Analogy Quote by Jeff Vandermeer
““Because our minds process information solely through analogy and categorization, we are often defeated when presented with something that fits no category.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “Jeff VanderMeer on the Power of Analogy”, 2018
Our brains rely on analogies and categories, so novel, uncategorizable things overwhelm us.
In simple terms: We think by comparing to what we know.
Seek new categories to understand the unknown.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- creative brainstorming
- learning new subjects
- cross‑disciplinary research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create a new category for a puzzling problem?
- What analogies might mislead you?
Analogy can limit insight when forced too rigidly.