--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The soul needs meaning as much as the…" description: "\"“The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.”\" — Richard Rohr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/richard-rohr-618_body-needs_the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-bo_147502.png" --- # The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food. ![“The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.” quote by Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/richard-rohr-618_body-needs_the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-bo_147502.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/richard-rohr-618_body-needs_the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-bo_147502.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/richard-rohr-618_body-needs_the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-bo_147502.png) > ““The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.”” [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans need purpose and meaning as essential as physical nourishment. **In simple terms:** Meaning is essential. Key Takeaway Seek purpose daily. Themes meaning spirituality wellbeing Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - volunteering - artistic expression - education - relationship building Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - How can you nurture meaning? A Different Perspective Meaning can be elusive and subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-needs/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-food-251093/) [Needs Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-meaning-1649831/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Soul Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-needs/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [The body needs food, warmth and water, but your heart needs more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-cameron/the-body-needs-food-warmth-and-water-but-your-heart-needs-more/) [Claire Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-cameron/) > [“The body needs food, but the mind needs people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velma-wallis/the-body-needs-food-but-the-mind-needs-people/) [Velma Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velma-wallis/) > [The soul needs attention like the body needs to breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-soul-needs-attention-like-the-body-needs-to-breath/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anyone who has property that exceed his needs, let him support someone whose property does not (meet his or her needs), and anyone whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/anyone-who-has-property-that-exceed-his-needs-let-him-support-someone/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [Curiosity needs food as much as any of us, and dies soon if denied it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-benson/curiosity-needs-food-as-much-as-any-of-us-and-dies-soon-if-denied-it/) [Stella Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-benson/) > [“A man needs food, beer, and a pot to piss in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-eames/a-man-needs-food-beer-and-a-pot-to-piss-in/) [Nicholas Eames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-eames/) > [“Why the hell would anyone be eating at the Grease Trap? I’ve seen flies die from buzzing by that place.” Andrea crossed her arms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/why-the-hell-would-anyone-be-eating-at-the-grease-trap-i-ve-seen/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Man, you look skinny. 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But if your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/how-to-figure-out-the-recipe-of-your-life-your-body-knows-when-it/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [Imagination needs food like every dog and every cat and every bird and every fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/imagination-needs-food-like-every-dog-and-every-cat-and-every-bird/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“Who needs food? Your smile alone is enough to nourish me for weeks.” He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/who-needs-food-your-smile-alone-is-enough-to-nourish-me-for-weeks-he/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [To live, a man needs food, water, and a sharp mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-zamperini/to-live-a-man-needs-food-water-and-a-sharp-mind/) [Louis Zamperini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-zamperini/) > [Militarism is in direct competition with people's needs for food, health care, and environmental protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kelly/militarism-is-in-direct-competition-with-people-s-needs-for-food/) [Petra Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kelly/) ## More by Richard Rohr > [“We have become human doings more than human beings, and the verb “rest,” as Jesus uses it, is largely foreign to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-have-become-human-doings-more-than-human-beings-and-the-verb-rest/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [In my opinion, most organized religion does neither agentic service nor relational nurturance very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-my-opinion-most-organized-religion-does-neither-agentic-service/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-we-do-not-transform-our-pain-we-will-most-assuredly-transmit-it/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [In solitude, at last, we’re able to let God define us the way we are always supposed to be defined—by relationship: the I-thou relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-solitude-at-last-we-re-able-to-let-god-define-us-the-way-we-are/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Pain and suffering that are not transformed are usually projected onto others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/pain-and-suffering-that-are-not-transformed-are-usually-projected/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“In the end, we do not so much reclaim what we have lost as discover a significantly new self in and through the process.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-the-end-we-do-not-so-much-reclaim-what-we-have-lost-as-discover-a/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [All great spirituality is about what we do with our pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will transmit it to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/all-great-spirituality-is-about-what-we-do-with-our-pain-if-we-do-not/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I would wonder if you could be a hero or heroine if you did not live in deep time, that is, Past, present, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-would-wonder-if-you-could-be-a-hero-or-heroine-if-you-did-not-live/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Nature is the one song of praise that never stops singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/nature-is-the-one-song-of-praise-that-never-stops-singing/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I believe contemplation shows us that nothing inside us is as bad as our hatred and denial of the bad. Hating and denying it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-believe-contemplation-shows-us-that-nothing-inside-us-is-as-bad-as/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [We don't have much wisdom about the second half when things really open up and end up looking a lot more progressive. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-don-t-have-much-wisdom-about-the-second-half-when-things-really/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [If you do not transform your wounds you will transmit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-you-do-not-transform-your-wounds-you-will-transmit-them/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [The real spiritual journey is work. You can make a naïve assertion that you trust in Jesus, but until it is tested a good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-real-spiritual-journey-is-work-you-can-make-a-na-ve-assertion/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“The Risen Christ is the standing icon of humanity in its final and full destiny. He is the pledge and guarantee of what God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-risen-christ-is-the-standing-icon-of-humanity-in-its-final-and/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) [Explore all 443 Richard Rohr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## More Body needs quotes > [All I can do is listen to what my body needs and feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carnie-wilson/all-i-can-do-is-listen-to-what-my-body-needs-and-feels/) [Carnie Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carnie-wilson/) > [You have to realize that your work is done by your body, and if your body is in very bad health, it's not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reynolds-price/you-have-to-realize-that-your-work-is-done-by-your-body-and-if-your/) [Reynolds Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reynolds-price/) > [“Your spirit needs self-love like the body needs oxygen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-cummins/your-spirit-needs-self-love-like-the-body-needs-oxygen/) [Pamela Cummins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-cummins/) > [The mind needs stories as much as the body needs food. There are junk stories and more nourishing ones. The food we eat becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-loy/the-mind-needs-stories-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food-there-are-junk/) [David Loy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-loy/) > [I know my body needs to have the proper nutrition so that I can keep kicking at a high level. The same goes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/i-know-my-body-needs-to-have-the-proper-nutrition-so-that-i-can-keep/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [The way to a beautiful, strong, healthy body is to start by trusting yourself right now. Let go of the struggle and surrender to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/the-way-to-a-beautiful-strong-healthy-body-is-to-start-by-trusting/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [If your body needs certain food, you have to give it to it. And as an athlete, if I'm doing 100 miles a week…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/if-your-body-needs-certain-food-you-have-to-give-it-to-it-and-as-an/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [Treat your body like a temple, not a woodshed. The mind and body work together. Your body needs to be a good support system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/treat-your-body-like-a-temple-not-a-woodshed-the-mind-and-body-work/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“There comes a time when the body’s urges, the body’s needs, dictate the life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/there-comes-a-time-when-the-body-s-urges-the-body-s-needs-dictate-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I think the most attractive people are the confident ones, regardless of their literal appearance, so I strive for that. Basically, I think you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-bateman/i-think-the-most-attractive-people-are-the-confident-ones-regardless/) [Justine Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-bateman/) > [The needs of the body are the needs of the divine spirit which lives through the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-needs-of-the-body-are-the-needs-of-the-divine-spirit-which-lives/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [I crave you, I want you, every cell in my body needs you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/musiq-soulchild/i-crave-you-i-want-you-every-cell-in-my-body-needs-you/) [Musiq Soulchild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/musiq-soulchild/) > [We can take more time and interest, and give more attention to our personal health than a hired professional can. We have learned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-saul/we-can-take-more-time-and-interest-and-give-more-attention-to-our/) [Andrew Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-saul/) > [The body has many needs. But the soul has only one: to be with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/the-body-has-many-needs-but-the-soul-has-only-one-to-be-with-god/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [The needs of the body are the needs of the divine self, which lives through the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-needs-of-the-body-are-the-needs-of-the-divine-self-which-lives/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) [Browse all 37 Body needs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-needs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Rohr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body needs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/richard-rohr-618_body-needs_the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-bo_147502.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/richard-rohr-618_body-needs_the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-bo_147502.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e7/richard-rohr-618_body-needs_the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-bo_147502.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.” — Richard Rohr", "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": "Richard Rohr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The soul needs meaning as much...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food/#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 } } ] } ```