--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The food created a nice topcoat. It…" description: "\"“The food created a nice topcoat. It helped to smooth down the ragged bits. Sealed off the parts of me that were broken. It filled in all the holes. Co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/shonda-rhimes-1866_food_the-food-created-a-nice-topcoat-it-helpe_974141.jpg" --- # The food created a nice topcoat. It helped to smooth down… ![“The food created a nice topcoat. It helped to smooth down the ragged bits. Sealed off the parts of me that were broken. It filled in all the holes. Covered up the cracks. Yep, I just put some food on top of any and everything that bothered me. The food just spackled right on in there. And presto!…” quote by Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/shonda-rhimes-1866_food_the-food-created-a-nice-topcoat-it-helpe_974141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/shonda-rhimes-1866_food_the-food-created-a-nice-topcoat-it-helpe_974141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/shonda-rhimes-1866_food_the-food-created-a-nice-topcoat-it-helpe_974141.jpg) > ““The food created a nice topcoat. It helped to smooth down the ragged bits. Sealed off the parts of me that were broken. It filled in all the holes. Covered up the cracks. Yep, I just put some food on top of any and everything that bothered me. The food just spackled right on in there. And presto! Underneath the food, everything inside me was smooth and cold and numb. I was dead inside and that was good.”” [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Food is used as a metaphor for coping mechanisms that mask inner pain, creating a temporary sense of numbness and peace. **In simple terms:** Coping by covering pain with distractions. Key Takeaway Recognize and address underlying wounds. Themes coping pain masking healing selfcare Mood somber reflective Type personal metaphorical When to use this quote - stress relief - emotional trauma - self‑medication - creative expression Key Concepts psychology metaphor addiction Questions to Reflect On - What are the hidden wounds you mask? - How can you find healthier ways to soothe pain? A Different Perspective Reliance on external fixes can prevent genuine healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-inside/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) ## Related quotes > [“In that moment, cooking became a greater joy than I had ever known. I was telling a story through the food we created. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-currence/in-that-moment-cooking-became-a-greater-joy-than-i-had-ever-known-i/) John Currence > [I believe in power of speech, and food inside prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/popo-santos/i-believe-in-power-of-speech-and-food-inside-prison/) Popo Santos > [There's all kinds of research that shows children operate best if they start the day with some proper food inside them - it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/there-s-all-kinds-of-research-that-shows-children-operate-best-if/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [“Life has changed a lot, you know. You didn’t used to get all this food inside food inside food when I was a girl.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/life-has-changed-a-lot-you-know-you-didn-t-used-to-get-all-this-food/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“All the feelings Are dead inside me And I want them To be alive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/all-the-feelings-are-dead-inside-me-and-i-want-them-to-be-alive/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“What good is safety if you're dead inside?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-jordan/what-good-is-safety-if-you-re-dead-inside/) [Sophie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-jordan/) > [I wish I could explain it so someone could understand it. I'm afraid it's something I can't put into words. There's just this heavy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-wish-i-could-explain-it-so-someone-could-understand-it-i-m-afraid/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [“He's a Stone Dead gang member. He'll be hanging with the other Deads, and the Deads own the fifth block of Stark. Their color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/he-s-a-stone-dead-gang-member-he-ll-be-hanging-with-the-other-deads/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“And now your dead inside, still you wonder why, when your on the edge and falling off, its all over, for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-days-grace/and-now-your-dead-inside-still-you-wonder-why-when-your-on-the-edge/) [Three Days Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-days-grace/) > [“Because that’s how you become a bounty hunter. It’s not that you like the killing work. That’s just to begin with. It’s that, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cole/because-that-s-how-you-become-a-bounty-hunter-it-s-not-that-you-like/) [Nick Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cole/) > [Dont fucking ask me if I'm OK, I dont want to have to lie. Dont ask me if I'm happy, I dont want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/dont-fucking-ask-me-if-i-m-ok-i-dont-want-to-have-to-lie-dont-ask-me/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [“He ignored her, still catching rain in his withered hands. “The mortal life is as futile as a raindrop.” He shook his head wearily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michayla-roth/he-ignored-her-still-catching-rain-in-his-withered-hands-the-mortal/) [Michayla Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michayla-roth/) > [Being hurt sucks but at least you know you are not dead inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-hurt-sucks-but-at-least-you-know-you-are-not-dead-inside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are my love. My world. My everything. Without you I feel lost, and dead inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rino-slot/you-are-my-love-my-world-my-everything-without-you-i-feel-lost-and/) Rino Slot > [Its not suicide if you already dead inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-not-suicide-if-you-already-dead-inside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Shonda Rhimes > [My philosophy was always try to look like Whitney Houston at all times. That did not work out so well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-philosophy-was-always-try-to-look-like-whitney-houston-at-all/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [“Being numb no longer suits me. It’s ill-fitting and I’m antsy about it. I find myself snapping back at people more. Or writing little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/being-numb-no-longer-suits-me-it-s-ill-fitting-and-i-m-antsy-about-it/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [You don't necessarily have to watch something for 14 seasons. It's not necessarily the way everything's supposed to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/you-don-t-necessarily-have-to-watch-something-for-14-seasons-it-s-not/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [We all think we’re going to be great and we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren’t met. But sometimes our expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/we-all-think-we-re-going-to-be-great-and-we-feel-a-little-bit-robbed/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My worst trait is that I'm an introvert. When I've led stuff, the hardest thing for me to overcome has been my natural desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-worst-trait-is-that-i-m-an-introvert-when-i-ve-led-stuff-the/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [There are stories to be told that are still untold and characters to be portrayed that haven't been portrayed correctly. So there's work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/there-are-stories-to-be-told-that-are-still-untold-and-characters-to/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I say it in the writers' room all the time: My black is not your black. What's terrifying is that, just the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-say-it-in-the-writers-room-all-the-time-my-black-is-not-your-black/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I don't think of myself as a television producer. Obviously, that's crazy. Because I should. That's what I do. But I don't actually see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-television-producer-obviously-that-s/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My father used to say to me, 'The only limit to your success is your own imagination.' I actually believed that - like, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-father-used-to-say-to-me-the-only-limit-to-your-success-is-your/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I don't identify with her, but I highly admire Eleanor Roosevelt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-don-t-identify-with-her-but-i-highly-admire-eleanor-roosevelt/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [We spend our whole lives worrying about the future, planning for the future, trying to predict the future, as if figuring it out will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/we-spend-our-whole-lives-worrying-about-the-future-planning-for-the/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [What I found fascinating for me was, I've never gotten so much approval and accolades and warmth and congratulations as when I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/what-i-found-fascinating-for-me-was-i-ve-never-gotten-so-much/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [“Look. I will not be told what size to be. I do not care about anyone else’s judgment about my body. I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/look-i-will-not-be-told-what-size-to-be-i-do-not-care-about-anyone/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My parents created a world in which the only ­barrier to your success is your own imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-parents-created-a-world-in-which-the-only-barrier-to-your-success/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [There have to be practical steps. There's no point in holding out for a magic door because there are no magic doors. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/there-have-to-be-practical-steps-there-s-no-point-in-holding-out-for/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) [Explore all 194 Shonda Rhimes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) ## More Dead inside quotes > [Its not suicide if you already dead inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-not-suicide-if-you-already-dead-inside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are my love. My world. My everything. Without you I feel lost, and dead inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rino-slot/you-are-my-love-my-world-my-everything-without-you-i-feel-lost-and/) Rino Slot > [Being hurt sucks but at least you know you are not dead inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-hurt-sucks-but-at-least-you-know-you-are-not-dead-inside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He ignored her, still catching rain in his withered hands. “The mortal life is as futile as a raindrop.” He shook his head wearily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michayla-roth/he-ignored-her-still-catching-rain-in-his-withered-hands-the-mortal/) [Michayla Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michayla-roth/) > [Dont fucking ask me if I'm OK, I dont want to have to lie. Dont ask me if I'm happy, I dont want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/dont-fucking-ask-me-if-i-m-ok-i-dont-want-to-have-to-lie-dont-ask-me/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [“Because that’s how you become a bounty hunter. It’s not that you like the killing work. That’s just to begin with. It’s that, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cole/because-that-s-how-you-become-a-bounty-hunter-it-s-not-that-you-like/) [Nick Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cole/) > [“And now your dead inside, still you wonder why, when your on the edge and falling off, its all over, for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-days-grace/and-now-your-dead-inside-still-you-wonder-why-when-your-on-the-edge/) [Three Days Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-days-grace/) > [“He's a Stone Dead gang member. He'll be hanging with the other Deads, and the Deads own the fifth block of Stark. Their color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/he-s-a-stone-dead-gang-member-he-ll-be-hanging-with-the-other-deads/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I wish I could explain it so someone could understand it. I'm afraid it's something I can't put into words. There's just this heavy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-wish-i-could-explain-it-so-someone-could-understand-it-i-m-afraid/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [“What good is safety if you're dead inside?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-jordan/what-good-is-safety-if-you-re-dead-inside/) [Sophie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-jordan/) > [“All the feelings Are dead inside me And I want them To be alive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/all-the-feelings-are-dead-inside-me-and-i-want-them-to-be-alive/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It's hard loseing the guy you love once that was the worse thing that could ever happen to someone! i've been through it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily/it-s-hard-loseing-the-guy-you-love-once-that-was-the-worse-thing-that/) [Emily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily/) > [“THE VATICAN The very name Vatican comes from a surprising source. It is neither Latin nor Greek, nor is it of biblical origin. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-blech/the-vatican-the-very-name-vatican-comes-from-a-surprising-source-it/) [Benjamin Blech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-blech/) > [If we couldn't carry our dead inside us, we would be empty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-comeau/if-we-couldn-t-carry-our-dead-inside-us-we-would-be-empty/) [Joey Comeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-comeau/) > [“Lena is sure that other people don't have many selves. She is terrified that she doesn't have a core self, an essential Lena. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-tanner/lena-is-sure-that-other-people-don-t-have-many-selves-she-is/) [Haley Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-tanner/) [Browse all 111 Dead inside quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-inside/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The food created a nice topcoat. 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