--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As the fish doesn't know water, people…" description: "\"As the fish doesn't know water, people are ignorant of space. Consciousness is concerned only with changing and varying details; it ignores constants-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alan-watts-587_awareness_as-the-fish-doesn-t-know-water-people-ar_102743.jpg" --- # As the fish doesn't know water, people are ignorant of… ![“As the fish doesn't know water, people are ignorant of space. Consciousness is concerned only with changing and varying details; it ignores constants-especially constant backgrounds. Thus only very exceptional people are aware of what is basic to everything.” quote by Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alan-watts-587_awareness_as-the-fish-doesn-t-know-water-people-ar_102743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alan-watts-587_awareness_as-the-fish-doesn-t-know-water-people-ar_102743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/alan-watts-587_awareness_as-the-fish-doesn-t-know-water-people-ar_102743.jpg) > “As the fish doesn't know water, people are ignorant of space. Consciousness is concerned only with changing and varying details; it ignores constants-especially constant backgrounds. Thus only very exceptional people are aware of what is basic to everything.” [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often overlook fundamental, constant aspects of reality, focusing instead on changing details, which limits deep understanding. **In simple terms:** We ignore the constant background. Key Takeaway Awareness of fundamentals expands perception. Themes awareness constants perception knowledge Mood thoughtful curious Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - learning a new language - adapting to a new culture - designing technology systems Key Concepts cognitive bias metaphysics of background Practical Applications - Practice mindfulness of underlying conditions - Teach foundational concepts before details Questions to Reflect On - What ‘background’ do you take for granted? - How can you train yourself to notice hidden constants? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex systems where constants themselves evolve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Backgrounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgrounds/) [Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Consciousness Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-concerned-1241290/) [Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) [Details](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/details/) [Exceptional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptional/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Ignorant Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant-space-1241291/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-ignorant-276626/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Space Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space-consciousness-453754/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Where consciousness is concerned, the appearance is the reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/where-consciousness-is-concerned-the-appearance-is-the-reality/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [A person is not earth, not water, Not fire, not wind, not space, Not consciousness, and not all of them. What person is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/a-person-is-not-earth-not-water-not-fire-not-wind-not-space-not/) [Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/) > [When you are aware of space, you are not really aware of anything, except awareness itself - the inner space of consciousness. 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