Bones Quote by Tom Robbins
““Bones are patient. Bones never tire nor do they run away. When you come upon a man who has been dead many years, his bones will still be lying there, in place, content, patiently waiting, but his flesh will have gotten up and left him. Water is like flesh. Water will not stand still. It is always off to somewhere else; restless, talkative, and curious. Even water in a covered jar will disappear in time. Flesh is water. Stones are like bones. Satisfied. Patient. Dependable. Tell me, then, Alobar, in order to achieve immortality, should you emulate water or stone? Should you trust your flesh or your bones?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “Jitterbug Perfume” by Tom Robbins, 1984
The passage contrasts the fleeting, restless nature of flesh (water) with the enduring, reliable nature of bone (stone), asking which should guide the quest for lasting legacy.
In simple terms: Flesh is change, bone is steady; choose wisely for lasting impact.
Key Takeaway
Embrace enduring values over fleeting desires.
Themes
mortality
legacy
human nature
transience
stability
Mood
contemplative
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- creative work
- long‑term planning
- health decisions
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
metaphor
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you prioritize lasting impact over immediate pleasure?
- How can you balance change with stability?
A Different Perspective
Flesh can also provide resilience and adaptation, not just transience.
![“[B]ut it is only what happens, when they die, to all mortals. The sinews no longer hold the flesh and the bones together, and once the spirit has let the white bones, all the rest of the body is made subject to the fire's strong fury, but the soul flitters out like a dream and flies away.” quote by Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/04b/homer-357_body_b-ut-it-is-only-what-happens-when-they-d_1170176.jpg)
![“Is that why you've been pushing me away? Because of how you look? [...] I waited for you my whole life. Yearned for you my whole life. After Tersa told me you were coming, I spent seven hundred years searching for you[…] I never gave a damn what you looked like--tall, short, fat, thin, plain…” quote by Anne Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae0/anne-bishop-2536_appearances_is-that-why-you-ve-been-pushing-me-away_2069686.jpg)
