--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To make meaning is to go beyond the…" description: "\"“To make meaning is to go beyond the information given. A fast-beating heart has a physical function, such as getting enough oxygen to your limbs so yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/lisa-feldman-barrett-18384_categorization_to-make-meaning-is-to-go-beyond-the-info_2863730.jpg" --- # To make meaning is to go beyond the information given. A… ![“To make meaning is to go beyond the information given. A fast-beating heart has a physical function, such as getting enough oxygen to your limbs so you can run, but categorization allows it to become an emotional experience such as happiness or fear, giving it additional meaning and functions…” quote by Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/lisa-feldman-barrett-18384_categorization_to-make-meaning-is-to-go-beyond-the-info_2863730.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/lisa-feldman-barrett-18384_categorization_to-make-meaning-is-to-go-beyond-the-info_2863730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/lisa-feldman-barrett-18384_categorization_to-make-meaning-is-to-go-beyond-the-info_2863730.jpg) > ““To make meaning is to go beyond the information given. A fast-beating heart has a physical function, such as getting enough oxygen to your limbs so you can run, but categorization allows it to become an emotional experience such as happiness or fear, giving it additional meaning and functions understood within your culture. When you experience affect with unpleasant valence and high arousal, you make meaning from it depending on how you categorize: Is it an emotional instance of fear? A physical instance of too much caffeine? A perception that the guy talking to you is a jerk? Categorization bestows new functions on biological signals, not by virtue of their physical nature but by virtue of your knowledge and the context”” [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Meaning arises when we categorize physical signals, turning them into emotions shaped by culture and knowledge. **In simple terms:** We label bodily signals to create emotions. Key Takeaway Reflect on how you label feelings. Themes psychology emotion culture categorization Mood thoughtful introspective Type educational theoretical When to use this quote - therapy - self‑awareness - cross‑cultural studies Key Concepts Cognitive science affect theory semantic meaning Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling affect emotional experience? - What cultural factors influence emotion? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex neurobiology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beating Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beating-heart/) [Categorization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/categorization/) [Categorization Allows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/categorization-allows-3878255/) [Categorize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/categorize/) [Categorize Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/categorize-emotional-3878254/) [Emotional Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-experience/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't categorize things merely to simplify my understanding. I'd rather delve into the process of unlearning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-sharda/i-don-t-categorize-things-merely-to-simplify-my-understanding-i-d/) [Nikhil Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-sharda/) > [“Our categories are important. We cannot organize a social life, a political movement, or our individual identities and desires without them. The fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rubin/our-categories-are-important-we-cannot-organize-a-social-life-a/) [Gayle Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rubin/) > [I have been putting words like 'abnormal' and 'deviant' in quotes because those categorizations are under fire now, the boundary between normal and abnormal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-truett-anderson/i-have-been-putting-words-like-abnormal-and-deviant-in-quotes-because/) [Walter Truett Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-truett-anderson/) > [Taoism has no rules. It's a suggestion for preceiving life in its wholeness, without unnessary categorization, yet enjoying the beauty of categorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/taoism-has-no-rules-it-s-a-suggestion-for-preceiving-life-in-its/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I believe that the development of language - of naming, categorization, conceptualization - destroys our ability to see as we age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ware/i-believe-that-the-development-of-language-of-naming-categorization/) [Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ware/) > [“Recommendations and categorization are both useful features to seek out when trying to make a difficult decision, because they can benefit our choices in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/recommendations-and-categorization-are-both-useful-features-to-seek/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [The best hope for peace in the world lies in the simple but far-reaching recognition that we all have many different associations and affiliations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/the-best-hope-for-peace-in-the-world-lies-in-the-simple-but-far/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [As far as this categorization of books, the way I see it is there are really a hundred-odd categories of books plus one, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/as-far-as-this-categorization-of-books-the-way-i-see-it-is-there-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Humans like nothing more than to pigeonhole the events & phenomena that punctuate their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/humans-like-nothing-more-than-to-pigeonhole-the-events-phenomena-that/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [“There are underwater cables that seem to emerge and interweave the various objects drifting and rotating in space. I can imagine their intersections and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/there-are-underwater-cables-that-seem-to-emerge-and-interweave-the/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The human compulsion to group people and objects together was ingrained in our being since we evolved. We need to group things, group the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-caruso/the-human-compulsion-to-group-people-and-objects-together-was/) [Charlie Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-caruso/) > [A categorization implies a hierarchical way of seeing things. Life is really relational, not hierarchical. Hierarchical is a human way of looking at things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-categorization-implies-a-hierarchical-way-of-seeing-things-life-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I have worked really hard to defy categorization, to break down a taxonomy whenever it comes my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/i-have-worked-really-hard-to-defy-categorization-to-break-down-a/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [Maturity is having the ability to escape categorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-rexroth/maturity-is-having-the-ability-to-escape-categorization/) [Kenneth Rexroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-rexroth/) > [There's something to me with categorization - it stops you from thinking about the thing that is actually happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-lily-amirpour/there-s-something-to-me-with-categorization-it-stops-you-from/) [Ana Lily Amirpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-lily-amirpour/) ## More by Lisa Feldman Barrett > [“Your body-budgeting regions can therefore trick your brain into believing that there is tissue damage, regardless of what is happening in your body. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/your-body-budgeting-regions-can-therefore-trick-your-brain-into/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“The word “smile” doesn’t even exist in Latin or Ancient Greek. Smiling was an invention of the Middle Ages, and broad, toothy-mouthed smiles (with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/the-word-smile-doesn-t-even-exist-in-latin-or-ancient-greek-smiling/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“Our words allow us to enter each other’s affective niches, even at extremely long distances. You can regulate your friend’s body budget (and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/our-words-allow-us-to-enter-each-other-s-affective-niches-even-at/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“The human brain is a cultural artifact. We don't load culture into a virgin brain like software loading into a computer; rather, culture helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/the-human-brain-is-a-cultural-artifact-we-don-t-load-culture-into-a/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“Your brain is shaped by the realities of the world that you find yourself in, including the social world made by agreement among people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/your-brain-is-shaped-by-the-realities-of-the-world-that-you-find/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“In other words, the Himba participants categorized facial movements as behaviors rather than inferring mental states or feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/in-other-words-the-himba-participants-categorized-facial-movements-as/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“This is another basis for my frequent claim, “You are an architect of your experience.” You are indeed partly responsible for your actions, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/this-is-another-basis-for-my-frequent-claim-you-are-an-architect-of/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“A similar bout of affective realism gave birth to Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law. This law permits the use of deadly force in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/a-similar-bout-of-affective-realism-gave-birth-to-florida-s/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“Western culture has some common wisdom associated with these ideas. Don’t be materialistic. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Sticks and stones. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/western-culture-has-some-common-wisdom-associated-with-these-ideas/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“We already have intriguing evidence that some types of chronic pain work by prediction. Animals who have stress or injury early in life become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/we-already-have-intriguing-evidence-that-some-types-of-chronic-pain/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“But one thing is certain: every day in America, thousands of people appear before a jury of their peers and hope they will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/but-one-thing-is-certain-every-day-in-america-thousands-of-people/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“Anger is stereotypically normal for men because they are supposed to be aggressors. Women are supposed to be victims, and good victims shouldn’t become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/anger-is-stereotypically-normal-for-men-because-they-are-supposed-to/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“It is actually a policy issue relevant to the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to free speech. The First Amendment was founded on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/it-is-actually-a-policy-issue-relevant-to-the-first-amendment-which/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“Scientific revolutions tend to emerge not from a sudden discovery but by asking better questions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/scientific-revolutions-tend-to-emerge-not-from-a-sudden-discovery-but/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [“I can notice a tiny weed forcing its way through a crack in the sidewalk, proving yet again that nature cannot be tamed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/i-can-notice-a-tiny-weed-forcing-its-way-through-a-crack-in-the/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) [Explore all 35 Lisa Feldman Barrett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) ## More Categorization quotes > [“I don't categorize things merely to simplify my understanding. I'd rather delve into the process of unlearning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-sharda/i-don-t-categorize-things-merely-to-simplify-my-understanding-i-d/) [Nikhil Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-sharda/) > [Maturity is having the ability to escape categorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-rexroth/maturity-is-having-the-ability-to-escape-categorization/) [Kenneth Rexroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-rexroth/) > [I have worked really hard to defy categorization, to break down a taxonomy whenever it comes my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/i-have-worked-really-hard-to-defy-categorization-to-break-down-a/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [A categorization implies a hierarchical way of seeing things. Life is really relational, not hierarchical. Hierarchical is a human way of looking at things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-categorization-implies-a-hierarchical-way-of-seeing-things-life-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The human compulsion to group people and objects together was ingrained in our being since we evolved. We need to group things, group the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-caruso/the-human-compulsion-to-group-people-and-objects-together-was/) [Charlie Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-caruso/) > [“There are underwater cables that seem to emerge and interweave the various objects drifting and rotating in space. I can imagine their intersections and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/there-are-underwater-cables-that-seem-to-emerge-and-interweave-the/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“Humans like nothing more than to pigeonhole the events & phenomena that punctuate their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/humans-like-nothing-more-than-to-pigeonhole-the-events-phenomena-that/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [As far as this categorization of books, the way I see it is there are really a hundred-odd categories of books plus one, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/as-far-as-this-categorization-of-books-the-way-i-see-it-is-there-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [The best hope for peace in the world lies in the simple but far-reaching recognition that we all have many different associations and affiliations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/the-best-hope-for-peace-in-the-world-lies-in-the-simple-but-far/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [“Recommendations and categorization are both useful features to seek out when trying to make a difficult decision, because they can benefit our choices in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/recommendations-and-categorization-are-both-useful-features-to-seek/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [I believe that the development of language - of naming, categorization, conceptualization - destroys our ability to see as we age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ware/i-believe-that-the-development-of-language-of-naming-categorization/) [Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ware/) > [Taoism has no rules. It's a suggestion for preceiving life in its wholeness, without unnessary categorization, yet enjoying the beauty of categorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/taoism-has-no-rules-it-s-a-suggestion-for-preceiving-life-in-its/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I have been putting words like 'abnormal' and 'deviant' in quotes because those categorizations are under fire now, the boundary between normal and abnormal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-truett-anderson/i-have-been-putting-words-like-abnormal-and-deviant-in-quotes-because/) [Walter Truett Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-truett-anderson/) > [“Our categories are important. We cannot organize a social life, a political movement, or our individual identities and desires without them. The fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rubin/our-categories-are-important-we-cannot-organize-a-social-life-a/) [Gayle Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rubin/) > [There's something to me with categorization - it stops you from thinking about the thing that is actually happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-lily-amirpour/there-s-something-to-me-with-categorization-it-stops-you-from/) [Ana Lily Amirpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-lily-amirpour/) [Browse all 43 Categorization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/categorization/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To make meaning is to go beyond the information given. 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