I see things with my own eyes, just as if they were the first eyes that ever saw, and then I set about to tell, as best I can, just what I've seen.
Edna St. Vincent MillayRead
Each flitch, each board, each plank can have only one ideal use. The woodworker, applying a thousand skills, must find that ideal use and then shape the wood to realize its true potential.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the importance of recognizing and fulfilling the unique potential of materials, particularly in woodworking.
George Nakashima suggests that each piece of wood has a specific purpose that reflects its best qualities. The woodworker's role is to skillfully identify and craft that purpose, transforming the raw material into something beautiful and functional, thereby honoring the wood's inherent potential.
Themes
WoodworkingPotentialCraftsmanshipArtSkill
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creativity in art, one might refer to this quote to emphasize the importance of understanding materials.
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