---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is a tomato. And while it's true…"
description: "\"“Love is a tomato. And while it's true that I can live without a tomato, I could sure go for some ketchup.”\" — Jarod Kintz"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/jarod-kintz-2_love_love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-tha_1600403.jpg"
---

#  Love is a tomato. And while it's true that I can live…

![“Love is a tomato. And while it's true that I can live without a tomato, I could sure go for some ketchup.” quote by Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/jarod-kintz-2_love_love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-tha_1600403.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/jarod-kintz-2_love_love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-tha_1600403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/jarod-kintz-2_love_love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-tha_1600403.jpg)

> ““Love is a tomato. And while it's true that I can live without a tomato, I could sure go for some ketchup.””

[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.

Love is compared to a tomato, essential yet optional, with ketchup representing a desired addition.

**In simple terms:** Love is like a tomato, optional but enhanced by ketchup.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate added flavors.

Themes

relationships metaphor desire

Mood

thoughtful warm

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

- dating
- friendship
- romance

Key Concepts

culinary analogy emotional nuance

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the ketchup symbolize?
- Can love exist without 'extras'?

A Different Perspective

Metaphor may oversimplify love.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Ketchup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ketchup/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Tomato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-tomato-4637981/) [Sure Ketchup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure-ketchup-6084551/) [Tomato Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomato-sure-6084552/) [Tomato True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomato-true-6084553/)

## Related quotes

> [“You love a woman, you love a man, you love a tomato. God is happy, because he created love.»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-bell/you-love-a-woman-you-love-a-man-you-love-a-tomato-god-is-happy/)

[Jay Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-bell/)

> [“I met a man with no forehead and receding eyebrows. He had ketchup crusted on his eyelids. I can't remember what we talked about,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-met-a-man-with-no-forehead-and-receding-eyebrows-he-had-ketchup/)

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

> [“Blood may be thicker than water, but it's certainly not as thick as ketchup. Nor does it go as well with French fries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/blood-may-be-thicker-than-water-but-it-s-certainly-not-as-thick-as/)

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

> [“If love were a variety of dog, I’d want mine hot. I’d take my love with ketchup and mustard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-love-were-a-variety-of-dog-i-d-want-mine-hot-i-d-take-my-love-with/)

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

> [“I love like an albino. But I don’t want to get sunburned, so would you please pass the ketchup?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-love-like-an-albino-but-i-don-t-want-to-get-sunburned-so-would-you/)

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

> [“I keep the ketchup in the fridge, though from now on I’m going to keep in the bottle. Less messy, I figure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-keep-the-ketchup-in-the-fridge-though-from-now-on-i-m-going-to-keep/)

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

> [I am ketchup conscious, so I do carry ketchup around with me. The best one is the Heinz Organic Ketchup Opens a New Window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-holt/i-am-ketchup-conscious-so-i-do-carry-ketchup-around-with-me-the-best/)

[Olivia Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-holt/)

> [“a hot dog shop where ketchup was forbidden,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-wise/a-hot-dog-shop-where-ketchup-was-forbidden/)

[A.R. Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-wise/)

> [Usually, turkey burger recipes result in something so lifeless and tasteless that drowning one in ketchup (that most perfect and delicious of condiments) doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/usually-turkey-burger-recipes-result-in-something-so-lifeless-and/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [They always give you three ketchup packets. When you go back up and ask for more, the guy handing them out always treats you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/they-always-give-you-three-ketchup-packets-when-you-go-back-up-and/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I'm not a person who writes really abstract things with oblique references. I look at abstraction like I look at condiments. Give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-m-not-a-person-who-writes-really-abstract-things-with-oblique/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [My thoughts seem thick, ketchup stuck in a bottle. Like trying to feel someone's face while wearing goosedown mittens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/my-thoughts-seem-thick-ketchup-stuck-in-a-bottle-like-trying-to-feel/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [Ketchup is great on hamburgers, but if some gets on your shirt, that does not make your shirt also a hamburger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/ketchup-is-great-on-hamburgers-but-if-some-gets-on-your-shirt-that/)

[Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/)

> [“Hipster Chick personally brings it to the table, and there’s a phone number written in ketchup on his plate. He looks at her. Looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellen-burden/hipster-chick-personally-brings-it-to-the-table-and-there-s-a-phone/)

[Kellen Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellen-burden/)

> [No matter how old you are, when the ketchup bottle farts, it's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-old-you-are-when-the-ketchup-bottle-farts-it-s-funny/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## 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/)

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

> [“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/)

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

> [“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/)

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

> [“Nothing is and isn’t; nothing is and isn’t—nothing itself is, and at the same time, nothing isn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-itself-is-and-at/)

[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/)

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

> [“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/)

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

> [“The best part about being kidnapped is being blindfolded and getting kicked into the trunk of a car. Boy, normally I have to beg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-best-part-about-being-kidnapped-is-being-blindfolded-and-getting/)

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

> [“Orafoura once told me that if I were a car, I’d be a Ferrari. One that was scratched smashed, rusted, and stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/orafoura-once-told-me-that-if-i-were-a-car-i-d-be-a-ferrari-one-that/)

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

> [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/)

[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 Food quotes

> [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/)

[Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/)

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/)

[David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/)

> [“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/)

> [“My God, Joseph, your toasted sandwiches are the fucking shit. You do know that right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ashworth/my-god-joseph-your-toasted-sandwiches-are-the-fucking-shit-you-do/)

[Beth Ashworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ashworth/)

> [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/)

> [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/)

[Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [“if you cannot control your hunger and appetite, good luck managing your blood chemistry, metabolism, waistline, and, in the bigger picture, the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/if-you-cannot-control-your-hunger-and-appetite-good-luck-managing/)

[David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/)

> [“Hungarian Proverb: A dish of cabbages can be heated when it grows cold, but it will never taste the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mourid-barghouti/hungarian-proverb-a-dish-of-cabbages-can-be-heated-when-it-grows-cold/)

[Mourid Barghouti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mourid-barghouti/)

> [“The phrase “low and slow” was coined to describe the relatively low temperatures used for smoking and the lengthy amount of time it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-reader/the-phrase-low-and-slow-was-coined-to-describe-the-relatively-low/)

[Ted Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-reader/)

> [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/)

[David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/)

> [“Live is like a box of chocolates, we are all just waiting for a hungry hand to come down and grab us and eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunshine/live-is-like-a-box-of-chocolates-we-are-all-just-waiting-for-a-hungry/)

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

> [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/)

[Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/)

> [“Pumpkin Flavor Latte Scrub   Ingredients 1 ½ cups of brown sugar 2 tablespoons of ground coffee 1-2 tablespoons of pumpkin spice ¾ -1…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hilton/pumpkin-flavor-latte-scrub-ingredients-1-cups-of-brown-sugar-2/)

[Kate Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hilton/)

[Browse all 34,183 Food quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Love is a tomato. And while it's true that I can live without a tomato, I could sure go for some ketchup.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jarod Kintz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-that-i-can-live-without-a-tomato/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Food"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-that-i-can-live-without-a-tomato/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/jarod-kintz-2_love_love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-tha_1600403.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/jarod-kintz-2_love_love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-tha_1600403.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/jarod-kintz-2_love_love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-tha_1600403.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Love is a tomato. And while it's true that I can live without a tomato, I could sure go for some ketchup.” — Jarod Kintz",
                "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": "Jarod Kintz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Love is a tomato. And while...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-that-i-can-live-without-a-tomato/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-tomato-and-while-it-s-true-that-i-can-live-without-a-tomato/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
