---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The normal person classifies an object…"
description: "\"The normal person classifies an object, and then forgets about it. The creative person, by contrast, is always open to new possibilities.\" — Jordan Pet..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jordan-peterson-4688_contrast_the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-a_2632755.png"
---

#  The normal person classifies an object, and then forgets…

![“The normal person classifies an object, and then forgets about it. The creative person, by contrast, is always open to new possibilities.” quote by Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jordan-peterson-4688_contrast_the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-a_2632755.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jordan-peterson-4688_contrast_the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-a_2632755.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jordan-peterson-4688_contrast_the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-a_2632755.png)

> “The normal person classifies an object, and then forgets about it. The creative person, by contrast, is always open to new possibilities.”

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He contrasts how ordinary people classify objects and forget them, while creative minds stay open to new possibilities.

**In simple terms:** Creative people remain open to new ideas.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate curiosity and flexibility.

Themes

creativity mindset learning

Mood

thoughtful encouraging

Type

inspirational reflective

When to use this quote

- brainstorming sessions
- creative workshops
- continuous learning

Key Concepts

cognitive science philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you keep ideas fresh?
- What habits foster creative openness?

A Different Perspective

Over‑analysis can hinder spontaneity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Contrast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrast/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-person/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forgets Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgets-creative-2203988/) [New possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-possibilities/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Normal person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal-person/) [Object Forgets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/object-forgets-2203990/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Person Classifies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-classifies-2203989/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/)

## Related quotes

> [Every day brings new lessons and new possibilities. There is always a way to take the next step forward on the path you've chosen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/every-day-brings-new-lessons-and-new-possibilities-there-is-always-a/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [A historical property has morals and ethics of the society that created it and it can be revived. What I mean is that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/a-historical-property-has-morals-and-ethics-of-the-society-that/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [Children's books have great potential to reveal new possibilities to readers, because the intended audience is at an age of genuine learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/children-s-books-have-great-potential-to-reveal-new-possibilities-to/)

[Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/)

> [The next thing you think, the next action you take, will either create a new possibility for you, or it will repeat the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-next-thing-you-think-the-next-action-you-take-will-either-create/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [But it will depend on young people like you being open to new ideas and new possibilities. And it will require young people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-it-will-depend-on-young-people-like-you-being-open-to-new-ideas/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/creativity-is-a-lot-like-looking-at-the-world-through-a-kaleidoscope/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Every daring attempt to make a great change in existing conditions, every lofty vision of new possibilities for the human race, has been labeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/every-daring-attempt-to-make-a-great-change-in-existing-conditions/)

[Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/)

> [Developing a skill is painful, though. It is difficult. And that's part of the satisfaction. You will only find meaning in what you struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/developing-a-skill-is-painful-though-it-is-difficult-and-that-s-part/)

[Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/)

> [As we talk with candour, we open the doors to new possibilities and new areas of cooperation in advance in democracy, in combating terrorism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/as-we-talk-with-candour-we-open-the-doors-to-new-possibilities-and/)

[Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/)

> [Forgiveness offers the possibility of two types of peace: peace of mind - the potential healing of old emotional wounds, and peace with others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-pargament/forgiveness-offers-the-possibility-of-two-types-of-peace-peace-of/)

[Kenneth Pargament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-pargament/)

> [When you expand your awareness, your energy flows freely. You're more flexible, balanced, and creative. You view yourself and the world with more compassion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/when-you-expand-your-awareness-your-energy-flows-freely-you-re-more/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Many of the greatest works of philosophy seem to me to be valuable not because of their arguments, but because they offer us perspectives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/many-of-the-greatest-works-of-philosophy-seem-to-me-to-be-valuable/)

[Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/)

> [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [Every culture, if its natural development is not too much affected by political restrictions, experiences a perpetual renewal of the formative urge, and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/every-culture-if-its-natural-development-is-not-too-much-affected-by/)

[Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/)

> [Our thoughts and imaginations are the only real limits to our possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/our-thoughts-and-imaginations-are-the-only-real-limits-to-our/)

[Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/)

## More by Jordan Peterson

> [We're so immaturely cynical as a culture. We're not wise enough to look at an institution like marriage and to really things about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/we-re-so-immaturely-cynical-as-a-culture-we-re-not-wise-enough-to/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [To me, ideology is corrupt; it's a parasite on religious structures. To be an ideologue is to have all of the terrible things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/to-me-ideology-is-corrupt-it-s-a-parasite-on-religious-structures-to/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [The literature associating inequality with social instability and poor health outcomes is pretty convincing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-literature-associating-inequality-with-social-instability-and/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [Assuming if there's such a thing as reality, if you have a false relationship with it, how can you do anything but fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/assuming-if-there-s-such-a-thing-as-reality-if-you-have-a-false/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [The people who hold that our culture is an oppressive patriarchy, they don't want to admit that the current hierarchy might be predicated on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-people-who-hold-that-our-culture-is-an-oppressive-patriarchy-they/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [The multiplication force of technology on cognitive differences is massive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-multiplication-force-of-technology-on-cognitive-differences-is/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [It's very difficult to regulate yourself, and if you learn to do that, well, it starts to spill over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/it-s-very-difficult-to-regulate-yourself-and-if-you-learn-to-do-that/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [It's not just human nature to associate in tribes. It's deeper than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/it-s-not-just-human-nature-to-associate-in-tribes-it-s-deeper-than/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [I suppose for a very long time I've been trying to understand how it is that people might make sense out of their lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/i-suppose-for-a-very-long-time-i-ve-been-trying-to-understand-how-it/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [People have this capacity within them to set the world straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/people-have-this-capacity-within-them-to-set-the-world-straight/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [The connection between psychology, mythology, and literature is as important as the connection between psychology and biology and the hard sciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-connection-between-psychology-mythology-and-literature-is-as/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [“The data on the economic utility of artists is really, really strong. Artists and entrepreneurs are the same people...and of course entrepreneurs are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-data-on-the-economic-utility-of-artists-is-really-really-strong/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [It isn't generally the case that liberals dominate entire hierarchies. That isn't generally how it works, because the hierarchies are usually set up so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/it-isn-t-generally-the-case-that-liberals-dominate-entire-hierarchies/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [I like to recede away from classifications. You might say that indicates a fundamental lack of commitment. I suppose that's true to some degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/i-like-to-recede-away-from-classifications-you-might-say-that/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

> [There were some great clinicians in the 20th century - great men. Freud was a genius; Jung was a genius, Carl Rogers was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/there-were-some-great-clinicians-in-the-20th-century-great-men-freud/)

[Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

[Explore all 107 Jordan Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/)

## More Contrast quotes

> [You don't merely give over your creativity to making a film - you give over your life! In theatre, by contrast, you live these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/you-don-t-merely-give-over-your-creativity-to-making-a-film-you-give/)

[Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/)

> [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/)

[Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/)

> [Which is probably the reason why I work exclusively in black and white... to highlight that contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/which-is-probably-the-reason-why-i-work-exclusively-in-black-and/)

[Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/)

> [Emotional Literacy means being able to recognise what you are feeling, so that it doesn't interfere with thinking. It becomes another dimension to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-orbach/emotional-literacy-means-being-able-to-recognise-what-you-are-feeling/)

[Susie Orbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-orbach/)

> [I believe in the people of our state and making sure the voices of the people of our state are heard in Washington. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-cunningham/i-believe-in-the-people-of-our-state-and-making-sure-the-voices-of/)

[Cal Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-cunningham/)

> [I have always liked the contrast between being blonde and having dark features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-have-always-liked-the-contrast-between-being-blonde-and-having-dark/)

[Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/)

> [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/)

[Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/)

> [There's this one song called 'Final Warning' that I'm really excited about because I love the contrast of my vocal sounding very soothing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/there-s-this-one-song-called-final-warning-that-i-m-really-excited/)

[Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/)

> [Trump conducts meetings and actually tries to get something done rather than just have the meeting and rather than just announce a framework and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/trump-conducts-meetings-and-actually-tries-to-get-something-done/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [In a way, human beings have never been part of the natural order; we're not biological in the normal sense. Normal biological animals stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/in-a-way-human-beings-have-never-been-part-of-the-natural-order-we-re/)

[Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/)

> [On the surface the avant garde as a whole seems united primarily in terms of what they are against: the rejection of social institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-innes/on-the-surface-the-avant-garde-as-a-whole-seems-united-primarily-in/)

[C. D. Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-innes/)

> [One of the most durable successes of the war on poverty was to dramatically reduce the number of elderly poor in America. That's still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-abramsky/one-of-the-most-durable-successes-of-the-war-on-poverty-was-to/)

[Sasha Abramsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-abramsky/)

> [All the classical meditation traditions, in one way or another, stress nonattachment to the self as a goal of practice. Oddly, this dimension is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/all-the-classical-meditation-traditions-in-one-way-or-another-stress/)

[Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/)

> [Our national leaders tend to try to protect the national interest as they see it. They may screw up in that, but they at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/our-national-leaders-tend-to-try-to-protect-the-national-interest-as/)

[Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/)

> [Others have questions about how it is that God and human beings can both be speaking through the one document such that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/others-have-questions-about-how-it-is-that-god-and-human-beings-can/)

[D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/)

[Browse all 859 Contrast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrast/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The normal person classifies an object, and then forgets about it. The creative person, by contrast, is always open to new possibilities.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jordan Peterson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-and-then-forgets-about-it-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Contrast"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-and-then-forgets-about-it-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jordan-peterson-4688_contrast_the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-a_2632755.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jordan-peterson-4688_contrast_the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-a_2632755.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/jordan-peterson-4688_contrast_the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-a_2632755.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The normal person classifies an object, and then forgets about it. The creative person, by contrast, is…” — Jordan Peterson",
                "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": "Jordan Peterson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The normal person classifies an object,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-and-then-forgets-about-it-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-normal-person-classifies-an-object-and-then-forgets-about-it-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
