--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the heart? It is not human and it…" description: "\"What is the heart? It is not human and it is not imaginary. I call it you.\" — Rumi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/rumi-56_heart_what-is-the-heart-it-is-not-human-and-it_1884907.jpg" --- # What is the heart? It is not human and it is not… ![“What is the heart? It is not human and it is not imaginary. I call it you.” quote by Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/rumi-56_heart_what-is-the-heart-it-is-not-human-and-it_1884907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/rumi-56_heart_what-is-the-heart-it-is-not-human-and-it_1884907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/rumi-56_heart_what-is-the-heart-it-is-not-human-and-it_1884907.jpg) > “What is the heart? It is not human and it is not imaginary. I call it you.” [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The heart is neither purely human nor imaginary; it is identified with the self, suggesting a personal, lived experience. **In simple terms:** The heart is you, not just human or imagined. Key Takeaway Explore the self as the seat of feeling. Themes spirituality identity philosophy Mood introspective poetic Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - creative writing - personal reflection Key Concepts Mysticism Selfhood Existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does 'the heart' represent to you? - How does this view affect your self‑understanding? A Different Perspective Interpretations may vary widely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-human-416177/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human Imaginary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-imaginary-2055553/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Imaginary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginary/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [This is a work of fiction. All the characters in it, human and otherwise, are imaginary, excepting only certain of the fairy folk, whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/this-is-a-work-of-fiction-all-the-characters-in-it-human-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The way from God to a human heart is through a human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-d-gordon/the-way-from-god-to-a-human-heart-is-through-a-human-heart/) [S. D Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-d-gordon/) > [Every human heart is human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/every-human-heart-is-human/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [You are building great dreams upon the frail, frail heart of a human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-building-great-dreams-upon-the-frail-frail-heart-of-a-human/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The human heart would never pass the drunk test… If you took the human heart out of the human body and put a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-human-heart-would-never-pass-the-drunk-test-if-you-took-the-human/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“You can deal with the brain, as I say; it looks sensible, whereas the heart, the human heart, I'm afraid, looks a fucking mess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-can-deal-with-the-brain-as-i-say-it-looks-sensible-whereas-the/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [The passion to explore is at the heart of being human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-passion-to-explore-is-at-the-heart-of-being-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [One who understands the relationships between the human heart and the human mind will always out-hack those who chase after an ever-changing technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/one-who-understands-the-relationships-between-the-human-heart-and-the/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Equipment has heart, human heart, inside it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-suzuki/equipment-has-heart-human-heart-inside-it/) [Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/) > [Where beats a heart within a human breast, There be Thou present, and Thy power adored! And oh! since all are doom'd one common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-montgomery/where-beats-a-heart-within-a-human-breast-there-be-thou-present-and-2/) [Robert Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-montgomery/) > [Philanthropy lies at the heart of human greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-ryan/philanthropy-lies-at-the-heart-of-human-greatness/) [Patrick J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-ryan/) > [The true heart of all human beings is the lover of what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-true-heart-of-all-human-beings-is-the-lover-of-what-is/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [To get closer to Truth and Right, we need a beautiful and soft heart. Every human learns one day or another to become softer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/to-get-closer-to-truth-and-right-we-need-a-beautiful-and-soft-heart/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [Where beats a heart within a human breast, There be Thou present, and Thy power adored! And oh! since all one common race are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-montgomery/where-beats-a-heart-within-a-human-breast-there-be-thou-present-and/) [Robert Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-montgomery/) > [You can be cold like a rock, you can be as strong as a lion but you have the heart of a human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-be-cold-like-a-rock-you-can-be-as-strong-as-a-lion-but-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Rumi > [The love religion is all that is written here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-love-religion-is-all-that-is-written-here/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There is a morning inside you waiting to burst open into light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-is-a-morning-inside-you-waiting-to-burst-open-into-light/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There is something to be said for anyone who sits alone with dignity and silently begs for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-is-something-to-be-said-for-anyone-who-sits-alone-with-dignity/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Tis easy to break an idol, very easy: to regard the self as easy to subdue is folly, folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/tis-easy-to-break-an-idol-very-easy-to-regard-the-self-as-easy-to/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Today, let us swim wildly, joyously in gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/today-let-us-swim-wildly-joyously-in-gratitude/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I have no name for what circles so perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-have-no-name-for-what-circles-so-perfectly/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [What draws friends together does not conform to the laws of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/what-draws-friends-together-does-not-conform-to-the-laws-of-nature/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We are born of love. Love is our mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-are-born-of-love-love-is-our-mother/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Water, stories, the body, all the things we do, are mediums that hid and show what's hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/water-stories-the-body-all-the-things-we-do-are-mediums-that-hid-and/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“I came back to You because I could not find the kind and decent things I found in You anywhere else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-came-back-to-you-because-i-could-not-find-the-kind-and-decent/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) [Explore all 1,818 Rumi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More Heart quotes > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“He held her like a new woman and what she felt felt almost as good as love had, and each of them called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/he-held-her-like-a-new-woman-and-what-she-felt-felt-almost-as-good-as/) [Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/) [Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) [Rena Kornreich Gelissen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-kornreich-gelissen/) > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Love will fan the flame, and that flame will warm the heart that's waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/love-will-fan-the-flame-and-that-flame-will-warm-the-heart-that-s/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) [Browse all 45,172 Heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is the heart? It is not human and it is not imaginary. 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