Highlight Inspiration — As You Wish. But First, Stew
One of the many things I love about Readwise is the ability to review favorite highlights for inspiration. In order to prevent atrophy in my writing muscles, I’ll write my thoughts on a particular quote.
“This was after stew, but so is everything. When the first man first clambered from the slime and made his first home on land, what he had for supper that first night was stew.” — William Goldman, The Princess Bride.
This quote just lands. Comfort and soup are synonymous in my mind. That also includes its heartier cousin, stew. But, don’t talk to me about Gazpacho. Gazpacho is not soup. It’s a cold drink.
This statement perfectly encapsulates an aspect of human nature that is often overlooked. Comfort. William Goldman discusses priorities, mental health, comfort, and the human condition in two sentences. Productivity is one thing. But first, stew.
I’ve lamented before about the forgotten art of play. My childhood was full of memories, good and bad, but the ones that resonate the strongest involve some sort of comfort. Soup invokes a strong connection in this sense. If I think back to a simple potato soup my mom used to make for me, I can remember the layout of the kitchen in my childhood home. I can remember the round wooden table where I ate, did homework, and played with micro machines.
In a larger context, the quote might point to Maslow’s foundation of physical needs. You’ve gotta eat, right? But why stew? The practical answer might be that stew is easy to prepare, packed with nutrients, and filling.
That was not William Goldman’s intent. He believes that tasks need to be completed. Without the right mindset, the work cannot happen. First stew. Then work. First stew. Then talk. First stew. Then whatever.
A mundane delivery from Goldman would not have been as effective. It wouldn’t have affected me in the same manner. By using stew as the subject, several things happened.
Immediately, my brain stimulated my five senses. I could taste my favorite soup and remember what it smelled like. I could see the type of bowl used to serve it and the spoon used to sip it. I might even conjure up memories of a ladle clanging against the metal pot in my childhood kitchen. I can feel the temperature. Hot enough to soothe without burning. Comfort. Gazpacho would be the antithesis of this.
Your priorities become immediately clear. Stew provides energy, comfort, the right frame of mind. I’ve had my stew, now I can get things done. It’s a lot of heavy lifting for two sentences. And it’s done with style and humor.
This quote inspires me as a writer to produce two sentences that so eloquently convey a specific meaning or feeling. William Goldman nailed it here. Then again, maybe I’m overthinking it and he just really likes stew.
