--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's no background, no foreground…" description: "\"If there's no background, no foreground, no opposition, no complements, then there's no change becasue there's no subject and object.\" — Frederick Lenz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/frederick-lenz-8_backgrounds_if-there-s-no-background-no-foreground-n_1527168.jpg" --- # If there's no background, no foreground, no opposition, no… ![“If there's no background, no foreground, no opposition, no complements, then there's no change becasue there's no subject and object.” quote by Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/frederick-lenz-8_backgrounds_if-there-s-no-background-no-foreground-n_1527168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/frederick-lenz-8_backgrounds_if-there-s-no-background-no-foreground-n_1527168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/frederick-lenz-8_backgrounds_if-there-s-no-background-no-foreground-n_1527168.jpg) > “If there's no background, no foreground, no opposition, no complements, then there's no change becasue there's no subject and object.” [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without contrast, nothing can be recognized as change; subjects and objects define experience. **In simple terms:** Contrast creates change. Key Takeaway Notice how opposites shape perception. Themes perception change philosophy Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - art critique - personal growth - scientific observation - conflict resolution Key Concepts dualism relativity Questions to Reflect On - What role does contrast play in your life? - Can change exist without a defined subject? A Different Perspective Some changes occur without clear opposites. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) ## Related quotes > [When we have complements or oppositions, change occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-we-have-complements-or-oppositions-change-occurs/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Taoism is the gentle way. The path of least resistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/taoism-is-the-gentle-way-the-path-of-least-resistence/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Lao Tsu always points a finger directly to us. He says we must begin with ourselves. It's impossible to bring order into the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/lao-tsu-always-points-a-finger-directly-to-us-he-says-we-must-begin/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Examine everything that you've been taught, not simply what you've been taught in school, but the images that have been held up to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/examine-everything-that-you-ve-been-taught-not-simply-what-you-ve/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The mind of the child is not formed. We are shown that this is life, this is the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-mind-of-the-child-is-not-formed-we-are-shown-that-this-is-life/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There's a sense of productivity which cripples us terribly. We either have to be doing something worthwile or not. We are back to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-s-a-sense-of-productivity-which-cripples-us-terribly-we-either/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Lao Tsu says the way of life is ancient, timeless. It is existence which he calls the Tao - a mysterious source, beyond understanding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/lao-tsu-says-the-way-of-life-is-ancient-timeless-it-is-existence/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The essence of Taoism is really expressed by these few words. Taoism is the way of the child, the way of the fool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-essence-of-taoism-is-really-expressed-by-these-few-words-taoism/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you are interested in Taoism, I would suggest that you read the Way of Life by Lao Tsu, the founder of Taoism. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-are-interested-in-taoism-i-would-suggest-that-you-read-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When it reaches a blockage, water find the easiest path around the blockage, or it continues to assemble, and flows over the blockage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-it-reaches-a-blockage-water-find-the-easiest-path-around-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Many sections are taken up with political discussions and how the way of the ruler, the merchant, the householder, and the army interact with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/many-sections-are-taken-up-with-political-discussions-and-how-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The Chinese used the symbol of tai chi, the undifferentiated reality - no separation, no left and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-chinese-used-the-symbol-of-tai-chi-the-undifferentiated-reality/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [For a person who lives in time, differences are the most important thing because they represent your existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/for-a-person-who-lives-in-time-differences-are-the-most-important/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The Grand Canyon is living evidence of the power of water over a period of time. The power may not manifest immediately. Water can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-grand-canyon-is-living-evidence-of-the-power-of-water-over-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Frederick Lenz > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Karma means changing planes of reality or changing fields of attention. There will be perhaps a resulting physical action stemming from the change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/karma-means-changing-planes-of-reality-or-changing-fields-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Explore all 4,399 Frederick Lenz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More Backgrounds quotes > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. 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