--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are all a sort of chameleons, that…" description: "\"We are all a sort of chameleons, that still take a tincture from things near us: nor is it to be wondered at in children, who better understand what th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/john-locke-814_chameleon_we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-sti_1949179.png" --- # We are all a sort of chameleons, that still take a… ![“We are all a sort of chameleons, that still take a tincture from things near us: nor is it to be wondered at in children, who better understand what they see, than what they hear.” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/john-locke-814_chameleon_we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-sti_1949179.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/john-locke-814_chameleon_we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-sti_1949179.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/john-locke-814_chameleon_we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-sti_1949179.png) > “We are all a sort of chameleons, that still take a tincture from things near us: nor is it to be wondered at in children, who better understand what they see, than what they hear.” [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children learn more from direct observation than from hearing, reflecting innate mimicry and experiential learning. **In simple terms:** Seeing teaches more than hearing. Key Takeaway Prioritize experiential learning. Themes education development perception Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - parenting - teaching - skill training - design - communication Key Concepts Empiricism learning theory Questions to Reflect On - How does observation shape knowledge? - When is hearing more effective? A Different Perspective Children also benefit from auditory input. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chameleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chameleon/) [Chameleons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chameleons/) [Chameleons Tincture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chameleons-tincture-3152538/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-better/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Tincture Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tincture-things-3152539/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wondered Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondered-children-1367711/) ## Related quotes > [Chameleons feed on light and air: Poets food is love and fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/chameleons-feed-on-light-and-air-poets-food-is-love-and-fame/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The people I respect in the history of acting, from the beginning, were chameleons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-people-i-respect-in-the-history-of-acting-from-the-beginning-were/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [“Conversational Chameleon We know that chameleons are lizards who are famous for their ability to change their colors and fit in as their environments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/conversational-chameleon-we-know-that-chameleons-are-lizards-who-are/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Words are chameleons, which reflect the color of their environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/words-are-chameleons-which-reflect-the-color-of-their-environment/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [“I wondered then why children played so in the river, but adults ceased to see it with the same eyes. Why couldn't we embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shors/i-wondered-then-why-children-played-so-in-the-river-but-adults-ceased/) [John Shors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shors/) > [We are like chameleons, we take our hue and the color of our moral character, from those who are around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/we-are-like-chameleons-we-take-our-hue-and-the-color-of-our-moral/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“We make it especially hard for others to observe our trait when it means we are observing and not "behaving," at least at first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/we-make-it-especially-hard-for-others-to-observe-our-trait-when-it/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [That's the beauty of Black Eyed Peas, we don't pigeonhole ourselves into just one category. We're the chameleons of hip-hop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taboo/that-s-the-beauty-of-black-eyed-peas-we-don-t-pigeonhole-ourselves/) [Taboo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taboo/) > [“The shrewd, like chameleons, embrace change by using it to their advantage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-shrewd-like-chameleons-embrace-change-by-using-it-to-their/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I'm really drawn to chameleons; I'm really drawn to people who can play a wide range of roles, who are really versatile, but are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/i-m-really-drawn-to-chameleons-i-m-really-drawn-to-people-who-can/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [“We make it especially hard for others to observe our trait because we are so responsive to our environments that we can be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/we-make-it-especially-hard-for-others-to-observe-our-trait-because-we/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [“Chameleons usually don't draw much of a crowd or get many ovations. By”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-glover/chameleons-usually-don-t-draw-much-of-a-crowd-or-get-many-ovations-by/) [Robert A. Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-glover/) > [“Of course you wanted your children to have it better than you had. But at what point was it not better at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/of-course-you-wanted-your-children-to-have-it-better-than-you-had-but/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Prejudice is taught. If the world were full of only children, it would be a much better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/prejudice-is-taught-if-the-world-were-full-of-only-children-it-would/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Children do better when they feel better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-nelsen/children-do-better-when-they-feel-better/) [Jane Nelsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-nelsen/) ## More by John Locke > [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [I pretend not to teach, but to inquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-pretend-not-to-teach-but-to-inquire/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If we trace the progress of our minds, and with attention observe how it repeats, adds together, and unites its simple ideas received from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-we-trace-the-progress-of-our-minds-and-with-attention-observe-how/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Thus parents, by humouring and cockering them when little, corrupt the principles of nature in their children, and wonder afterwards to taste the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/thus-parents-by-humouring-and-cockering-them-when-little-corrupt-the/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [ “\[M\]an is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/m-an-is-not-permitted-without-censure-to-follow-his-own-thoughts-in/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/fashion-for-the-most-part-is-nothing-but-the-ostentation-of-riches/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/when-we-know-our-own-strength-we-shall-the-better-know-what-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/every-man-has-a-property-in-his-own-person-this-nobody-has-a-right-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“Earthly minds, like mud-walls, resist the strongest batteries: And though perhaps sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/earthly-minds-like-mud-walls-resist-the-strongest-batteries-and/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“To avoid this state of war (wherein there is no appeal but to heaven, and wherein every the least difference is apt to end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/to-avoid-this-state-of-war-wherein-there-is-no-appeal-but-to-heaven/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-by-gaining-knowledge-we-destroy-our-health-we-labour-for-a-thing/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“don’t let the things you don’t have prevent you from using the things you do have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/don-t-let-the-things-you-don-t-have-prevent-you-from-using-the-things/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Power to do good is the true and lawful act of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men are little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/power-to-do-good-is-the-true-and-lawful-act-of-aspiring-for-good/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [The body of People may with Respect resist intolerable Tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-body-of-people-may-with-respect-resist-intolerable-tyranny/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Anger is uneasiness or discomposure of the mind upon the receipt of any injury, with a present purpose of revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/anger-is-uneasiness-or-discomposure-of-the-mind-upon-the-receipt-of/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) [Explore all 355 John Locke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## More Chameleon quotes > [Singing is an incredible expression and something that is important to me, but where I feel comfortable with how much I reveal about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/singing-is-an-incredible-expression-and-something-that-is-important/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [If I hear ‘Karma Chameleon’ one more time, I swear I’m going to find Boy George and make him eat Jesse’s record. What does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/if-i-hear-karma-chameleon-one-more-time-i-swear-i-m-going-to-find-boy/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Everybody in life is a chameleon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-chisholm/everybody-in-life-is-a-chameleon/) [Melanie Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-chisholm/) > [Black Eyed Peas is a chameleon group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/black-eyed-peas-is-a-chameleon-group/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [“He was a chameleon. He could change his appearance in seconds. He was a master in disguise and he could baffle the best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/he-was-a-chameleon-he-could-change-his-appearance-in-seconds-he-was-a/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [ I love the chameleon nature of this business \[acting\]. I always have. Sometimes I'm not as recognizable as somebody else and I may not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/i-love-the-chameleon-nature-of-this-business-acting-i-always-have/) [Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/) > [“Butch says that the art of ‘becoming a chameleon’ — blending into your contacts’ environment — is the key to establishing rapport and earning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stark/butch-says-that-the-art-of-becoming-a-chameleon-blending-into-your/) [Jill Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stark/) > [I've learned a lot from being a chameleon, sort of adopting the musical personalities of who I was playing with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-denk/i-ve-learned-a-lot-from-being-a-chameleon-sort-of-adopting-the/) [Jeremy Denk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-denk/) > [People generally fall into one of three groups: the few who make things happen, the many who watch things happen, and the overwhelming majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/people-generally-fall-into-one-of-three-groups-the-few-who-make/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“You really are a chameleon, aren't you? Fitting in wherever you go. "Aren't we all?" she said...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/you-really-are-a-chameleon-aren-t-you-fitting-in-wherever-you-go-aren/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [To be a character actor is to be open, to be a chameleon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/to-be-a-character-actor-is-to-be-open-to-be-a-chameleon/) [Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/) > [When you can't draw chameleons and you can't draw blenders, it's a bad idea to write strips where chameleons become blenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/when-you-can-t-draw-chameleons-and-you-can-t-draw-blenders-it-s-a-bad/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I'm so envious of certain actors that have that natural facility to hear a cadence and the rhythm of an accent, that it goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/i-m-so-envious-of-certain-actors-that-have-that-natural-facility-to/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [I'm a chameleon, so changeable. I see myself as a gadfly and a questioner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-johnson/i-m-a-chameleon-so-changeable-i-see-myself-as-a-gadfly-and-a/) [Philip Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-johnson/) > [I like being a chameleon and doing things that are just so different that people will be like, 'Oh, that's him?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-hawkins/i-like-being-a-chameleon-and-doing-things-that-are-just-so-different/) [Corey Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-hawkins/) [Browse all 174 Chameleon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chameleon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are all a sort of chameleons, that still take a tincture from things near us: nor is it to be wondered at in children, who better understand what they see, than what they hear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Locke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-still-take-a-tincture-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chameleon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-still-take-a-tincture-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/john-locke-814_chameleon_we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-sti_1949179.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/john-locke-814_chameleon_we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-sti_1949179.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/john-locke-814_chameleon_we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-sti_1949179.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are all a sort of chameleons, that still take a tincture from things near us: nor is it to be wondered at…” — John Locke", "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": "John Locke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are all a sort of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-still-take-a-tincture-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/we-are-all-a-sort-of-chameleons-that-still-take-a-tincture-from/#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 } } ] } ```