--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is no parlor trick: There is a skull…" description: "\"“It is no parlor trick: There is a skull and, in the dark, it is glowing. Somehow it is now floating above us all. Listen: The skull is speaking. It is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/joe-meno-7831_skull_it-is-no-parlor-trick-there-is-a-skull-a_2134225.jpg" --- # It is no parlor trick: There is a skull and, in the dark… ![“It is no parlor trick: There is a skull and, in the dark, it is glowing. Somehow it is now floating above us all. Listen: The skull is speaking. It is saying your name. It knows about you and your favorite flower and all about your tenth birthday. But it does not matter. You are not convinced. For…” quote by Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/joe-meno-7831_skull_it-is-no-parlor-trick-there-is-a-skull-a_2134225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/joe-meno-7831_skull_it-is-no-parlor-trick-there-is-a-skull-a_2134225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/253/joe-meno-7831_skull_it-is-no-parlor-trick-there-is-a-skull-a_2134225.jpg) > ““It is no parlor trick: There is a skull and, in the dark, it is glowing. Somehow it is now floating above us all. Listen: The skull is speaking. It is saying your name. It knows about you and your favorite flower and all about your tenth birthday. But it does not matter. You are not convinced. For some reason, you are still full of doubt. You stare into the dark, looking for wires. Grasping for strings, you hold your hands out.”” [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A surreal monologue describing a floating skull that knows intimate personal details, yet the narrator remains doubtful and seeks tangible explanations. **In simple terms:** A floating skull claims to know you, but you still doubt and look for proof. Key Takeaway Question the unseen and seek evidence. Themes existential skepticism surrealism Mood mysterious thoughtful Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - personal introspection - creative writing - philosophical debate Key Concepts identity knowledge certainty perception Questions to Reflect On - What does the skull symbolize for you? - How do you balance intuition with empirical proof? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be too abstract for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Without a response, I just stand there like an idiot. Like she just slapped my brain out of my skull and I can’t think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-a-rogers/without-a-response-i-just-stand-there-like-an-idiot-like-she-just/) [Rebecca A. Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-a-rogers/) > [The destiny of every human being is decided by what goes on inside his skull when confronted by what goes on outside his skull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/the-destiny-of-every-human-being-is-decided-by-what-goes-on-inside/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [The three-pound organ in your skull - with its pink consistency of Jell-o - is an alien kind of computational material. It is composed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/the-three-pound-organ-in-your-skull-with-its-pink-consistency-of-jell/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [The skull is nature's sculpture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bailey/the-skull-is-nature-s-sculpture/) [David Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bailey/) > [One should not forget that there are very few surviving items from this period, often just single, small bones, a tooth, a sliver of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/one-should-not-forget-that-there-are-very-few-surviving-items-from/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [“On a shelf over the experiment table there was the inevitable skull, which the wizard put their to remind him of death, though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bellairs/on-a-shelf-over-the-experiment-table-there-was-the-inevitable-skull/) [John Bellairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bellairs/) > [I collect skulls; I think that a beautiful skull is a really good gift for a guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-heathcote/i-collect-skulls-i-think-that-a-beautiful-skull-is-a-really-good-gift/) [Bella Heathcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-heathcote/) > [“IT IS THE colour of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair which flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorcock/it-is-the-colour-of-a-bleached-skull-his-flesh-and-the-long-hair/) [Michael Moorcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorcock/) > [“Behold,' said the Voice, 'earthly beauty. It is nothing but seeming, for to the uninstructed eye the world appears fruitful and sweet, yet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/behold-said-the-voice-earthly-beauty-it-is-nothing-but-seeming-for-to/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [When you see me smash somebody's skull, you enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/when-you-see-me-smash-somebody-s-skull-you-enjoy-it/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Neither an assembly line nor a stock market nor an oil well did it, simply what came from one small skull and that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilka-chase/neither-an-assembly-line-nor-a-stock-market-nor-an-oil-well-did-it/) [Ilka Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilka-chase/) > [I have a rat inside my skull that runs on a treadmill - pitta-patta pitta-patta pitta-patta. I enjoy the company of other people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lederer/i-have-a-rat-inside-my-skull-that-runs-on-a-treadmill-pitta-patta/) [Richard Lederer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lederer/) > [With his sunglasses gone and his scarf hanging down, there was no denying that he had no flesh, he had no skin, he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/with-his-sunglasses-gone-and-his-scarf-hanging-down-there-was-no/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/most-people-don-t-realize-that-large-pieces-of-coral-which-have-been/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Hey," Dopey said when I was finished reading. "How come they never mentioned me? I'm the one who found the skeleton." "Oh, yeah," Sleepy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/hey-dopey-said-when-i-was-finished-reading-how-come-they-never/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) ## More by Joe Meno > [Our worlds are so momentary. We are along all our lives and then go off that way as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/our-worlds-are-so-momentary-we-are-along-all-our-lives-and-then-go/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [I was getting close to thirty and was trying on the idea of becoming more mature. I was reading more. I had gone out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/i-was-getting-close-to-thirty-and-was-trying-on-the-idea-of-becoming/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“wondered about what he said and then thought hard. I could never be a dick, not to Gretchen anyway, so I guess I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/wondered-about-what-he-said-and-then-thought-hard-i-could-never-be-a/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“Go to a goddamn priest if you wanna be lied to. I've seen too many of your kind slip back inside to fool myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/go-to-a-goddamn-priest-if-you-wanna-be-lied-to-i-ve-seen-too-many-of/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [Maybe that's why people have friends at all. Not because they like them so much but because they don't make them feel so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/maybe-that-s-why-people-have-friends-at-all-not-because-they-like/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“Madeline decides Jonathan is an immature, selfish asshole and that she is never talking to him again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/madeline-decides-jonathan-is-an-immature-selfish-asshole-and-that-she/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“-Are you ready to return to the outside world, Billy? -No, definitely not, sir. -Well, you can't stay here forever now, can you? -Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/are-you-ready-to-return-to-the-outside-world-billy-no-definitely-not/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“The more you like a girl, the less she likes you. It’s like fucking scientific.” “What about you and Kim?” “That’s what I’m talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/the-more-you-like-a-girl-the-less-she-likes-you-it-s-like-fucking/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“Jack: Well, I've never been to New York, but I hear it's for assholes. Odile: It's not. Jack: Well, that's what I heard. Cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/jack-well-i-ve-never-been-to-new-york-but-i-hear-it-s-for-assholes/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“How’s life?” “That’s the stupidest question I’ve ever heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/how-s-life-that-s-the-stupidest-question-i-ve-ever-heard/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [We have fun acting like this, acting like we are incredibly offended. Really, we are just bored to tears with everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/we-have-fun-acting-like-this-acting-like-we-are-incredibly-offended/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“For years, Thisbe will later think of that one moment in the field as the only time she was ever sure about anything in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/for-years-thisbe-will-later-think-of-that-one-moment-in-the-field-as/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [What I've learned is that there is nothing in this life that does not fail to disappoint us, even our own deaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-there-is-nothing-in-this-life-that-does-not/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“And he says, “I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong with me. And I think I realized that I’m average, that there’s nothing remarkable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/and-he-says-i-m-trying-to-figure-out-what-s-wrong-with-me-and-i-think/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“Without death, there is hardly any threat strong enough to truly appreciate human life. He thinks: I am as good as dead--too afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/without-death-there-is-hardly-any-threat-strong-enough-to-truly/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) [Explore all 87 Joe Meno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) ## More Skull quotes > [“Without a response, I just stand there like an idiot. Like she just slapped my brain out of my skull and I can’t think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-a-rogers/without-a-response-i-just-stand-there-like-an-idiot-like-she-just/) [Rebecca A. Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-a-rogers/) > [Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/most-people-don-t-realize-that-large-pieces-of-coral-which-have-been/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [With his sunglasses gone and his scarf hanging down, there was no denying that he had no flesh, he had no skin, he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/with-his-sunglasses-gone-and-his-scarf-hanging-down-there-was-no/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I have a rat inside my skull that runs on a treadmill - pitta-patta pitta-patta pitta-patta. I enjoy the company of other people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lederer/i-have-a-rat-inside-my-skull-that-runs-on-a-treadmill-pitta-patta/) [Richard Lederer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lederer/) > [Neither an assembly line nor a stock market nor an oil well did it, simply what came from one small skull and that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilka-chase/neither-an-assembly-line-nor-a-stock-market-nor-an-oil-well-did-it/) [Ilka Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilka-chase/) > [When you see me smash somebody's skull, you enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/when-you-see-me-smash-somebody-s-skull-you-enjoy-it/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [“Behold,' said the Voice, 'earthly beauty. It is nothing but seeming, for to the uninstructed eye the world appears fruitful and sweet, yet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/behold-said-the-voice-earthly-beauty-it-is-nothing-but-seeming-for-to/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“IT IS THE colour of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair which flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorcock/it-is-the-colour-of-a-bleached-skull-his-flesh-and-the-long-hair/) [Michael Moorcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorcock/) > [I collect skulls; I think that a beautiful skull is a really good gift for a guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-heathcote/i-collect-skulls-i-think-that-a-beautiful-skull-is-a-really-good-gift/) [Bella Heathcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-heathcote/) > [“On a shelf over the experiment table there was the inevitable skull, which the wizard put their to remind him of death, though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bellairs/on-a-shelf-over-the-experiment-table-there-was-the-inevitable-skull/) [John Bellairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bellairs/) > [One should not forget that there are very few surviving items from this period, often just single, small bones, a tooth, a sliver of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/one-should-not-forget-that-there-are-very-few-surviving-items-from/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [The skull is nature's sculpture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bailey/the-skull-is-nature-s-sculpture/) [David Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bailey/) > [The three-pound organ in your skull - with its pink consistency of Jell-o - is an alien kind of computational material. It is composed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/the-three-pound-organ-in-your-skull-with-its-pink-consistency-of-jell/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [The destiny of every human being is decided by what goes on inside his skull when confronted by what goes on outside his skull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/the-destiny-of-every-human-being-is-decided-by-what-goes-on-inside/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [Hey," Dopey said when I was finished reading. "How come they never mentioned me? I'm the one who found the skeleton." "Oh, yeah," Sleepy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/hey-dopey-said-when-i-was-finished-reading-how-come-they-never/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) Browse all 118 Skull quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is no parlor trick: There is a skull and, in the dark, it is glowing. Somehow it is now floating above us all. Listen: The skull is speaking. It is saying your name. It knows about you and your favorite flower and all about your tenth birthday. But it does not matter. You are not convinced. For some reason, you are still full of doubt. You stare into the dark, looking for wires. 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