1. ”Abstraction is not to forget details, but to see essentials.” – Edgar Degas (Artist)
This quote explains that abstraction isn’t about ignoring details, but about focusing on the most important aspects of a subject. It’s about capturing the essence rather than a literal representation.
2. ”The more abstract a scientific theory, the more powerful it is.” – Albert Einstein (Scientist)
Einstein highlights the power of abstraction in science. By focusing on fundamental principles, abstract theories can explain a wide range of phenomena.
3. ”We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Anaïs Nin (Writer)
This quote goes beyond visual abstraction and touches on how our perception shapes our understanding. Our experiences and biases influence how we interpret abstract concepts.
4. ”Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” – Robert Frost (Poet)
Frost’s quote shows how abstraction can be used in language. Poetry takes emotions and experiences and expresses them through evocative, yet potentially abstract, imagery and language.
5. ”A mathematician is a blind man in a black room looking for a black cat that isn’t there.” – Georg Cantor (Mathematician)
This humorous quote by Cantor playfully portrays the abstract nature of mathematics. Mathematicians deal with concepts that may not have a physical counterpart, but are nonetheless powerful tools for understanding the world.
6. ”Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” – Victor Hugo (Writer)
Music is a prime example of an abstract art form. It conveys emotions and ideas through sound and structure, without relying on literal language.
7. ”The map is not the territory.” – Alfred Korzybski (Linguist)
This quote emphasizes the difference between an abstraction (the map) and the reality it represents (the territory). Abstractions are simplified models and shouldn’t be mistaken for the full picture.
8. ”There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.” – W. Somerset Maugham (Writer)
This quote, though lighthearted, touches on the abstract nature of creative processes. While there may be principles or guidelines, true creativity often involves intangible elements like inspiration and intuition.
9. ”The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey (Media Proprietor)
This quote highlights the concept of abstraction in emotions. We take complex experiences and feelings and express them as simpler concepts like “happiness” or “gratitude.”
10. ”There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” – William Shakespeare (Playwright)
Shakespeare’s famous line reminds us that the world is full of mysteries and complexities that may not be fully captured by any system of thought or abstraction.