#abstract

The propensity to excessive simplification is indeed natural to the mind of man, since it is only by abstraction and generalisation, which necessarily imply the neglect of a multitude of particulars, that he can stretch his puny faculties so as to embrace a minute portion of the illimitable vastness of the universe. But if the propensity is natural and even inevitable, it is nevertheless fraught with peril, since it is apt to narrow and falsify our conception of any subject under investigation. To correct it partially - for to correct it wholly would require an infinite intelligence - we must endeavour to broaden our views by taking account of a wide range of facts and possibilities; and when we have done so to the utmost of our power, we must still remember that from the very nature of things our ideas fall immeasurably short of the reality. ↗

— James George Frazer

#generalisation #knowledge #science #art

The atmosphere is different in Congress after September 11. Terrorism is no longer an abstract issue, but a real, tangible threat. ↗

— Howard Berman

#after #atmosphere #congress #different #issue

Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is no mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself. ↗

— Havelock Ellis

#arts #beautiful #because #dancing #itself

The universe is governed by science. But science tells us that we can't solve the equations, directly in the abstract. ↗

— Stephen Hawking

#directly #equations #governed #science #solve

Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star. ↗

— Dana Carvey

#comic #describing #impossible #joke #near

I like the fact that music is more abstract. ↗

— Bryan Ferry

#fact #i #like #more #music

I have this certain vision of the way I want my comics to look; this sort of photographic realism, but with a certain abstraction that comics can give. It's kind of a fine line. ↗

— Daniel Clowes

#certain #comics #fine #fine line #give

Contrary to current cynicism about past golden ages, the abstraction known as 'the intelligent layperson' does exist - in the form of millions of folks with a passionate commitment to continuous learning. ↗

— Stephen Jay Gould

#abstraction #ages #commitment #continuous #contrary

How many people make themselves abstract to appear profound. The most useful part of abstract terms are the shadows they create to hide a vacuum. ↗

— Joseph Joubert

#appear #create #hide #how #make

I never learned to verbalize an abstract musical concept. No thank you. The whole point of being a serious musician is to avoid verbalization whenever you can. ↗

— Virgil Thomson

#avoid #being #concept #i #learned