyes off of because everything they are doing - even if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paxton/i-love-watching-amazing-actors-and-actresses-that-you-can-t-take-your/)

[Sara Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paxton/)

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> [“You're not leaving us, are you, cousin?" "If you're going into the city, you may want to have a healer look at that chest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-aiken-2/you-re-not-leaving-us-are-you-cousin-if-you-re-going-into-the-city/)

[G A Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-aiken-2/)

> [Cricket often leaves you scratching your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anderson/cricket-often-leaves-you-scratching-your-head/)

[James Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anderson/)

> [Scratching and crawling along the floor to touch you and just when it feels right you say you found someone else to hold you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/scratching-and-crawling-along-the-floor-to-touch-you-and-just-when-it/)

[Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/)

> [Scratching is one of nature's sweetest gratifications, and nearest at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/scratching-is-one-of-nature-s-sweetest-gratifications-and-nearest-at/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [I was never good at scratching, but I was good at collecting old records. Florida was a great place for that, because it's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/i-was-never-good-at-scratching-but-i-was-good-at-collecting-old/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [Scratching and itching I'll keep biting my lip, from this pain that I'm feeling, picking wounds of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn/scratching-and-itching-i-ll-keep-biting-my-lip-from-this-pain-that-i/)

[Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn/)

> [When once the itch of literature comes over a man, nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-lover/when-once-the-itch-of-literature-comes-over-a-man-nothing-can-cure-it/)

[Samuel Lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-lover/)

> [“Eventually, I managed to peel it off, bit by bit, scratching at each piece until it was finally gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-mart-nez/eventually-i-managed-to-peel-it-off-bit-by-bit-scratching-at-each/)

[Francesca Martínez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-mart-nez/)

> [My neediness is not a hole to be filled but something beneath the skin scratching to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/my-neediness-is-not-a-hole-to-be-filled-but-something-beneath-the/)

[Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/)

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