Quotes About Observation

I confine myself to throwing out the observation, that, at the hour and place I have indicated, may be found such ruined vestiges as yet "Remain, "Of "A "Fallen Tower, "WILKINS MICAWBER.

I believe the power of observation in numbers of very young children to be quite wonderful for its closeness and accuracy. Indeed,

S]he stood for some moments gazing at the sisters, with affection beaming in one eye, and calculation shining out of the other.

Thus, what we observe to be happening in the world says as much about ourselves as it does about the world. It reveals what we think is important, significant, valuable, and sacred, and what is irrelevant or useless too. Put another way, what we see reveals how we see.

There is a time to act, and a time to wait, to listen, to observe. Then understanding and clarity can grow. From understanding, action arises that is purposeful, firm, and powerful.

The process of discovery begins when we observe, often vaguely, a gap between what is and what could be. Our intuition tells us something better is just beyond the range of our mind's eye. To build a culture of discovery, we must encourage, not discourage, the passionate pursuit of hunches (no matter their origin).

Human nature is just about the only nature some people experience.

[T]he satirist shoots to kill while the humorist brings his prey back alive. Swift destroyed the human race; Mark Twain and Thurber enabled it to go on. We human beings are all absurd variations of one another in any case, and this is what comedy of all kinds puts down on paper.

When in doubt, tell a funny 'til you see what the other fellow is going to do.

To me, a comic says funny things. A humorist thinks funny things. But a humorist must not only think funny, he must listen funny... The best story tellers... are listeners and thinkers.

IDEALIST. One who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.

One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.

This little insect of the poets...

"Silent" and "listen" are spelled with the same letters.

I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one.

Little Mary was visiting her grandmother in the country. Walking in the garden, she chanced to see a peacock, a bird she had never seen before. After gazing in silent admiration, she ran quickly into the house and cried out: "Oh, Granny, come and see! One of your chickens is in bloom."

There is a photographer in every bush, going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

A poet looks at the world somewhat as a man looks at a woman.

The eye is the only note-book of the true poet...

Go to any sea-port town and you will see that the Sea-captain who has retired upon his well-earned savings, sets up a weather-cock in full view from his windows, and watches the variations of the wind as duly as when he was at sea, though no longer with the same anxiety.

The knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..."

Some people never have reflections unless they stand before a mirror.

Don't do it behind the garden gate. Love is blind but the neighbors ain't!