Feelings Quote by Steven R. Boyett
““You ask me what it feels like to have wings. I can only tell you the feeling with words. And words have neither feelings nor wings. Words are leaky vessels into which a cargo of meaning and emotion are placed, and when they leave you and reach the farther shore of another mind a considerable portion of that cargo has been lost at sea. Fallen overboard, gone to rot, consumed by vermin, decayed to a state unlike its original form.””
About This Quote
Words lose nuance when transferred between minds, leaving meaning incomplete and emotions diminished.
In simple terms: Words lose meaning when shared.
Key Takeaway
Choose precise language to convey feeling.
Themes
language
communication
loss
emotion
metaphor
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
aphilosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- writing
- public speaking
- teaching
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
semantic decay
symbolic transfer
interpretation gap
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure your words carry the intended feeling?
- Can silence ever convey more than words?
A Different Perspective
Words can never fully capture lived experience.
