--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But we shall not know the world by…" description: "\"But we shall not know the world by looking at it; we know it by looking at the hovering fly.\" — Allen Tate" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/allen-tate-7943_hovering_but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looki_1375923.jpg" --- # But we shall not know the world by looking at it; we know… ![“But we shall not know the world by looking at it; we know it by looking at the hovering fly.” quote by Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/allen-tate-7943_hovering_but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looki_1375923.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/allen-tate-7943_hovering_but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looki_1375923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/allen-tate-7943_hovering_but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looki_1375923.jpg) > “But we shall not know the world by looking at it; we know it by looking at the hovering fly.” [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding the world comes from observing small, dynamic details rather than static, broad views. **In simple terms:** We learn by watching tiny moving things, not just big static ones. Key Takeaway Observe details to grasp larger truths. Themes perception detail macro‑micro insight Mood contemplative inquisitive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - science research - art critique - education - travel planning Key Concepts philosophy epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What “hovering fly” reveals about perception? - How can you balance detail with overview? A Different Perspective Focusing on minutiae may miss larger patterns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hovering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hovering/) [Hovering Fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hovering-fly-4752283/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Know Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-looking/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Looking Hovering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-hovering-4752282/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-looking-428859/) ## Related quotes > [Beautiful was this world, looking at it thus, without searching, thus simply, thus childlike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/beautiful-was-this-world-looking-at-it-thus-without-searching-thus/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [With one eye you are looking at the outside world, while with the other you are looking within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amedeo-modigliani/with-one-eye-you-are-looking-at-the-outside-world-while-with-the/) [Amedeo Modigliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amedeo-modigliani/) > [The world is looking more and more segmented, the difference between people is becoming greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaha-hadid/the-world-is-looking-more-and-more-segmented-the-difference-between/) [Zaha Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaha-hadid/) > [“Imagine that you traveled all over the world, looking for happiness, looking for thrills to pass the time. Imagine seeing everything there is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-levenseller/imagine-that-you-traveled-all-over-the-world-looking-for-happiness/) [Tricia Levenseller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-levenseller/) > [Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-you-are-to-do-a-thing-though-it-can-never-be-known-but-to-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must not let ourselves be seen as rushing around the world looking for arguments... Nor should we let ourselves be seen as ignoring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/we-must-not-let-ourselves-be-seen-as-rushing-around-the-world-looking/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) > [“I look into the eyes of the world, and what do I see? I see the eyes of the world looking back at me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-ryals/i-look-into-the-eyes-of-the-world-and-what-do-i-see-i-see-the-eyes-of/) [R.K. Ryals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-ryals/) > [The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/the-world-is-a-looking-glass-and-gives-back-to-every-man-the/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [“But now, his liberated eyes stayed on this side, he saw and became aware of the visible, sought to be at home in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/but-now-his-liberated-eyes-stayed-on-this-side-he-saw-and-became/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“This was, by comparison, a safe, secure, clean world. And looking at it, she thought it must be rather pleasant to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-petry/this-was-by-comparison-a-safe-secure-clean-world-and-looking-at-it/) [Ann Petry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-petry/) > [I'm interested in machines that make you aware of the process of seeing and aware of what you do when you construct the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kentridge/i-m-interested-in-machines-that-make-you-aware-of-the-process-of/) [William Kentridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kentridge/) > [In looking out upon the world, we forget that the world is looking at itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-looking-out-upon-the-world-we-forget-that-the-world-is-looking-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just wanted to say that there is so much goodness in the world. We keep looking at the terrible and diabolical things when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twinkle-khanna/i-just-wanted-to-say-that-there-is-so-much-goodness-in-the-world-we/) [Twinkle Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twinkle-khanna/) > [Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act if all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/whenever-you-are-to-do-a-thing-though-it-can-never-be-known-but-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/the-world-is-a-looking-glass-and-gives-back-to-every-man-the-2/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## More by Allen Tate > [So the poet, who wants to be something that he cannot be, and is a failure in plain life, makes up fictitious versions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/so-the-poet-who-wants-to-be-something-that-he-cannot-be-and-is-a/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [The mission for the day is to encourage students to think beyond traditional career opportunities, prepare for future careers and entrance into the workplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/the-mission-for-the-day-is-to-encourage-students-to-think-beyond/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [There is a calm for you where men and women Unroll the chill precision of moving feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/there-is-a-calm-for-you-where-men-and-women-unroll-the-chill/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [The twilight is long fingers and black hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/the-twilight-is-long-fingers-and-black-hair/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [What is the flesh and blood compounded ofBut a few moments in the life of time?This prowling of the cells, litigious love,Wears the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/what-is-the-flesh-and-blood-compounded-ofbut-a-few-moments-in-the/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [In an age of abstract experience, fornication Is self-expression, adjunct to Christian euphoria, And whores become delinquents; delinquents, patients; Patients, wards of society. Whores,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/in-an-age-of-abstract-experience-fornication-is-self-expression/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [With spring the father-sky remakes the world: The male shower has flowed into the bride, Earth's body; then shifted through sky and sea and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/with-spring-the-father-sky-remakes-the-world-the-male-shower-has/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Other psychological theories say a good deal about compensation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/other-psychological-theories-say-a-good-deal-about-compensation/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Walk in this faithless grass with studious tread, Lest mice, weasels, germane beasts, too soon The tall hat and eyes, the fierce feet, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/walk-in-this-faithless-grass-with-studious-tread-lest-mice-weasels/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [For intellect is a mansion where waste is without drain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/for-intellect-is-a-mansion-where-waste-is-without-drain/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Punctilious abyss, the yawn of space Come once a day to suffocate the sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/punctilious-abyss-the-yawn-of-space-come-once-a-day-to-suffocate-the/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [There is probably nothing wrong with art for art's sake if we take the phrase seriously, and not take it to mean the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/there-is-probably-nothing-wrong-with-art-for-art-s-sake-if-we-take/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [My darling boy whom I shall never know, My son, I love you in my deepest fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/my-darling-boy-whom-i-shall-never-know-my-son-i-love-you-in-my/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Venus knows country matters: country knows Venus: For Love, Dione's boy, was born on the farm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/venus-knows-country-matters-country-knows-venus-for-love-dione-s-boy/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Let us begin to understand the argument. There is a solution to everything: Science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/let-us-begin-to-understand-the-argument-there-is-a-solution-to/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) [Explore all 86 Allen Tate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) ## More Hovering quotes > [So I went to a club the other day, which is timely because my self esteem had been hovering right around 'normal' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/so-i-went-to-a-club-the-other-day-which-is-timely-because-my-self/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [I know that whenever a group of women are gathered together, the grandmother always makes a phantom appearance, hovering above them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/i-know-that-whenever-a-group-of-women-are-gathered-together-the/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [I was afraid to board a streetcar because of the conductor; I was afraid to enter the Kabuki Theater for fear of the usherettes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-was-afraid-to-board-a-streetcar-because-of-the-conductor-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [You've got all these characters and yet, you're hovering over one character like a fly over a stinky diaper. Realize that you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-wendig/you-ve-got-all-these-characters-and-yet-you-re-hovering-over-one/) [Chuck Wendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-wendig/) > [Where there are problems, there are angels hovering about just waiting for us to ask them to help us transform our suffering into blessings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pickard/where-there-are-problems-there-are-angels-hovering-about-just-waiting/) [Nancy Pickard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pickard/) > [Through her, in microcosm, the wide earth sobbed. The starglobe sank in her; the colours faded. The death-dew rose and the wild birds in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-peake/through-her-in-microcosm-the-wide-earth-sobbed-the-starglobe-sank-in/) [Mervyn Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-peake/) > [Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/her-face-was-sad-and-lovely-with-bright-things-in-it-bright-eyes-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [My fellow critics and I may occasionally fault a movie for departing, in detail or in spirit, from its literary source, but the grousing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-o-scott/my-fellow-critics-and-i-may-occasionally-fault-a-movie-for-departing/) [A. O. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-o-scott/) > [After sex, after coffee, after everything there is to be said -- The hovering and beautiful alphabet as we form our first words after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-maso/after-sex-after-coffee-after-everything-there-is-to-be-said-the/) [Carole Maso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-maso/) > [In America now there is this phenomenon called helicopter parenting, where you're hovering over your child for the whole time. Parents there view their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/in-america-now-there-is-this-phenomenon-called-helicopter-parenting/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [No sooner does a great man depart, and leave his character as public property, than a crowd of little men rushes towards it. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sooner-does-a-great-man-depart-and-leave-his-character-as-public/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I'm one of those hovering mothers and I know it's really important to have an independent child, so I'm trying to back off, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-blair/i-m-one-of-those-hovering-mothers-and-i-know-it-s-really-important-to/) [Selma Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-blair/) > [In order to be a winner, you have to look for ways of getting things done and not for reasons why things can’t be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/in-order-to-be-a-winner-you-have-to-look-for-ways-of-getting-things/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [The things which the child loves remain in the domain of the heart until old age. The most beautiful thing in life is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-things-which-the-child-loves-remain-in-the-domain-of-the-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like your weight set-point, which keeps the scale hovering around the same number, your happiness set-point will remain the same unless you make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marci-shimoff/like-your-weight-set-point-which-keeps-the-scale-hovering-around-the/) [Marci Shimoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marci-shimoff/) [Browse all 92 Hovering quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hovering/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But we shall not know the world by looking at it; we know it by looking at the hovering fly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Allen Tate" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looking-at-it-we-know-it-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hovering" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looking-at-it-we-know-it-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/allen-tate-7943_hovering_but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looki_1375923.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/allen-tate-7943_hovering_but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looki_1375923.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/allen-tate-7943_hovering_but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looki_1375923.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But we shall not know the world by looking at it; we know it by looking at the hovering fly.” — Allen Tate", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Allen Tate", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But we shall not know the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looking-at-it-we-know-it-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/but-we-shall-not-know-the-world-by-looking-at-it-we-know-it-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```