--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s impossible to say a thing exactly…" description: "\"“It’s impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, you always have to leave something out, there are too ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/margaret-atwood-40_quote_it-s-impossible-to-say-a-thing-exactly-t_1509515.jpg" --- # It’s impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was… ![“It’s impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, you always have to leave something out, there are too many parts, sides, crosscurrents, nuances; too many gestures, which could mean this or that, too many shapes which can never be fully described, too…” quote by Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/margaret-atwood-40_quote_it-s-impossible-to-say-a-thing-exactly-t_1509515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/margaret-atwood-40_quote_it-s-impossible-to-say-a-thing-exactly-t_1509515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/margaret-atwood-40_quote_it-s-impossible-to-say-a-thing-exactly-t_1509515.jpg) > ““It’s impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, you always have to leave something out, there are too many parts, sides, crosscurrents, nuances; too many gestures, which could mean this or that, too many shapes which can never be fully described, too many flavors, in the air or on the tongue, half-colors, too many. But if you happen to be a man, sometime in the future, and you’ve made it this far, please remember: you will never be subject to the temptation or feeling you must forgive, a man, as a woman.”” [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores the impossibility of fully capturing reality in words, urging humility and forgiveness across genders **In simple terms:** Words can’t fully describe reality; forgive each other Key Takeaway Accept imperfection in communication and practice empathy Themes communication language imperfection forgiveness Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - writing - teaching - conflict resolution - cross‑cultural dialogue Key Concepts philosophy of language gender relations human fallibility Questions to Reflect On - How do we navigate misunderstandings caused by language limits? - What role does forgiveness play in gendered communication? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on precise language can hinder understanding ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nuances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuances/) ## Related quotes > [“It's impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, you always have to leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-impossible-to-say-a-thing-exactly-the-way-it-was-because-what-3/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“It’s impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, you always have to leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-impossible-to-say-a-thing-exactly-the-way-it-was-because-what-2/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“It's impossible to say a thing exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, you always have to leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-impossible-to-say-a-thing-exactly-the-way-it-was-because-what/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“But if you happen to be a man, sometime in the future, and you've made it this far, please remember: you will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/but-if-you-happen-to-be-a-man-sometime-in-the-future-and-you-ve-made-2/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“When I get out of here, if I'm ever able to set this down, in any form, even in the form of one voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-i-get-out-of-here-if-i-m-ever-able-to-set-this-down-in-any-form/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“But if you happen to be a man, sometime in the future, and you’ve made it this far, please remember: you will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/but-if-you-happen-to-be-a-man-sometime-in-the-future-and-you-ve-made/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“It's impossible to say something exactly the way it was, because what you say can never be exact, because what you say can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-impossible-to-say-something-exactly-the-way-it-was-because-what/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“It is only a gesture," he said, turning back to Shadow. 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And gestures do not mean signs or body movements, but acts of true abandon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-spirit-listens-only-when-the-speaker-speaks-in-gestures-and/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“It's one thing to forgive a man for his deeds against you, but it's quite another to let him go free when committing vile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royal-wade-kimes/it-s-one-thing-to-forgive-a-man-for-his-deeds-against-you-but-it-s/) Royal Wade Kimes > [We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-can-forgive-a-man-for-making-a-useful-thing-as-long-as-he-does-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Learning that I could forgive my father, while realizing I did not have to let the aspects that I found unhealthy, disrespectful, and wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-winsomer/learning-that-i-could-forgive-my-father-while-realizing-i-did-not/) Neal Winsomer > [I can forgive a man’s past faults, his present shortcomings, and his future failures if every minute of every day he loves me like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/i-can-forgive-a-man-s-past-faults-his-present-shortcomings-and-his/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) ## More by Margaret Atwood > [“I'm fine," said Pilar, "for the moment. 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She desperately needs to believe such pure joy is still possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-knows-she-s-deceiving-herself-about-that-but-she-prefers-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) [Explore all 2,072 Margaret Atwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## More Nuances quotes > [“Terrorists have no need for the nuances of politics. 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