However, no two people see the external world in exactly the same way. To every separate person a thing is what he thinks it is - in other words, not a thing, but a think.
Interpretation
People perceive the world differently based on their thoughts and experiences.
This quote by Penelope Fitzgerald emphasizes the subjective nature of perception, suggesting that individuals interpret events and objects based on their personal thoughts and experiences rather than an objective reality. It highlights that what we consider 'real' is often filtered through our unique perspectives, making understanding between people complex and nuanced.
In practice
This quote can serve as a reminder during team meetings to encourage understanding different viewpoints.
More than that, I believe that the grass is green because green is restful to the human eye, that the sky is blue to give us an idea of the infinite. And that blood is red so that murder will be more easily detected and criminals will be brought to justice. Yes, and I believe that I shall live forever, but I shall live without reason.
Experiences aren't given to us to be 'got over,' otherwise they would hardly be experiences.
I have remained true to my deepest convictions. I mean the courage of those who are born to be defeated, the weaknesses of the strong, and the tragedy of misunderstandings and missed opportunities, which I have done my best to treat as comedy—for otherwise how can we manage to bear it?
Never in all their history have men been able truly to conceive of the world as one: a single sphere, a globe, having the qualities of a globe, a round earth in which all the directions eventually meet, in which there is no center because every point, or none, is center - an equal earth which all men occupy as equals. The airman's earth, if free men make it, will be truly round: a globe in practice, not in theory.
We act and walk and speak and talk in ways that consolidate an impression of being a man or being a woman.
We've gotten lost in our Ego and have forgotten that our Soul's only motive is to merge with the Beloved.
Virtue she finds too painful an endeavour, content to dwell in decencies for ever.
Homer's work hits again and again on the topos of the inexpressible. People will always do that.
If our goal is to understand the world, to seek a deeper understanding of the world, our general lack of moral diversity here is going to make it harder. Because when people all share values, when people all share morals, they become a team.
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