--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have taught my students not to apply…" description: "\"I have taught my students not to apply rules or mechanical ways of seeing.\" — Josef Albers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/josef-albers-9747_seeing_i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-r_48648.jpg" --- # I have taught my students not to apply rules or mechanical… ![“I have taught my students not to apply rules or mechanical ways of seeing.” quote by Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/josef-albers-9747_seeing_i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-r_48648.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/josef-albers-9747_seeing_i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-r_48648.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/josef-albers-9747_seeing_i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-r_48648.jpg) > “I have taught my students not to apply rules or mechanical ways of seeing.” [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages learners to avoid rigid, formulaic thinking and instead develop personal, intuitive perception. **In simple terms:** Promotes intuitive, personal perception over rigid rules. Key Takeaway Think beyond prescribed methods. Themes creativity critical thinking perception education individuality Mood inspired reflective Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - art class - design workshop - music improvisation - creative writing - science lab Key Concepts visual perception learning methodology artistic expression Practical Applications - teaching design thinking - fostering innovative problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance structure with freedom in learning? - What habits reinforce rule‑based thinking? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apply Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apply-rules-701150/) [Mechanical Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanical-ways-701146/) [Rules Mechanical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-mechanical-701148/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-students-701144/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The young man taught all he knew and more; The middle-aged man taught all he knew; The old man taught all that his students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-ross/the-young-man-taught-all-he-knew-and-more-the-middle-aged-man-taught/) [Arnold Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-ross/) > [There's real peril in trying to repeat yourself, and apply rules that applied to something else to a new project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/there-s-real-peril-in-trying-to-repeat-yourself-and-apply-rules-that/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [Rules matter, and to be rules they need to be universal in form: always do this, never do that. But it is foolish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/rules-matter-and-to-be-rules-they-need-to-be-universal-in-form-always/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [There's no one who has more authority over my life than me. And I can learn things myself and how to communicate to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-christensen/there-s-no-one-who-has-more-authority-over-my-life-than-me-and-i-can/) [Erika Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-christensen/) > [The most important thing taught to my students is to not be so photo realist in what they depict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruno/the-most-important-thing-taught-to-my-students-is-to-not-be-so-photo/) [Frank Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruno/) > [I believe it’s impossible to claim you have taught, when there are students who have not learned. With that commitment, from my first year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-believe-it-s-impossible-to-claim-you-have-taught-when-there-are/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Most subjects at universities are taught for no other purpose than that they may be re-taught when the students become teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/most-subjects-at-universities-are-taught-for-no-other-purpose-than/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [I have taught students from the New York City area so long I have a special affinity and rapport with them. It surprises me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/i-have-taught-students-from-the-new-york-city-area-so-long-i-have-a/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [My gut was always that if I taught students poetry, I would give too much of myself to them and have nothing left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/my-gut-was-always-that-if-i-taught-students-poetry-i-would-give-too/) [Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/) > [To say that you have taught when students haven't learned is to say you have sold when no one has bought. But how can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/to-say-that-you-have-taught-when-students-haven-t-learned-is-to-say/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [I'd been a terrific student. I hadn't wasted a moment of my time in school, and I knew plenty about healing the troubled mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-chamberlain/i-d-been-a-terrific-student-i-hadn-t-wasted-a-moment-of-my-time-in/) [Diane Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-chamberlain/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) ## More by Josef Albers > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [I paint the way I spread butter on pumpernickel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/i-paint-the-way-i-spread-butter-on-pumpernickel/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [If one says 'Red' – the name of color – and there are fifty people listening, it can be expected that there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/if-one-says-red-the-name-of-color-and-there-are-fifty-people/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [I do not like to be a prophet. I like better to paint than to predict what the next painters will do. Though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/i-do-not-like-to-be-a-prophet-i-like-better-to-paint-than-to-predict/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Therefore art means: you have to believe, to have faith, that is, cultivate vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/therefore-art-means-you-have-to-believe-to-have-faith-that-is/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [The purpose of art is to re-present nature, not represent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/the-purpose-of-art-is-to-re-present-nature-not-represent-it/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [It was my family that wanted me to be a teacher. That was safe, you see. To be a painter was terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/it-was-my-family-that-wanted-me-to-be-a-teacher-that-was-safe-you-see/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [We never really perceive what color really is, as it physically is. This fact makes color the most relative medium in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-really-is-as-it-physically-is/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Instead of art I have taught philosophy. Though technique for me is a big word, I never have taught how to paint. All my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/instead-of-art-i-have-taught-philosophy-though-technique-for-me-is-a/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [In order to use color effectively it is necessary to recognize that color deceives continually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/in-order-to-use-color-effectively-it-is-necessary-to-recognize-that/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Traditionally art is to create and not to revive. To revive: leave that to the historians, who are looking backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/traditionally-art-is-to-create-and-not-to-revive-to-revive-leave-that/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [I want color and form to have contradictorily functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/i-want-color-and-form-to-have-contradictorily-functions/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Art is concerned with the HOW and not the WHAT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/art-is-concerned-with-the-how-and-not-the-what/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [In visual perception a color is almost never seen as it really is - as it physically is. This fact makes color the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/in-visual-perception-a-color-is-almost-never-seen-as-it-really-is-as/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [What has been said does not simply belong to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/what-has-been-said-does-not-simply-belong-to-us/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) [Explore all 70 Josef Albers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) ## More Seeing quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Believe me, most of the people in Russia are seeing the West as a threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margarita-simonyan/believe-me-most-of-the-people-in-russia-are-seeing-the-west-as-a/) [Margarita Simonyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margarita-simonyan/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [A beard is something that is almost like a mirror to the viewer. When someone sees you wearing a beard, they're seeing something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/a-beard-is-something-that-is-almost-like-a-mirror-to-the-viewer-when/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [I love seeing people be successful! I love that. It's wonderful. There's enough room for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-love-seeing-people-be-successful-i-love-that-it-s-wonderful-there-s/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > ['The Goonies' is the one that everyone either remembers themselves or their children are seeing now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-trainor/the-goonies-is-the-one-that-everyone-either-remembers-themselves-or/) [Mary Ellen Trainor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-trainor/) > [We're trapped on this very thin slice of perception ... But even at that slice of reality that we call home, we're not seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/we-re-trapped-on-this-very-thin-slice-of-perception-but-even-at-that/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [Women covering their heads is traditional, but now we're seeing more and more women covering themselves from head to toe. This is said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/women-covering-their-heads-is-traditional-but-now-we-re-seeing-more/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [I feel like J.K. Rowling's world is one that is owned by everyone in some ways. People have grown up with it and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-feel-like-j-k-rowling-s-world-is-one-that-is-owned-by-everyone-in/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [For me, the melancholy of the late XXth Century is walking late at night by the Mont Blanc pen store and seeing these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/for-me-the-melancholy-of-the-late-xxth-century-is-walking-late-at/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [Some have said I focus on marginalized communities, but it's not like that was my mission statement. I've just told stories that interest me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/some-have-said-i-focus-on-marginalized-communities-but-it-s-not-like/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) [Browse all 6,723 Seeing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have taught my students not to apply rules or mechanical ways of seeing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josef Albers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-rules-or-mechanical-ways-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Seeing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-rules-or-mechanical-ways-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/josef-albers-9747_seeing_i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-r_48648.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/josef-albers-9747_seeing_i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-r_48648.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/josef-albers-9747_seeing_i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-r_48648.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have taught my students not to apply rules or mechanical ways of seeing.” — Josef Albers", "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": "Josef Albers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have taught my students not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-rules-or-mechanical-ways-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-rules-or-mechanical-ways-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 } } ] } ```