Flesh Quote by John Crowley
““Why, what is it, how can flesh and blood come up with such stuff, how can flesh feel it. My lord life is strange. How is that Meaning comes to be? How? How does life cast it up, shape it, exude it; how does Meaning come to have physical, tangible effects, to be felt with a shock, to cause grief or longing, come to be sought for like food; pure Meaning having nothing to do with the clothes of persons or events in which it is dressed and yet not ever divorceable from some set of such clothes?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Little, Big by John Crowley, 1981
The quote ponders how abstract meaning becomes concrete, affecting emotions and actions, despite being intangible.
In simple terms: Abstract meaning becomes real and felt.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that meaning shapes experience.
Themes
philosophy
existence
emotion
Mood
thoughtful
curious
Type
philosophical
inquisitive
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- psychology
Key Concepts
meaning
embodiment
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you experience meaning physically?
- Can meaning exist without context?
A Different Perspective
Meaning can be misinterpreted or over‑intellectualized.
