Children Quote by Ernst Gombrich
““We are all inclined to accept conventional forms or colours as the only correct ones. Children sometimes think that stars must be star-shaped, though naturally they are not. The people who insist that in a picture the sky must be blue, and the grass green, are not very different from these children. They get indignant if they see other colours in a picture, but if we try to forget all we have heard about green grass and blue skies, and look at the world as if we had just arrived from another planet on a voyage of discovery and were seeing it for the first time, we may find that things are apt to have the most surprising colours.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Art and Illusion by Ernst Gombrich, 1960
We often accept familiar visual conventions as absolute truths, but seeing the world anew reveals unexpected possibilities.
In simple terms: People treat familiar colors as fixed, yet fresh perspective shows surprising hues.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and view things with fresh eyes.
Themes
perception
creativity
convention
open‑mindedness
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- design
- travel
- problem solving
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
visual perception
art theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How might you challenge a visual assumption you hold?
- What would you see if you imagined a fresh planet?
A Different Perspective
New perspectives can be limited by entrenched habits.
