Quotes About Observation

Enquanto não observa o que se passa na mente dos demais, raramente se viu um homem infeliz; aquele, porém, que não observa o que se passa em sua própria mente, será necessariamente infeliz.

Remember that as it is a shame to be surprised if the fig-tree produces figs, so it is to be surprised if the world produces such and such things of which it is productive

49. Look at the past—empire succeeding empire—and from that, extrapolate the future: the same thing. No escape from the rhythm of events. Which is why observing life for forty years is as good as a thousand. Would you really see anything new?

38. Look into their minds, at what the wise do and what they don't.

Whensoever thou wilt rejoice thyself, think and meditate upon those good parts and especial gifts, which thou hast observed in any of them that live with thee: as industry in one, in another modesty, in another bountifulness, in another some other thing. For nothing can so much rejoice thee, as the resemblances and parallels

how worthless are all these poor people who are engaged in matters political, and, as they suppose, are playing the philosopher. All drivelers. Well then, man: do what Nature now requires. Set yourself in motion, if it is in your power, and do not look about to see if anyone will observe it, nor expect Plato's Republic: but be content if the smallest thing goes on well, and consider such an event to be no small matter.

If he be a stranger in the world, that knows not the things that are in it; why not be a stranger as well, that wonders at the the things that are done in it?

In conversation keep abreast of what is being said, and, in every effort, of what is being done. In the latter see from the first to what end it has reference, and in the former be careful to catch the meaning.

Whatever happens at all happens as it should; you will find this true, if you watch narrowly.

As for others whose lives are not so ordered, he reminds himself constantly of the characters they exhibit daily and nightly at home and abroad, and of the sort of society they frequent; and the approval of such men, who do not even stand well in their own eyes, has no value for him.

To state the obvious, how we see is to a large extent the product of what we have seen.

Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature.

Respiraro, si te videro.

Elephanto beluarum nulla prudentior: at figura quae vastior? De bestiis loquor: quid, inter ipsos homines nonne et simillimis formis dispares mores et moribus simillimis figura dissimilis? (1.97 De Natura Deorum)

U sjeni stabala, Liesel je promatrala dje?aka. Kako li su se stvari promijenile: od kradljivca vo?a do davatelja kruha. Njegova plava kosa, iako je tamnila, bila je poput svije?e. ?ula je kako mu kruli u želucu - a davao je ljudima kruh. Je li to bila Njema?ka? Je li to bila nacisti?ka Njema?ka?

what may be the oldest analogy ever recorded, from around 1350 B.C., the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaton was said to have observed: As the moon retains her nature, though darkness spread itself before her face as a curtain, so the Soul remains perfect even in the bosom of the fool.

All you have to do, I tell myself, is keep your mouth shut and look stupid. It shouldn't be that hard.

When I am lonely for boys it's their bodies I miss. I study their hands lifting the cigarettes in the darkness of the movie theaters, the slope of a shoulder, the angle of a hip. Looking at them sideways, I examine them in different lights. My love for them is visual: that is the part of them I would like to possess. Don't move, I think. Stay like that, let me have that.

The small details of life often hide a great significance.

I stand on the corner, pretending I am a tree.

Just because there's a silence it doesn't mean that nothing is going on.

We've learned to see the world in gasps.

The best way of being kind to bears is not to be very close to them.

Everyone thinks writers must know more about the inside of the human head, but that's wrong. They know less, that's why they write. Trying to find out what everyone else takes for granted.