--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our native susceptibilities and acquired…" description: "\"Our native susceptibilities and acquired tastes determine which of the many qualities in an object shall most impress us, and be most clearly recalled...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/george-henry-lewes-4544_acquired-taste_our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired_2071067.jpg" --- # Our native susceptibilities and acquired tastes determine… ![“Our native susceptibilities and acquired tastes determine which of the many qualities in an object shall most impress us, and be most clearly recalled. One man remembers the combustible properties of a substance, which to another is memorable for its polarising property; to one man a stream is so…” quote by George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/george-henry-lewes-4544_acquired-taste_our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired_2071067.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/george-henry-lewes-4544_acquired-taste_our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired_2071067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/george-henry-lewes-4544_acquired-taste_our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired_2071067.jpg) > “Our native susceptibilities and acquired tastes determine which of the many qualities in an object shall most impress us, and be most clearly recalled. One man remembers the combustible properties of a substance, which to another is memorable for its polarising property; to one man a stream is so much water-power, to another a rendezvous for lovers.” [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People perceive objects differently based on innate biases and learned preferences, causing varied memories and impressions. **In simple terms:** Our biases shape what we notice and remember. Key Takeaway Recognize personal bias when judging. Themes perception memory subjectivity Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - marketing - education - art criticism - personal relationships Key Concepts cognitive bias personal taste Questions to Reflect On - How do your experiences color your judgments? - Can you separate personal taste from universal qualities? A Different Perspective Bias can limit objective assessment of value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquired taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquired-taste/) [Acquired Tastes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquired-tastes-3052286/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Impress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impress/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Memorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorable/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [One man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-man/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Qualities Object](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualities-object-3999096/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Rendezvous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rendezvous/) [Streams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streams/) [Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance/) [Substance Memorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance-memorable-3999097/) [Susceptibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/susceptibility/) [Taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taste/) [Tastes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tastes/) [Tastes Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tastes-determine-3999095/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Water power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-power/) ## Related quotes > [... acquired tastes are the mark of the man of leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-kennedy/acquired-tastes-are-the-mark-of-the-man-of-leisure/) [Margaret Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-kennedy/) > [The only tastes worth having are acquired tastes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-adair/the-only-tastes-worth-having-are-acquired-tastes/) [Gilbert Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-adair/) > [To one man a stream is so much water-power, to another a rendezvous for lovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/to-one-man-a-stream-is-so-much-water-power-to-another-a-rendezvous/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [I have never seen a river that I could not love. Moving water... has a fascinating vitality. It has power and grace and associations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderick-haig-brown/i-have-never-seen-a-river-that-i-could-not-love-moving-water-has-a/) [Roderick Haig-Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderick-haig-brown/) > [Irrigation of the land with seawater desalinated by fusion power is ancient. It's called rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mcalary/irrigation-of-the-land-with-seawater-desalinated-by-fusion-power-is/) [Mike McAlary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mcalary/) > [When water power then steam power were harnessed to spin and weave cloth, a cottage craft turned into an industry overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-dehaze/when-water-power-then-steam-power-were-harnessed-to-spin-and-weave/) [Alain Dehaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-dehaze/) > [“A still lake is transparent and reflective. Stillness mirrors the truth, for a calm lake reflects with clarity, shedding light on its depths. Light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayita-bhattacharjee/a-still-lake-is-transparent-and-reflective-stillness-mirrors-the/) [Jayita Bhattacharjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayita-bhattacharjee/) > [ Heat energy of uniform temperature \[is\] the ultimate fate of all energy. The power of sunlight and coal, electric power, water power, winds and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-soddy/heat-energy-of-uniform-temperature-is-the-ultimate-fate-of-all-energy/) [Frederick Soddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-soddy/) > [We often say that we fear no invasion from the south, but the armies of the south have already crossed the border - American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/we-often-say-that-we-fear-no-invasion-from-the-south-but-the-armies/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [Water, like religion and ideology, has the power to move millions of people. Since the very birth of human civilization, people have moved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/water-like-religion-and-ideology-has-the-power-to-move-millions-of/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [The most efficient water power in the world - women's tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-mizner/the-most-efficient-water-power-in-the-world-women-s-tears/) [Wilson Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-mizner/) > [The air, the water and the ground are free gifts to man and no one has the power to portion them out in parcels.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-air-the-water-and-the-ground-are-free-gifts-to-man-and-no-one-has-2/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [In so far as such developments utilise the natural energy running to waste, as in water power, they may be accounted as pure gain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-soddy/in-so-far-as-such-developments-utilise-the-natural-energy-running-to/) [Frederick Soddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-soddy/) > [“The framers were wise in their generation and wanted to do the very best possible to secure their own liberty and independence, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-framers-were-wise-in-their-generation-and-wanted-to-do-the-very/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [There should be intensive research of all forms of clean energy - sun power, wind power, water power including wave power. In some places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/there-should-be-intensive-research-of-all-forms-of-clean-energy-sun/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) ## More by George Henry Lewes > [Heart and Brain are the two lords of life. In the metaphors of ordinary speech and in the stricter language of science, we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/heart-and-brain-are-the-two-lords-of-life-in-the-metaphors-of/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [It is unhappily true that much insincere Literature and Art, executed solely with a view to effect, does succeed by deceiving the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/it-is-unhappily-true-that-much-insincere-literature-and-art-executed/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [I have always considered The Merry Wives one of the worst plays, if not altogether the worst, that Shakespeare has left us. The wit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/i-have-always-considered-the-merry-wives-one-of-the-worst-plays-if/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Literature is at once the cause and the effect of social progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-is-at-once-the-cause-and-the-effect-of-social-progress/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Science is the systematic classification of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/science-is-the-systematic-classification-of-experience/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [In complex trains of thought signs are indispensable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/in-complex-trains-of-thought-signs-are-indispensable/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Literature is at once the cause and the effect of social progress. It deepens our natural sensibilities, and strengthens by exercise our intellectual capacities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-is-at-once-the-cause-and-the-effect-of-social-progress-it/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [If you feel yourself to be above the mass, speak so as to raise the mass to the height of your argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/if-you-feel-yourself-to-be-above-the-mass-speak-so-as-to-raise-the/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [The artist is called a creator...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/the-artist-is-called-a-creator/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [To some men popularity is always suspicious. Enjoying none themselves, they are prone to suspect the validity of those attainments which command it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/to-some-men-popularity-is-always-suspicious-enjoying-none-themselves/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [The art of writing is not, as many seem to imagine, the art of bringing fine phrases into rhythmical order, but the art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/the-art-of-writing-is-not-as-many-seem-to-imagine-the-art-of-bringing/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Literature delivers tidings of the world within and the world without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-delivers-tidings-of-the-world-within-and-the-world-without/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [If the members of a class do not understand -- if those directly addressed fail to listen, or listening, fail to recognize a power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/if-the-members-of-a-class-do-not-understand-if-those-directly/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [No man was ever eloquent by trying to be eloquent, but only by being so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/no-man-was-ever-eloquent-by-trying-to-be-eloquent-but-only-by-being-so/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [To love is for the Soul to choose a companion, and travel with it along the perilous defiles and winding ways of life; mutually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/to-love-is-for-the-soul-to-choose-a-companion-and-travel-with-it/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) [Explore all 109 George Henry Lewes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) ## More Acquired taste quotes > [“I'm an acquired taste, he assured her, displaying one dimple, but addictive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-bond/i-m-an-acquired-taste-he-assured-her-displaying-one-dimple-but/) [Stephanie Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-bond/) > [Maybe you could put it out there that I don't have a built-in dislike of ballads. That was kind of the reputation I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/maybe-you-could-put-it-out-there-that-i-don-t-have-a-built-in-dislike/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [I have always loved blizzards, if only because of the driving experience - which is definitely an acquired taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-have-always-loved-blizzards-if-only-because-of-the-driving/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [I know I'm an acquired taste - I'm anchovies. And not everybody wants those hairy little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-know-i-m-an-acquired-taste-i-m-anchovies-and-not-everybody-wants/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [ I guess, as they say, I never acquired a taste for \[caviar\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-guess-as-they-say-i-never-acquired-a-taste-for-caviar/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [Mundus vult decipi: the world wants to be deceived. The truth is too complex and frightening; the taste for the truth is an acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/mundus-vult-decipi-the-world-wants-to-be-deceived-the-truth-is-too/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“I'm not a purist. Coffee drinking minus cream and sugar is an acquired taste. I'm still not sure it isn't like telling chefs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sinnott/i-m-not-a-purist-coffee-drinking-minus-cream-and-sugar-is-an-acquired/) [Kevin Sinnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sinnott/) > [One of my favorite Japanese foods is called natto. It's fermented soybeans. I grew up in Japan eating natto. It's definitely an acquired taste.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/one-of-my-favorite-japanese-foods-is-called-natto-it-s-fermented/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [“Raw persimmon is an acquired taste," he said, handing me a slice, "but I have a feeling you'll like this one." I resisted the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-donohue/raw-persimmon-is-an-acquired-taste-he-said-handing-me-a-slice-but-i/) [Meg Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-donohue/) > [“I'm like kale; you know that leafy green stuff? I'm an acquired taste. You either hate me or love me. Either way, I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-callesto/i-m-like-kale-you-know-that-leafy-green-stuff-i-m-an-acquired-taste/) [Nicole Callesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-callesto/) > [At least in part, people are attracted to subjects where they can identify at a basic level with the people who do it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/at-least-in-part-people-are-attracted-to-subjects-where-they-can/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [Twombly, frankly, was an acquired taste. I was not in love with Twombly the first time I saw one of his paintings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/twombly-frankly-was-an-acquired-taste-i-was-not-in-love-with-twombly/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [money is an acquired taste that grows as it is fed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccloy/money-is-an-acquired-taste-that-grows-as-it-is-fed/) [Helen McCloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccloy/) > [“Why do we experience such difficulty even imagining a different sort of society? Why is it beyond us to conceive of a different set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/why-do-we-experience-such-difficulty-even-imagining-a-different-sort/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“I'm an acquired taste. I'm anchovies. If I was potato chips I could go more places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-m-an-acquired-taste-i-m-anchovies-if-i-was-potato-chips-i-could-go/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) [Browse all 63 Acquired taste quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquired-taste/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our native susceptibilities and acquired tastes determine which of the many qualities in an object shall most impress us, and be most clearly recalled. One man remembers the combustible properties of a substance, which to another is memorable for its polarising property; to one man a stream is so much water-power, to another a rendezvous for lovers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Henry Lewes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired-tastes-determine-which-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquired taste" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired-tastes-determine-which-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/george-henry-lewes-4544_acquired-taste_our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired_2071067.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/george-henry-lewes-4544_acquired-taste_our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired_2071067.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/george-henry-lewes-4544_acquired-taste_our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired_2071067.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our native susceptibilities and acquired tastes determine which of the many qualities in an object shall…” — George Henry Lewes", "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": "George Henry Lewes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our native susceptibilities and acquired tastes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired-tastes-determine-which-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/our-native-susceptibilities-and-acquired-tastes-determine-which-of/#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 } } ] } ```