--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's like breathing in and out to me…" description: "\"It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone who isn't there. Because it has to be addressed to somebody - not a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/norman-maccaig-15658_breathing_it-s-like-breathing-in-and-out-to-me-it_1871752.jpg" --- # It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a… ![“It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone who isn't there. Because it has to be addressed to somebody - not a particular person, or very rarely.” quote by Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/norman-maccaig-15658_breathing_it-s-like-breathing-in-and-out-to-me-it_1871752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/norman-maccaig-15658_breathing_it-s-like-breathing-in-and-out-to-me-it_1871752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/norman-maccaig-15658_breathing_it-s-like-breathing-in-and-out-to-me-it_1871752.jpg) > “It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone who isn't there. Because it has to be addressed to somebody - not a particular person, or very rarely.” [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels an empty dialogue, addressing an absent listener, highlighting isolation and the need for connection. **In simple terms:** Talking to no one feels empty. Key Takeaway Seek genuine communication. Themes loneliness communication existence artistic expression Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - therapy sessions - public speaking Key Concepts solitude dialogue imaginary audience Questions to Reflect On - Who do you truly address when you speak? - What fills the silence? A Different Perspective May overstate the emptiness; could be metaphorical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) ## Related quotes > [Playing drums, for me, is like breathing. It's like thinking. It's like eating. It's like walking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-jordison/playing-drums-for-me-is-like-breathing-it-s-like-thinking-it-s-like/) [Joey Jordison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-jordison/) > [If you ask someone if they like music, they look at you strangely. It seems to be a universal given. Like asking someone if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-siberry/if-you-ask-someone-if-they-like-music-they-look-at-you-strangely-it/) [Jane Siberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-siberry/) > [My God! The English language is a form of communication! Conversation isn't just crossfire where you shoot and get shot at! Where you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/my-god-the-english-language-is-a-form-of-communication-conversation/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“Breathing is like riding a bicycle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/breathing-is-like-riding-a-bicycle/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [As soon as it's behind computers and machines, which the majority of the planet loves, I find it cold. I need to hear breathing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-doillon/as-soon-as-it-s-behind-computers-and-machines-which-the-majority-of/) [Lou Doillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-doillon/) > [A conversation isn't a competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/a-conversation-isn-t-a-competition/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [If you never mention the Lord in conversation with each other,isn't that proof that you aren't so concerned about Him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/if-you-never-mention-the-lord-in-conversation-with-each-other-isn-t/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Conversation isn't about proving a point; true conversation is about going on a journey with the people you are speaking with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-maye/conversation-isn-t-about-proving-a-point-true-conversation-is-about/) [Ricky Maye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-maye/) > [Every time I finish a record, it's sort of feels like, "I can't believe that I'm hanging out and having a conversation, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/every-time-i-finish-a-record-it-s-sort-of-feels-like-i-can-t-believe/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [Over the last half century the television interview has given us some of TV's most heart-stopping and memorable moments. On the surface it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frost/over-the-last-half-century-the-television-interview-has-given-us-some/) [David Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frost/) > [“I want you to notice that right now, this instant, we are having a conversation. It’s really not hard, now, is it? Think you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinley-macgregor/i-want-you-to-notice-that-right-now-this-instant-we-are-having-a/) [Kinley MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinley-macgregor/) > [A lot of people can't stand touring but to me it's like breathing. I do it because I'm driven to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/a-lot-of-people-can-t-stand-touring-but-to-me-it-s-like-breathing-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Anyone else feel like that? Like your life's a big act. Like you're trying to be a man when you're just a scared kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-flinn/anyone-else-feel-like-that-like-your-life-s-a-big-act-like-you-re/) [Alex Flinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-flinn/) > [Eating and sleeping are not like loving and breathing. Washing is not like eating and sleeping. Believing is like breathing and loving. Religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/eating-and-sleeping-are-not-like-loving-and-breathing-washing-is-not/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) ## More by Norman MacCaig > [“The day Was like the buzzard on the pine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/the-day-was-like-the-buzzard-on-the-pine/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [In fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and people like that. At first I was interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/in-fact-a-lot-of-them-i-think-are-absolute-baloney-those-charles/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk like me regardless of age or sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/if-i-wrote-a-play-with-four-characters-every-single-one-of-them-would/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I don't think of myself all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-don-t-think-of-myself-all-the-time/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [And it's impossible for me to read Henry James.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-it-s-impossible-for-me-to-read-henry-james/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [And the second question, can poetry be taught? I didn't think so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-the-second-question-can-poetry-be-taught-i-didn-t-think-so/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/anybody-who-writes-doesn-t-like-to-be-misunderstood/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry side, that's the prose side, that's the fishing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/all-those-authors-there-most-of-whom-of-course-i-ve-never-met-that-s/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions for a particular poet - sometimes it lasts for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-because-i-take-great-passions/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [But I hang on to books. I love them. I even think they're very nice decor in a room - far better than paintings...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/but-i-hang-on-to-books-i-love-them-i-even-think-they-re-very-nice/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I find it's impossible for me to read Proust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-find-it-s-impossible-for-me-to-read-proust/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-was-very-interested-in-american-poetry-for-many-years-much-less-now/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the last ten years I have lost seven or eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/a-terrible-thing-about-getting-oldish-is-that-your-friends-start/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I learned words, I learned words; but half of them died from lack of exercise. And the ones I use often look at me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-learned-words-i-learned-words-but-half-of-them-died-from-lack-of/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [Well, I love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in killing a fish. A lot of men are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/well-i-love-fishing-i-wouldn-t-kill-a-fly-myself-but-i-ve-no/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) [Explore all 42 Norman MacCaig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone who isn't there. 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