--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be truly visionary we have to root our…" description: "\"To be truly visionary we have to root our imagination in our concrete reality while simultaneously imagining possibilities beyond that reality.\" — Bell..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/bell-hooks-464_concrete_to-be-truly-visionary-we-have-to-root-ou_357176.jpg" --- # To be truly visionary we have to root our imagination in… ![“To be truly visionary we have to root our imagination in our concrete reality while simultaneously imagining possibilities beyond that reality.” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/bell-hooks-464_concrete_to-be-truly-visionary-we-have-to-root-ou_357176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/bell-hooks-464_concrete_to-be-truly-visionary-we-have-to-root-ou_357176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/bell-hooks-464_concrete_to-be-truly-visionary-we-have-to-root-ou_357176.jpg) > “To be truly visionary we have to root our imagination in our concrete reality while simultaneously imagining possibilities beyond that reality.” [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Visionary thinking must balance imaginative ideas with practical reality, while also daring to imagine beyond current limits. **In simple terms:** Combine imagination with reality and think beyond it. Key Takeaway Ground ideas in reality, then expand. Themes imagination reality visionary thinking Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - strategic planning - innovation workshops - personal goal setting Key Concepts sociology philosophy creative thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you test imaginative ideas against reality? - What limits do you set on your visions? A Different Perspective Balancing imagination and reality can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Visionaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visionaries/) [Visionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visionary/) ## Related quotes > [I've always been a big fan of Guillermo del Toro, 'Pan's Labryinth' blew me away. The stories and the worlds that he's created, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-atkin-downes/i-ve-always-been-a-big-fan-of-guillermo-del-toro-pan-s-labryinth-blew/) Robin Atkin Downes > [Truly visionary and successful companies have discovered that there is no conflict between the pursuit of profit and having a pursuit beyond profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/truly-visionary-and-successful-companies-have-discovered-that-there/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [I know it feels like you have all these options and when you make a decision, you lose a world of possibilities. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-finch/i-know-it-feels-like-you-have-all-these-options-and-when-you-make-a/) [Janet Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-finch/) > [Making two possibilities a reality. Predicting the future of things we all know. Fighting off the diseased programming Of centuries, centuries, centuries, centuries. Science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/making-two-possibilities-a-reality-predicting-the-future-of-things-we/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [“Visionaries light the way. Pragmatists lead the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-l-cote/visionaries-light-the-way-pragmatists-lead-the-way/) Edward L. Cote > [A visionary company is like a great work of art. Think of Michelangelo's scenes from Genesis on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-visionary-company-is-like-a-great-work-of-art-think-of-michelangelo/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I'm not a visionary, but I've spent half my life drawing things Imagined, Remembered, and Observed, comparing the differences between them, and my study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blegvad/i-m-not-a-visionary-but-i-ve-spent-half-my-life-drawing-things/) [Peter Blegvad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blegvad/) > [It is just seeing-it is a very simple word-and to be a visionary is to be a seer. The problem is that most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-brakhage/it-is-just-seeing-it-is-a-very-simple-word-and-to-be-a-visionary-is/) [Stan Brakhage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-brakhage/) > [Revolutionary art and visionary physics are both investigations into the nature of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-shlain/revolutionary-art-and-visionary-physics-are-both-investigations-into/) [Leonard Shlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-shlain/) > [Wright is a visionary with a great strategic mind, and he's a strong business leader with outstanding people skills, ... He's a terrific guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/wright-is-a-visionary-with-a-great-strategic-mind-and-he-s-a-strong/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [The visionary lies to himself, the liar only to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-visionary-lies-to-himself-the-liar-only-to-others/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The visionary is the one who brings his or her voice into the world and who refuses to edit, rehearse, perform, or hide. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/the-visionary-is-the-one-who-brings-his-or-her-voice-into-the-world/) [Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/) > [As we passed on, it seemed those scenes of visionary enchantment would never have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meriwether-lewis/as-we-passed-on-it-seemed-those-scenes-of-visionary-enchantment-would/) [Meriwether Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meriwether-lewis/) > [Michael Cole is a visionary!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/michael-cole-is-a-visionary/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [If critics and fanboys weren't suckers for simplistic nihilism and high-pressure marketing, Afterlife would be universally acclaimed as a visionary feat, superior to Inception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armond-white/if-critics-and-fanboys-weren-t-suckers-for-simplistic-nihilism-and/) [Armond White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armond-white/) ## More by Bell Hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' 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A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 Bell Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Concrete quotes > [I used a psychologist when I was playing, It's one of the most powerful things: how you can have a concrete head and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/i-used-a-psychologist-when-i-was-playing-it-s-one-of-the-most/) [Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. 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