Tears come from the heart and not from the brain
What's the meaning of this quote?
Quote Meaning: Tears, the most raw and visible expression of human emotion, have long been misunderstood. When we cry, it’s often seen as a response to pain, frustration, or grief. However, the essence of tears isn’t solely tied to a logical reaction or a mental calculation. They are not the result of careful thought or reason. Instead, tears are the overflow of deep, inner emotions, and they emerge from a place within us that logic cannot reach — the heart.
The brain, with all its complexities, operates on logic, reasoning, and cognitive processing. It’s responsible for understanding and analyzing situations. But when it comes to the deepest, most profound feelings, the brain steps aside. The heart, in this context, isn’t just the organ that pumps blood — it’s a metaphor for the soul, the seat of emotions, the core of our being. The heart feels, aches, loves, and mourns in ways that the brain cannot quantify or explain.
Imagine a moment when you’re overwhelmed by sadness or joy. It’s not because you’ve thought your way into those feelings. The tears you shed in those moments aren’t a planned reaction. They’re spontaneous, driven by a depth of emotion that defies logic. You can’t think your way into crying; you feel your way into it. The heart recognizes truths about your emotional state that the brain may try to deny or suppress. That’s why, in moments of profound grief or joy, tears may fall even when you don’t want them to. They are a release — a way for the heart to express what words or thoughts cannot.
The truth is, some of the most significant emotional moments in life are not intellectual experiences. Consider the loss of a loved one. While your brain may understand the logic of death — the inevitability of it, the finality — it’s your heart that breaks. It’s your heart that feels the void, the pain of absence. The tears that come aren’t because your brain has come to some logical conclusion; they arise from the well of love, loss, and longing that exists deep within.
Similarly, tears can come in moments of great happiness. Have you ever found yourself so overcome with joy that you cried? Maybe it was the birth of a child, the achievement of a lifelong goal, or a moment of connection with someone you love. Your brain might be able to explain why the moment is significant, but the tears come from a deeper place — from the heart, where your most vulnerable and true emotions reside.
This distinction between the heart and the brain can be seen in how we often try to rationalize our feelings. The brain wants to find explanations, reasons, and logic in everything, but the heart doesn’t operate on those terms. You can’t reason your way out of heartbreak, nor can you think your way into true joy. The emotions that provoke tears are often beyond reason. They come from experiences that touch the deepest parts of our humanity, the parts that remain untouched by logic or thought.
In a way, tears are the soul’s language. When the heart is too full, whether with joy, sadness, or any other profound emotion, tears become the means of expression. It’s a language that transcends words, a way to communicate feelings that are too vast, too intense for mere language. When someone sees you cry, they’re witnessing the heart’s truth — raw, unfiltered, and deeply authentic. It’s a reminder that, while we may live in a world governed by reason and intellect, our most human moments often come from a place far beyond that.
There’s also something profoundly human about crying. It connects us to others in ways that words often cannot. Think of the times you’ve cried with someone — during a moment of shared grief, or joy, or understanding. In those moments, the connection between you isn’t built on intellectual exchange. It’s emotional, raw, and real. Tears bridge the gap between hearts, allowing vulnerability and empathy to flow freely between people.
Moreover, this idea of tears coming from the heart and not the brain highlights the importance of vulnerability. The brain is protective, always trying to guard us against pain or discomfort. But the heart, in its rawness, opens us up to the full spectrum of human experience. When we cry, we’re not just expressing an emotion — we’re allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, to show the world what we’re feeling on the inside. It’s a moment of authenticity, where we let go of the need to be strong, composed, or rational, and simply feel.
In moments of intense emotion, the heart refuses to be silenced. It speaks through tears, bypassing the brain’s need for logic or control. It’s in these moments that we’re reminded of our humanity — that we are beings capable of feeling deeply, of loving and losing, of experiencing joy and sorrow in ways that defy explanation. And while the brain may try to make sense of it all, the heart knows that some emotions are meant to be felt, not understood.
In the end, the heart’s expression through tears is a powerful reminder that our deepest emotions come from a place beyond reason. They are the essence of our humanity, a reflection of our ability to feel, to connect, and to be vulnerable. Tears are not a sign of weakness, nor are they a failure of reason. They are the heart’s way of showing us that, sometimes, feeling is more important than understanding. They remind us that we are more than just thinking beings — we are feeling beings, and that is where our true strength lies.
Who said the quote?
The quote "Tears come from the heart and not from the brain" is often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci (Quotes). Leonardo da Vinci is a Renaissance polymath whose contributions spanned art, science, and invention.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
