Skip to content

Black seems to make a colour cloudy, but darkness doesn't…

“Black seems to make a colour cloudy, but darkness doesn't. A ruby could thus keep getting darker without ever becoming cloudy; but if it became blackish red, it would become cloudy.” quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein
Download Open image
“Black seems to make a colour cloudy, but darkness doesn't. A ruby could thus keep getting darker without ever becoming cloudy; but if it became blackish red, it would become cloudy.”

Ludwig Wittgenstein

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Colors and darkness behave differently: darkness lacks cloudiness, while black can become cloudy only when mixed with red.

In simple terms: Darkness isn’t cloudy; black can become cloudy with red.

Key Takeaway

Distinguish between pure darkness and colored opacity.

Themes

perception philosophy color theory

Mood

analytical curious

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

  • art criticism
  • design
  • lighting design
  • photography

Key Concepts

ontology visual perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “cloudy” imply in visual terms?
  • How do we describe color changes precisely?
A Different Perspective

Interpretation may vary across cultures and contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Ludwig Wittgenstein

Explore all 454 Ludwig Wittgenstein quotes

More Becoming quotes

Browse all 4,715 Becoming quotes