--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The rules of the universe that we think…" description: "\"The rules of the universe that we think we know are buried deep in our processes of perception.\" — Gregory Bateson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/gregory-bateson-7135_buried_the-rules-of-the-universe-that-we-think_1322107.png" --- # The rules of the universe that we think we know are buried… ![“The rules of the universe that we think we know are buried deep in our processes of perception.” quote by Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/gregory-bateson-7135_buried_the-rules-of-the-universe-that-we-think_1322107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/gregory-bateson-7135_buried_the-rules-of-the-universe-that-we-think_1322107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/gregory-bateson-7135_buried_the-rules-of-the-universe-that-we-think_1322107.png) > “The rules of the universe that we think we know are buried deep in our processes of perception.” [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our understanding of reality is shaped by how we perceive it, not by objective facts alone. **In simple terms:** Perception shapes reality. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions. Themes perception reality knowledge psychology epistemology Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - scientific research - personal decision making - media consumption - education - conflict resolution Key Concepts constructivism systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do your senses limit your understanding? - What methods can you use to test your perceptions? A Different Perspective Perception can be biased, leading to mistaken conclusions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buried/) [Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lens/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Processes Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/processes-perception-4409671/) [Rules Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-universe-1203539/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-think-563250/) ## Related quotes > [One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist…Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/one-of-the-basic-rules-of-the-universe-is-that-nothing-is-perfect/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Take Einstein; wasn't he looking for something stable and changeless in this enormous, constantly changing melting pot that is the universe? He sought fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo-antonioni/take-einstein-wasn-t-he-looking-for-something-stable-and-changeless/) [Michelangelo Antonioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo-antonioni/) > [You changed the rules of the universe when you fell in love with the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/you-changed-the-rules-of-the-universe-when-you-fell-in-love-with-the/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [The child of three or four is saturated with adult rules. 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Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/requirements-are-for-people-who-want-to-be-unhappy-because-it-s-your/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [We can never be quite clear whether we are referring to the world as it is or to the world as we see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/we-can-never-be-quite-clear-whether-we-are-referring-to-the-world-as/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [If we're looking for intelligence in the universe I think everybody assumes that this has to start with life and so the question is:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/if-we-re-looking-for-intelligence-in-the-universe-i-think-everybody/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. 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You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-think-you-want-to-know-the-secrets-of-the-universe-you-think-you/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. —Nokola Tesla; inventor, physicist, supergenius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-find-the-secrets-of-the-universe-think-in-terms-of-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.     —Nikola Tesla; inventor, physicist, supergenius When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/if-you-want-to-find-the-secrets-of-the-universe-think-in-terms-of/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [“The argument that Hawking has offered may be conveyed by question-and-answer, as in the Catholic catechism.   A Catechism of Quantum Cosmology Q: From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/the-argument-that-hawking-has-offered-may-be-conveyed-by-question-and/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) ## More by Gregory Bateson > [Number is different from quantity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/number-is-different-from-quantity/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [We do not know enough about how the present will lead into the future. We shall never be able to say, "Ha! My perception,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/we-do-not-know-enough-about-how-the-present-will-lead-into-the-future/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [Synaptic summation is the technical term used in neurophysiology for those instances in which some neuron C is fired only by a combination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/synaptic-summation-is-the-technical-term-used-in-neurophysiology-for/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [Somebody was saying to Picasso that he ought to make pictures of things the way they are-objective pictures. 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It differs, however, from most other branches of human activity in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/science-like-art-religion-commerce-warfare-and-even-sleep-is-based-on/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [Desired substance, things, patterns, or sequences of experience that are in some sense "good" for the organism - items of diet, conditions of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/desired-substance-things-patterns-or-sequences-of-experience-that-are/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [No organism can afford to be conscious of matters with which it could deal at unconscious levels. Broadly, we can afford to sink those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/no-organism-can-afford-to-be-conscious-of-matters-with-which-it-could/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [Wisdom is the intelligence of the system as a whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/wisdom-is-the-intelligence-of-the-system-as-a-whole/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [Still more astonishing is that world of rigorous fantasy we call mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/still-more-astonishing-is-that-world-of-rigorous-fantasy-we-call/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [The pathology is to want control, not that you ever get it, because of course you never do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/the-pathology-is-to-want-control-not-that-you-ever-get-it-because-of/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [Our initial sensory data are always "first derivatives," statements about differences which exist among external objects or statements about changes which occur either in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/our-initial-sensory-data-are-always-first-derivatives-statements/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [Multiple descriptions are better than one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/multiple-descriptions-are-better-than-one/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) [Explore all 94 Gregory Bateson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) ## More Buried quotes > [Palindrome as well. 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