--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We even talked like Hemingway characters…" description: "\"We even talked like Hemingway characters, though in travesty, as if to deny our discipleship: That is your bed, and it is a good bed, and you must make..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/tobias-wolff-7890_bed_we-even-talked-like-hemingway-characters_71584.jpg" --- # We even talked like Hemingway characters, though in… ![“We even talked like Hemingway characters, though in travesty, as if to deny our discipleship: That is your bed, and it is a good bed, and you must make it and you must make it well. Or: Today is the day of the meatloaf. The meatloaf is swell. It is swell but when it is gone the not-having meatloaf…” quote by Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/tobias-wolff-7890_bed_we-even-talked-like-hemingway-characters_71584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/tobias-wolff-7890_bed_we-even-talked-like-hemingway-characters_71584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/tobias-wolff-7890_bed_we-even-talked-like-hemingway-characters_71584.jpg) > “We even talked like Hemingway characters, though in travesty, as if to deny our discipleship: That is your bed, and it is a good bed, and you must make it and you must make it well. Or: Today is the day of the meatloaf. The meatloaf is swell. It is swell but when it is gone the not-having meatloaf will be tragic and the meatloaf man will not come anymore.” [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage satates absurd, theatrical dialogue to critique the pretentiousness of self‑important storytelling and the fleeting nature of comfort and meaning. **In simple terms:** Satirical critique of pretentious narrative. Key Takeaway Pretension masks transience. Themes irony absurdity self‑reflection impermanence satire Mood wry critical playful Type aphorism parody When to use this quote - literary workshops - creative writing classes - philosophical debates - social gatherings - theatrical rehearsals Key Concepts narrative authority identity performance meaninglessness Practical Applications - teaching satire - exploring narrative voice Questions to Reflect On - How does exaggerated language reveal deeper truths? - What does the 'meatloaf' symbolize? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Meatloaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meatloaf/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) ## Related quotes > [I love meatloaf so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caeleb-dressel/i-love-meatloaf-so-much/) [Caeleb Dressel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caeleb-dressel/) > [“We made eyes at each other, and then we made love. We also made other things too, like meatloaf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-made-eyes-at-each-other-and-then-we-made-love-we-also-made-other/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Donald Trump runs the country like he ran "The Apprentice." The premise of "The Apprentice" is a crazy rich guy has his daughter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/donald-trump-runs-the-country-like-he-ran-the-apprentice-the-premise/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [“Meatloaf is meatloaf is not a true statement. You can have gravy on top, ketchup on top, and don’t forget you can also have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/meatloaf-is-meatloaf-is-not-a-true-statement-you-can-have-gravy-on/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I keep trying to perfect my mother's meatloaf recipe. I will never get it perfect, but I'm getting closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/i-keep-trying-to-perfect-my-mother-s-meatloaf-recipe-i-will-never-get/) [Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/) > [What's up?" Christian asked. "Need some hairstyling tips?" "Tips you stole from me? No thanks. But I hear you've got a really good bacon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/what-s-up-christian-asked-need-some-hairstyling-tips-tips-you-stole/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“It’s like a meatloaf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-elson/it-s-like-a-meatloaf/) [Nicki Elson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-elson/) > [“Three Meatloaf Haikus Oh yucky meatloaf sitting under the hot lights so gray and gristly. Nothing tastes worse than you, not cauliflower or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-holm/three-meatloaf-haikus-oh-yucky-meatloaf-sitting-under-the-hot-lights/) [Jennifer L. Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-holm/) > [We know, for instance, that there is a direct, inverse relationship between frequency of family meals and social problems. Bluntly stated, members of families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/we-know-for-instance-that-there-is-a-direct-inverse-relationship/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Hey Mom! Can we get some meatloaf? - Chazz Reinhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wedding-crashers/hey-mom-can-we-get-some-meatloaf-chazz-reinhold/) Wedding Crashers > [I want you, I need you, but there ain't no way I'm every gonna love you. Now don't be sad, cause two out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meat-loaf/i-want-you-i-need-you-but-there-ain-t-no-way-i-m-every-gonna-love-you/) [Meat Loaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meat-loaf/) > [“Love is all around. I don’t need your leftovers, ma’am. Not unless you’re offering meatloaf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-all-around-i-don-t-need-your-leftovers-ma-am-not-unless-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“His arm felt like a really nice meatloaf,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-strong/his-arm-felt-like-a-really-nice-meatloaf/) [Mimi Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-strong/) > [“I’m a fan of Meatloaf. He has a voice like it’s covered in thick gravy. There’s nothing better to make love to, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-a-fan-of-meatloaf-he-has-a-voice-like-it-s-covered-in-thick-gravy/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I need a bone saw—for the meatloaf I made for you, which looks suspiciously like a brick. The gravy is a blanket. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-need-a-bone-saw-for-the-meatloaf-i-made-for-you-which-looks/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Tobias Wolff > [Memory is funny. Once you hit a vein the problem is not how to remember but how to control the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/memory-is-funny-once-you-hit-a-vein-the-problem-is-not-how-to/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [You boys know what tropism is, it's what makes a plant grow toward the light. Everything aspires to the light. You don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/you-boys-know-what-tropism-is-it-s-what-makes-a-plant-grow-toward-the/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [“But for now Anders can still make time. Time for the shadows to lengthen on the grass, time for the tethered dog to bark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/but-for-now-anders-can-still-make-time-time-for-the-shadows-to/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [One of the last courses I taught was on the Russian short story, which I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/one-of-the-last-courses-i-taught-was-on-the-russian-short-story-which/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [“He did not remember when everything began to remind him of something else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/he-did-not-remember-when-everything-began-to-remind-him-of-something/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [Because I don't have to be careful of people's feelings when I teach literature, and I do when I'm teaching writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/because-i-don-t-have-to-be-careful-of-people-s-feelings-when-i-teach/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [Work for most people is really very social, and the actual thinking is often done in community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/work-for-most-people-is-really-very-social-and-the-actual-thinking-is/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [Writers cannot let themselves be servants of the official mythology. They have to, whatever the cost, say what truth they have to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/writers-cannot-let-themselves-be-servants-of-the-official-mythology/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [One can imagine a world without essays. It would be a little poorer, of course, like a world without chess, but one could live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/one-can-imagine-a-world-without-essays-it-would-be-a-little-poorer-of/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [I was giving up--being realistic, as people liked to say, meaning the same thing. Being realistic made me feel bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/i-was-giving-up-being-realistic-as-people-liked-to-say-meaning-the/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [“Lose Faith. Pray anyway. Persist. We are made to persist, to complete the whole tour. That's how we find out who we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/lose-faith-pray-anyway-persist-we-are-made-to-persist-to-complete-the/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [I believe that the short story is as different a form from the novel as poetry is, and the best stories seem to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/i-believe-that-the-short-story-is-as-different-a-form-from-the-novel/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [It's probably why I'm a short story writer. I tend to remember things in the past in narrative form, in story form, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/it-s-probably-why-i-m-a-short-story-writer-i-tend-to-remember-things/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [When we are green, still half-created, we believe that our dreams are rights, that the world is disposed to act in our best interests,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/when-we-are-green-still-half-created-we-believe-that-our-dreams-are/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [That, for me, is a very important test of a young writer's commitment because most of them are going to have to continue doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/that-for-me-is-a-very-important-test-of-a-young-writer-s-commitment/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) [Explore all 86 Tobias Wolff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) ## More Bed quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Your idea of fidelity is not having more than one man in bed at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/your-idea-of-fidelity-is-not-having-more-than-one-man-in-bed-at-the/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish I had as much in bed as I get in the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-wish-i-had-as-much-in-bed-as-i-get-in-the-newspapers/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [I have to meditate before I go to bed, always. I have to let the day go and let the eternal in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bellamy-young/i-have-to-meditate-before-i-go-to-bed-always-i-have-to-let-the-day-go/) [Bellamy Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bellamy-young/) > [Sometimes by a woodland stream he watched the water rush over the pebbled bed, its tiny modulations of bounce and flow. 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