--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like my use of light to be openly…" description: "\"I like my use of light to be openly situational in the sense that there is no invitation to meditate, to contemplate.\" — Dan Flavin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-flavin-51822_contemplate_i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situ_1598073.png" --- # I like my use of light to be openly situational in the… ![“I like my use of light to be openly situational in the sense that there is no invitation to meditate, to contemplate.” quote by Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-flavin-51822_contemplate_i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situ_1598073.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-flavin-51822_contemplate_i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situ_1598073.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-flavin-51822_contemplate_i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situ_1598073.png) > “I like my use of light to be openly situational in the sense that there is no invitation to meditate, to contemplate.” [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Light should be used as a situational tool, not a prompt for meditation or contemplation. **In simple terms:** Use light functionally, not as a spiritual cue. Key Takeaway Design lighting that serves the space, not to provoke thought. Themes design light functionality Mood analytical neutral Type practical conceptual When to use this quote - gallery installations - architectural lighting - stage design - public spaces Key Concepts perception environmental design Questions to Reflect On - How does light shape your experience? - When is light a focal point versus background? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on function can make spaces feel sterile. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contemplate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplate/) [Contemplating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplating/) [Invitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invitations/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light Openly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-openly-6072112/) [Meditate Contemplate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditate-contemplate-655937/) [Openly Situational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openly-situational-6072113/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-light-524191/) ## Related quotes > [If you cannot observe it, then you must meditate, contemplate and imagine it. It is wondrous that if you contemplate long enough, then eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-chang/if-you-cannot-observe-it-then-you-must-meditate-contemplate-and/) [Henry Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-chang/) > [Use your own light and return to the source of light. This is called practicing eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/use-your-own-light-and-return-to-the-source-of-light-this-is-called/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no bad light. There is spectacular light and difficult light. It's up to you to use the light you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/there-is-no-bad-light-there-is-spectacular-light-and-difficult-light/) [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) > [Use your light, but dim your brightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/use-your-light-but-dim-your-brightness/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [We have to be careful in how we use this light shined on us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/we-have-to-be-careful-in-how-we-use-this-light-shined-on-us/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [People went to bed when the sun went down and they woke up when the sun came up. That's what our bodies are naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-harris/people-went-to-bed-when-the-sun-went-down-and-they-woke-up-when-the/) [Shelby Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-harris/) > [ \[My work\] is using light as a material to influence or affect the medium of perception. I feel that I want to use light… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-turrell/my-work-is-using-light-as-a-material-to-influence-or-affect-the/) [James Turrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-turrell/) > [“At some point your candle will go out, so make use of the light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-hick/at-some-point-your-candle-will-go-out-so-make-use-of-the-light/) [Shaun Hick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-hick/) > [“Know what sparks the light in you. Then use that light to illuminate the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/know-what-sparks-the-light-in-you-then-use-that-light-to-illuminate/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Use the light to return to clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/use-the-light-to-return-to-clarity/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I write little quotes all the time to help encourage people to come together, like this one: 'If fate happens to toss you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-underwood/i-write-little-quotes-all-the-time-to-help-encourage-people-to-come/) [Matthew Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-underwood/) > [ You could start a small fire... with \[photo\] books I hate, and use that light to look at mine. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gossage/you-could-start-a-small-fire-with-photo-books-i-hate-and-use-that/) [John Gossage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gossage/) > [In thinking of light, if we can think about what it can do, and what it is, by thinking about itself, not about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-turrell/in-thinking-of-light-if-we-can-think-about-what-it-can-do-and-what-it/) [James Turrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-turrell/) > [This was pointed out to me by somebody who referred to the paintings of Rembrandt and his use of light: some elements are highlighted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/this-was-pointed-out-to-me-by-somebody-who-referred-to-the-paintings/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [“It is the responsibility, yet the individual choice, of each of us to use the light we have to dispel the work of darkness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/it-is-the-responsibility-yet-the-individual-choice-of-each-of-us-to/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) ## More by Dan Flavin > [My icons do not raise up the blessed savior in elaborate cathedrals. They are constructed concentrations celebrating barren rooms. They bring a limited light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/my-icons-do-not-raise-up-the-blessed-savior-in-elaborate-cathedrals/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) > [It is what it is, and it ain't nothin' else... Everything is clearly, openly, plainly delivered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/it-is-what-it-is-and-it-ain-t-nothin-else-everything-is-clearly/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) > [Electric light is just another instrument. I have no desire to contrive fantasies mediumistically or sociologically over it or beyond it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/electric-light-is-just-another-instrument-i-have-no-desire-to/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) > [A piece of wall can be visually disintegrated from the whole into a separate triangle by plunging a diagonal of light from edge to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/a-piece-of-wall-can-be-visually-disintegrated-from-the-whole-into-a/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) > [One might not think of light as a matter of fact, but I do. And it is, as I said, as plain and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/one-might-not-think-of-light-as-a-matter-of-fact-but-i-do-and-it-is/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) > [Realizing this, I knew that the actual space of a room could be broken down and played with by planting illusions of real light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/realizing-this-i-knew-that-the-actual-space-of-a-room-could-be-broken/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) [Explore all 7 Dan Flavin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) ## More Contemplate quotes > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [I have actually seen people contemplate their navels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heilpern/i-have-actually-seen-people-contemplate-their-navels/) [John Heilpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heilpern/) > [The two hardest things to contemplate in life ... are failure and age; those are one and the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-two-hardest-things-to-contemplate-in-life-are-failure-and-age/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Did you ever notice when you contemplate suicide, the hardest things to remember are why you've come this far to begin with? me either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/did-you-ever-notice-when-you-contemplate-suicide-the-hardest-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So many hours must I take my rest; So many hours must I contemplate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-many-hours-must-i-take-my-rest-so-many-hours-must-i-contemplate/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is truly bracing and instructive to contemplate the End Times - at least at safe remove, in the pages of fiction - especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/it-is-truly-bracing-and-instructive-to-contemplate-the-end-times-at/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [“The value of anything is only relative in the moment of contemplating it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-value-of-anything-is-only-relative-in-the-moment-of-contemplating/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [ \[The lion\] began to contemplate me with a kind of quiet premeditation, like that of a slow-witted man fondling an unaccustomed thought. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/the-lion-began-to-contemplate-me-with-a-kind-of-quiet-premeditation/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Nothing makes the future look so rosy as to contemplate it through a glass of Chambertin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/nothing-makes-the-future-look-so-rosy-as-to-contemplate-it-through-a/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [ \[When nature appears complicated:\] The moment we contemplate it as it is, and attain a position from which we can take a commanding view,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-herschel/when-nature-appears-complicated-the-moment-we-contemplate-it-as-it-is/) [John Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-herschel/) > [Like most musicians, Im good at becoming immersed in the music that I am currently working on. We seldom lift up our heads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-levin/like-most-musicians-im-good-at-becoming-immersed-in-the-music-that-i/) [Tony Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-levin/) > [“Contemplate for a moment hiking up a wild and rugged mountain. The mountain itself is a challenge, as well as the experience of beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sanchez/contemplate-for-a-moment-hiking-up-a-wild-and-rugged-mountain-the/) [Steve Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-sanchez/) > [Contemplate nature with the eyes of the soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soljeannette-acevedo/contemplate-nature-with-the-eyes-of-the-soul/) [Soljeannette Acevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soljeannette-acevedo/) > [Let man then contemplate the whole of nature in her full and grand majesty... No idea approaches it. We may enlarge our conceptions beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/let-man-then-contemplate-the-whole-of-nature-in-her-full-and-grand/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“It was not easy to commit suicide as to contemplate it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-was-not-easy-to-commit-suicide-as-to-contemplate-it/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Browse all 217 Contemplate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like my use of light to be openly situational in the sense that there is no invitation to meditate, to contemplate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Flavin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situational-in-the-sense-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contemplate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situational-in-the-sense-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-flavin-51822_contemplate_i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situ_1598073.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-flavin-51822_contemplate_i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situ_1598073.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-flavin-51822_contemplate_i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situ_1598073.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like my use of light to be openly situational in the sense that there is no invitation to meditate, to…” — Dan Flavin", "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": "Dan Flavin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like my use of light...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situational-in-the-sense-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/i-like-my-use-of-light-to-be-openly-situational-in-the-sense-that/#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 } } ] } ```