--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your assumptions are your windows on the…" description: "\"“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ― Isaac Asimov”\" — Penny Reid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c23/penny-reid-1063_light_your-assumptions-are-your-windows-on-the_1548527.jpg" --- # Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them… ![“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ― Isaac Asimov” quote by Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c23/penny-reid-1063_light_your-assumptions-are-your-windows-on-the_1548527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c23/penny-reid-1063_light_your-assumptions-are-your-windows-on-the_1548527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c23/penny-reid-1063_light_your-assumptions-are-your-windows-on-the_1548527.jpg) > ““Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ― Isaac Asimov”” [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our mental models shape perception; regularly clearing them allows new insight. **In simple terms:** Assumptions filter reality; clean them for clarity. Key Takeaway Periodically challenge your beliefs. Themes cognition perception mental models creativity Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical self‑improvement When to use this quote - problem solving - innovation workshops - personal growth - education Key Concepts Psychology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - Which assumptions limit you? - How can you safely test new perspectives? A Different Perspective Changing assumptions can be uncomfortable and destabilizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asimov/) [Assumptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumptions/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mind/) ## Related quotes > [“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/your-assumptions-are-your-windows-on-the-world-scrub-them-off-every-2/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [ “\[B\]egin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while or the light… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/b-egin-challenging-your-own-assumptions-your-assumptions-are-your/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Begin challenging your assumptions. Your assumptions are the windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile or the light won't come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/begin-challenging-your-assumptions-your-assumptions-are-the-windows/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in while, or the light won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/begin-challenging-your-own-assumptions-your-assumptions-are-your-2/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. 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Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy centers around the “Seldon Plan” to shorten a reversion period from 30,000 years to 1,000 years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/isaac-asimov-s-foundation-trilogy-centers-around-the-seldon-plan-to/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [For bedtime reading, I usually curl up with a good monograph on quantum physics or string theory, my specialty. But since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/for-bedtime-reading-i-usually-curl-up-with-a-good-monograph-on/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s remark about the infantilism of pseudoscience is just as applicable to religion: ‘Inspect every piece of pseudoscience and you will find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/isaac-asimov-s-remark-about-the-infantilism-of-pseudoscience-is-just/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [Isaac Asimov is, in reality, based on something I had invented a few years previously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/isaac-asimov-is-in-reality-based-on-something-i-had-invented-a-few/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [I've read everything that Isaac Asimov ever wrote, for a start. I'm massively into my fantasy genre, anything by R.A. Salvatore or David Gemmell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-ve-read-everything-that-isaac-asimov-ever-wrote-for-a-start-i-m/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Isaac Asimov”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohi-shetty/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those/) Rohi Shetty ## More by Penny Reid > [“No. Since I first saw you. Since I first laid eyes on you and felt sorry for every beautiful thing that was made no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/no-since-i-first-saw-you-since-i-first-laid-eyes-on-you-and-felt/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I didn't care about embarrassing myself further. What was one more debit of mortification when my balance sheet was already in the red by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-didn-t-care-about-embarrassing-myself-further-what-was-one-more/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“He was the dehydrated horse. He had to drink water himself. He had to want it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/he-was-the-dehydrated-horse-he-had-to-drink-water-himself-he-had-to/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“she’s too quiet about it.” “Isn’t that the point of leading by example?” Kat frowned at her ball of yarn, more of a tangled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/she-s-too-quiet-about-it-isn-t-that-the-point-of-leading-by-example/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Boy bands are sent by God to aid women of all ages in their quest to avoid reality, but specifically to trick young women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/boy-bands-are-sent-by-god-to-aid-women-of-all-ages-in-their-quest-to/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Because knowledge is only a cage if you dwell in isolation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/because-knowledge-is-only-a-cage-if-you-dwell-in-isolation/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Breathless and Wretched, the new fragrance by Calvin Klein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/breathless-and-wretched-the-new-fragrance-by-calvin-klein/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Proposing is like giving someone your dick and a sharp knife, then waiting to see what they do next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/proposing-is-like-giving-someone-your-dick-and-a-sharp-knife-then/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I felt abruptly as though I’d just been peed on. I didn’t want to be peed on. \*\*\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-felt-abruptly-as-though-i-d-just-been-peed-on-i-didn-t-want-to-be/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Why are heroines in romantic novels—despite their cleanliness and enviable lifestyles—so unlikeable? It’s like they’ve been hit with a vanilla ninny stick, devoid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/why-are-heroines-in-romantic-novels-despite-their-cleanliness-and/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“this post-modern individualism is harmful, that we—Western society—have become lazy in our dependencies and relationships. To say, ‘Don’t attempt to love another until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/this-post-modern-individualism-is-harmful-that-we-western-society/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“You’re a good kisser.” It sounded like an accusation. I shrugged, giving her a satisfied smile. “I practice.” Her gaze sharpened. “Oh?” “Yes. With my pillow. And a watermelon that one time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/you-re-a-good-kisser-it-sounded-like-an-accusation-i-shrugged-giving/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“Why do you look like that, Duane?" "Like what, Cletus?" "Like your heart is diseased.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/why-do-you-look-like-that-duane-like-what-cletus-like-your-heart-is/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“I was planning to sort my comic books based on level of second wave feminist influence.” “As opposed to first wave?” “Yes, well, Susan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-was-planning-to-sort-my-comic-books-based-on-level-of-second-wave/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“\*fist bump\* \*high five\* \*bottom pat\* … too far?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/fist-bump-high-five-bottom-pat-too-far/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) [Explore all 296 Penny Reid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) ## More Asimov quotes > [“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Isaac Asimov”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohi-shetty/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those/) Rohi Shetty > [I've read everything that Isaac Asimov ever wrote, for a start. I'm massively into my fantasy genre, anything by R.A. Salvatore or David Gemmell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-ve-read-everything-that-isaac-asimov-ever-wrote-for-a-start-i-m/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [Isaac Asimov is, in reality, based on something I had invented a few years previously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/isaac-asimov-is-in-reality-based-on-something-i-had-invented-a-few/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Asimov was the reason why we changed some rules in the SFWA, and I'm not convinced we changed it for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/asimov-was-the-reason-why-we-changed-some-rules-in-the-sfwa-and-i-m/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s remark about the infantilism of pseudoscience is just as applicable to religion: ‘Inspect every piece of pseudoscience and you will find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/isaac-asimov-s-remark-about-the-infantilism-of-pseudoscience-is-just/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. -Issac Asimov-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keisha-v/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those-2/) Keisha V > [For bedtime reading, I usually curl up with a good monograph on quantum physics or string theory, my specialty. But since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/for-bedtime-reading-i-usually-curl-up-with-a-good-monograph-on/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [“Far from disproving the existence of God, astronomers may be finding more circumstantial evidence that God exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jastrow/far-from-disproving-the-existence-of-god-astronomers-may-be-finding/) [Robert Jastrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jastrow/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy centers around the “Seldon Plan” to shorten a reversion period from 30,000 years to 1,000 years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/isaac-asimov-s-foundation-trilogy-centers-around-the-seldon-plan-to/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [A story in Asimov's is read by hundreds of thousands of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-egan/a-story-in-asimov-s-is-read-by-hundreds-of-thousands-of-people/) [Greg Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-egan/) > [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [It's hard not to like Asimov; he's a really likable guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/it-s-hard-not-to-like-asimov-he-s-a-really-likable-guy/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“They spoke as if this were settled science. We’ll discuss the three laws in chapter 1, but it’s enough to say for now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-barrat/they-spoke-as-if-this-were-settled-science-we-ll-discuss-the-three/) [James Barrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-barrat/) > [There were four major 20th-century science fiction writers: Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Ray Bradbury. Of those four, the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/there-were-four-major-20th-century-science-fiction-writers-arthur-c/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) [Browse all 37 Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asimov/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. 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