Situation Quote by Christopher Paolini
“Better to see widely than to see too closely and allow some feature of place or situation to catch you unawares. Do you understand?”
About This Quote
Source Book: Inheritance, 2001
Observing broadly prevents missing unexpected details; close focus can blind you to context.
In simple terms: Look broadly, not just closely.
Key Takeaway
Balance detail with overview.
Themes
perception
awareness
strategy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- decision making
- planning
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
systems thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you missed something by focusing too narrowly?
- How can you broaden your view?
A Different Perspective
Over‑focus can lead to tunnel vision.
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
![“I walked all around it [the Guggenheim Bilbao] and couldn't find one clear, clean shot. To make things worse, the weather was lousy. Nothing about this rang commercial money shot. In a situation like this there's only one thing to do: forget about pleasing editors, please yourself.” quote by Robert Polidori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/375/robert-polidori-55002_clean_i-walked-all-around-it-the-guggenheim-bi_9097.jpg)
