--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I say one thing, you write another, and…" description: "\"I say one thing, you write another, and those who read you understand still something else! I say: cross, death, kingdom of heaven, God...and what do y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_crosses_i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-th_104775.jpg" --- # I say one thing, you write another, and those who read you… ![“I say one thing, you write another, and those who read you understand still something else! I say: cross, death, kingdom of heaven, God...and what do you understand? Each of you attaches his own suffering, interests and desires to each of these sacred words, and my words disappear, my soul is…” quote by Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_crosses_i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-th_104775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_crosses_i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-th_104775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_crosses_i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-th_104775.jpg) > “I say one thing, you write another, and those who read you understand still something else! I say: cross, death, kingdom of heaven, God...and what do you understand? Each of you attaches his own suffering, interests and desires to each of these sacred words, and my words disappear, my soul is lost. I can't stand it any longer!” [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language is filtered through each reader’s biases, so the author’s intent can be lost or distorted. **In simple terms:** Words become what listeners project onto them. Key Takeaway Interpretation is subjective. Themes communication interpretation subjectivity Mood frustrated reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - literary criticism - political speeches - media analysis Key Concepts semantic distortion authorial intent Practical Applications - Clarify context when writing - Encourage active listening Questions to Reflect On - How can writers safeguard their intended meaning? - What role does audience bias play in understanding? A Different Perspective Even with clear intent, some meanings are inevitably ambiguous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Kingdom of heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-heaven/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“God will understand, my lord. And if he doesn't, then he is not God and we need not worry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-will-understand-my-lord-and-if-he-doesn-t-then-he-is-not-god-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am about to impart to you the sacred words my father gave to me. It’s the five responses that will get you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-am-about-to-impart-to-you-the-sacred-words-my-father-gave-to-me-it/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-don-t-think-writers-are-sacred-but-words-are-they-deserve-respect-2/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [What will be / the sacred words?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amiri-baraka/what-will-be-the-sacred-words/) [Amiri Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amiri-baraka/) > [Liberty and equality--lovely and sacred words!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-mazzini/liberty-and-equality-lovely-and-sacred-words/) [Giuseppe Mazzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-mazzini/) > [“When I say I will never leave you nor forsake you, I am not making up some white man's words that mean nothing, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-b-miller/when-i-say-i-will-never-leave-you-nor-forsake-you-i-am-not-making-up/) [Serena B. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-b-miller/) > [“Poetry is above all a concentration of the power of language, which is the power of our ultimate relationship to everything in the universe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/poetry-is-above-all-a-concentration-of-the-power-of-language-which-is-2/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“At the moment of death, the soul's impressions are similar to those of initiates in the ways of the Great Mysteries. First they rush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-werber/at-the-moment-of-death-the-soul-s-impressions-are-similar-to-those-of/) [Bernard Werber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-werber/) > [The land is sacred. These words are at the core of your being. The land is our mother, the rivers our blood. Take our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-brave-bird/the-land-is-sacred-these-words-are-at-the-core-of-your-being-the-land/) [Mary Brave Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-brave-bird/) > [Words... They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/words-they-re-innocent-neutral-precise-standing-for-this-describing/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-don-t-think-writers-are-sacred-but-words-are-they-deserve-respect/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“Mediate on the word of God day and night, then be careful to write the sacred words on your heart. And find grace to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/mediate-on-the-word-of-god-day-and-night-then-be-careful-to-write-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I don't play baseball first. I put Christ first in my life. I put my family behind Him and I put baseball down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/i-don-t-play-baseball-first-i-put-christ-first-in-my-life-i-put-my/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More by Nikos Kazantzakis > [“We gaze with perplexity at the highest part of the spiral of force that governs the Universe. And we call it God. We could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/we-gaze-with-perplexity-at-the-highest-part-of-the-spiral-of-force/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-collect-my-tools-sight-smell-touch-taste-hearing-intellect-night/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Everything in this world has a hidden meaning, I thought. Men, animals, trees, stars, they are all hieroglyphics; woe to anyone who begins to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/everything-in-this-world-has-a-hidden-meaning-i-thought-men-animals/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Good Lord, how can the rich bear to die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/good-lord-how-can-the-rich-bear-to-die/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“Religion is opium for the masses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/religion-is-opium-for-the-masses/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I possess no weapon but love. With that I have come to do battle. Help me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-possess-no-weapon-but-love-with-that-i-have-come-to-do-battle-help/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Today, any action anywhere on earth has an immediate repercussion on all five continents. News of a victory of the Eastern armies in Morocco…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/today-any-action-anywhere-on-earth-has-an-immediate-repercussion-on/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“The Lord preserve us from sainthood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/the-lord-preserve-us-from-sainthood/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“You have everything but one thing: madness. A man needs a little madness or else - he never dares cut the rope and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/you-have-everything-but-one-thing-madness-a-man-needs-a-little/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“A man needs a little madness, or else... he never dares cut the rope and be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/a-man-needs-a-little-madness-or-else-he-never-dares-cut-the-rope-and/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [There's a devil inside me which cries, "You're not the son of the Carpenter, you're the son of King David! You are not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/there-s-a-devil-inside-me-which-cries-you-re-not-the-son-of-the/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Lions and Lambs, love and force, light and fire, good and evil: all things climb the same mountain, the mountain of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/lions-and-lambs-love-and-force-light-and-fire-good-and-evil-all/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“No, you're not free," he said. "The string you're tied to is perhaps no longer than other people's. That's all. You're on a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/no-you-re-not-free-he-said-the-string-you-re-tied-to-is-perhaps-no/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [The masses do not see the Sirens. They do not hear songs in the air. Blind, deaf, stooping, they pull at their oars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/the-masses-do-not-see-the-sirens-they-do-not-hear-songs-in-the-air/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Three kinds of souls, three prayers: 1) I am a bow in your hands, Lord. Draw me, lest I rot. 2) Do not overdraw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/three-kinds-of-souls-three-prayers-1-i-am-a-bow-in-your-hands-lord/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) [Explore all 275 Nikos Kazantzakis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) ## More Crosses quotes > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [“To my fellow Crosses, keep the faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/to-my-fellow-crosses-keep-the-faith/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [I told my mom I was going to do a movie about a son who hears a story about his mom and takes her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelman/i-told-my-mom-i-was-going-to-do-a-movie-about-a-son-who-hears-a-story/) [Dan Fogelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelman/) > [I think in black communities today we need to encourage a lot more cross racial organizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/i-think-in-black-communities-today-we-need-to-encourage-a-lot-more/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [Never forget that the road to Heaven is the Way of the Cross. Jesus has called us to follow Him, bearing the Cross as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/never-forget-that-the-road-to-heaven-is-the-way-of-the-cross-jesus/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) Browse all 2,897 Crosses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I say one thing, you write another, and those who read you understand still something else! I say: cross, death, kingdom of heaven, God...and what do you understand? Each of you attaches his own suffering, interests and desires to each of these sacred words, and my words disappear, my soul is lost. I can't stand it any longer!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nikos Kazantzakis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-those-who-read-you-understand/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crosses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-those-who-read-you-understand/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_crosses_i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-th_104775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_crosses_i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-th_104775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_crosses_i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-th_104775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I say one thing, you write another, and those who read you understand still something else! I say: cross…” — Nikos Kazantzakis", "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": "Nikos Kazantzakis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I say one thing, you write...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-those-who-read-you-understand/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-those-who-read-you-understand/#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 } } ] } ```