--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: if something is there, you can only see…" description: "\"if something is there, you can only see it with your eyes open, but if it isn't there, you can see it just as well with your eyes closed. That's why im..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/norton-juster-2113_easier_if-something-is-there-you-can-only-see-i_2109461.jpg" --- # if something is there, you can only see it with your eyes… ![“if something is there, you can only see it with your eyes open, but if it isn't there, you can see it just as well with your eyes closed. That's why imaginary things are often easier to see than real ones.” quote by Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/norton-juster-2113_easier_if-something-is-there-you-can-only-see-i_2109461.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/norton-juster-2113_easier_if-something-is-there-you-can-only-see-i_2109461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/norton-juster-2113_easier_if-something-is-there-you-can-only-see-i_2109461.jpg) > “if something is there, you can only see it with your eyes open, but if it isn't there, you can see it just as well with your eyes closed. That's why imaginary things are often easier to see than real ones.” [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imaginary concepts are more readily perceived than absent realities because they fill mental gaps. **In simple terms:** Imaginary things are easier to see than real ones. Key Takeaway Embrace imagination to understand unseen possibilities. Themes imagination perception reality mindset Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative brainstorming - problem solving - philosophical Key Concepts cognitive bias mental models visualization Questions to Reflect On - How does imagination aid or hinder decision making? - When might relying on imagination be risky? A Different Perspective Real perception requires evidence and critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Imaginary things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginary-things/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [How can you see something that isn't there?" yawned the Humbug, who wasn't fully awake yet. "Sometimes, it's much simpler than seeing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/how-can-you-see-something-that-isn-t-there-yawned-the-humbug-who-wasn/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Just throw away all thoughts of imaginary things, and stand firm in that which you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/just-throw-away-all-thoughts-of-imaginary-things-and-stand-firm-in/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [You were the living image of the entire Platonic shadow show, an illusion that could fill my emptiness with marvellous, imaginary things as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/you-were-the-living-image-of-the-entire-platonic-shadow-show-an/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [“But he’d found that imaginary things were often the only items of real substance in people’s lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/but-he-d-found-that-imaginary-things-were-often-the-only-items-of/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [Be strong then, and enter into your own body; there you have a solid place for your feet. Think about it carefully! Don't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/be-strong-then-and-enter-into-your-own-body-there-you-have-a-solid/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [To me genres were always an imaginary things, they're just marketing channels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/to-me-genres-were-always-an-imaginary-things-they-re-just-marketing/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [“Imaginary things were often the only items of real substance in people’s lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/imaginary-things-were-often-the-only-items-of-real-substance-in/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [These are facts, these are not imaginary things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyad-allawi/these-are-facts-these-are-not-imaginary-things/) [Iyad Allawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyad-allawi/) > [One of the most tragicomic things in life is that when a man makes an imaginary thing - such as a religion - as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/one-of-the-most-tragicomic-things-in-life-is-that-when-a-man-makes-an/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Color Theory" How yellow the sky how little the understanding Intangible the things we know for sure Dusty silica clouds over Europe the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-burt/color-theory-how-yellow-the-sky-how-little-the-understanding/) [Stephen Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-burt/) > [“We are retracing the lines and windows that are no longer there. We are rebuilding from our memory, trying to do with our eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-are-retracing-the-lines-and-windows-that-are-no-longer-there-we/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Dream with your eyes open see with your eyes closed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dream-with-your-eyes-open-see-with-your-eyes-closed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I heard my name once more, and now it seemed louder and closer. Turning to the sound, I willed my eyes to open. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-heard-my-name-once-more-and-now-it-seemed-louder-and-closer-turning/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“We cannot see the beauty of life with our eyes closed. Only when we cry with our eyes open can we begin to shed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehya-sky/we-cannot-see-the-beauty-of-life-with-our-eyes-closed-only-when-we/) [Tehya Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehya-sky/) > [Imaginary obstacles are insurmountable. Real ones aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/imaginary-obstacles-are-insurmountable-real-ones-aren-t/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) ## More by Norton Juster > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“How are you going to make it move? It doesn't have a – " "Be very quiet," advised the duke, "for it goes without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/how-are-you-going-to-make-it-move-it-doesn-t-have-a-be-very-quiet/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [It was really written as most, I think, books are by writers - for themselves. There was something that just had to be written,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/it-was-really-written-as-most-i-think-books-are-by-writers-for/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“What kind of a place is Expectations?" inquired Milo, unable to see the humor and feeling very doubtful of the little man's sanity. "Good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/what-kind-of-a-place-is-expectations-inquired-milo-unable-to-see-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [There is much worth noticing that often escapes the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/there-is-much-worth-noticing-that-often-escapes-the-eye/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“The most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what's in between.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/the-most-important-reason-for-going-from-one-place-to-another-is-to/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“As the cheering continued, Rhyme leaned forward and touched Milo gently on the shoulder. "They're cheering for you," she said with a smile. "But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/as-the-cheering-continued-rhyme-leaned-forward-and-touched-milo/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [He paused again as a tear of longing rolled from cheek to lip with the sweet-salty taste of an old memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/he-paused-again-as-a-tear-of-longing-rolled-from-cheek-to-lip-with/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“Kad god se nasmiješiš, radost se oko tebe širi poput kolobara u bari, i kad god si tužan, nitko nigdje ne može biti stvarno…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/kad-god-se-nasmije-i-radost-se-oko-tebe-iri-poput-kolobara-u-bari-i/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“Why not take a few pounds of ‘happys’?” advised the salesman. “They’re much more practical—and very useful for Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/why-not-take-a-few-pounds-of-happys-advised-the-salesman-they-re-much/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [...it's not just learning that's important. It's learning what to do with what you learn and learning why you learn things that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/it-s-not-just-learning-that-s-important-it-s-learning-what-to-do-with/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Sometimes I find the best way of getting from one place to another is simply to erase everything and begin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/sometimes-i-find-the-best-way-of-getting-from-one-place-to-another-is/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Have you ever heard the wonderful silence just before the dawn? Or the quiet and calm just as a storm ends? Or perhaps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/have-you-ever-heard-the-wonderful-silence-just-before-the-dawn-or-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [How can you see something that isn't there?" yawned the Humbug, who wasn't fully awake yet. "Sometimes, it's much simpler than seeing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/how-can-you-see-something-that-isn-t-there-yawned-the-humbug-who-wasn/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“I wonder where I am," said Milo in a very worried tone. "You're . . . in . . . the . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/i-wonder-where-i-am-said-milo-in-a-very-worried-tone-you-re-in-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) [Explore all 185 Norton Juster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) ## More Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) Roger Sperry > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/often-we-find-it-easier-to-think-our-way-around-things-rather-than-to/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [I know it is easier said than done, but you have to find a way to surround yourself with positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/i-know-it-is-easier-said-than-done-but-you-have-to-find-a-way-to/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) Browse all 5,480 Easier quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "if something is there, you can only see it with your eyes open, but if it isn't there, you can see it just as well with your eyes closed. 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