--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A word is a thought, of course. But any…" description: "\"A word is a thought, of course. But any image, including a photograph, may become an instrument of sufficiently lucid cogitation.\" — Peter Schjeldahl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/peter-schjeldahl-12992_courses_a-word-is-a-thought-of-course-but-any-im_14302.png" --- # A word is a thought, of course. But any image, including a… ![“A word is a thought, of course. But any image, including a photograph, may become an instrument of sufficiently lucid cogitation.” quote by Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/peter-schjeldahl-12992_courses_a-word-is-a-thought-of-course-but-any-im_14302.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/peter-schjeldahl-12992_courses_a-word-is-a-thought-of-course-but-any-im_14302.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/peter-schjeldahl-12992_courses_a-word-is-a-thought-of-course-but-any-im_14302.png) > “A word is a thought, of course. But any image, including a photograph, may become an instrument of sufficiently lucid cogitation.” [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language encodes ideas, yet visual media can also serve as a clear tool for thinking. **In simple terms:** Images can function as thinking instruments. Key Takeaway Visuals can clarify thought. Themes language visual cognition thought processes communication perception media Mood introspective analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - academic research - creative brainstorming - design critique - educational illustration - media analysis Key Concepts symbolism cognition representation clarity Practical Applications - enhance conceptual clarity - support interdisciplinary learning Questions to Reflect On - How does visual media change our mental models? - When might words be insufficient for complex ideas? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [“Emotions expressed cannot be recalled Hoard that most precious word and thought Do not declare in haste for once released words cannot be reeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donal-peter-buckley/emotions-expressed-cannot-be-recalled-hoard-that-most-precious-word/) Donal Peter Buckley > [“I love words. I thank you for hearing my words. I want to tell you something about words that I think is important. Words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-love-words-i-thank-you-for-hearing-my-words-i-want-to-tell-you/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“To be taught to write or to speak — but what is the use of speaking if you have nothing to say? To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/to-be-taught-to-write-or-to-speak-but-what-is-the-use-of-speaking-if/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Nothing is more unaccountable than the spell that often lurks in a spoken word. A thought may be present to the mind, and two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/nothing-is-more-unaccountable-than-the-spell-that-often-lurks-in-a/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [You are at a choice-point in every moment of each circumstance, each activity, spoken word and thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/you-are-at-a-choice-point-in-every-moment-of-each-circumstance-each/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [“If we could be seen thinking, we would show blown bright one moment, dark the next, like embers; subject to every passing word and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-whipple/if-we-could-be-seen-thinking-we-would-show-blown-bright-one-moment/) [Dorothy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-whipple/) > [Every time a person allows an act of ignorance to happen (one word, thought or action), they delay our progress towards building a beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/every-time-a-person-allows-an-act-of-ignorance-to-happen-one-word/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Thought before word. Never word before thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/thought-before-word-never-word-before-thought/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-bacharach/a-synonym-is-a-word-you-use-when-you-can-t-spell-the-word-you-first/) [Burt Bacharach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-bacharach/) > [“Love is God’s first word, the first thought that sailed through his mind. When he said: Let there by light! there was love. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/love-is-god-s-first-word-the-first-thought-that-sailed-through-his/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [To be taught to read—what is the use of that, if you know not whether what you read is false or true? To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/to-be-taught-to-read-what-is-the-use-of-that-if-you-know-not-whether/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The worst thing is always thinking of titles for records, with some reason behind them, and she just came out with the word, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-anderson/the-worst-thing-is-always-thinking-of-titles-for-records-with-some/) [Emma Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-anderson/) > [“He had considered other wording, including "Snack That," and "Snack This," but adding the word on made it more thought-provoking. 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Baudelaire said that an artist is a child who has acquired adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/artists-are-people-who-are-subject-to-irrational-convictions-of-the/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [You don't need everybody to agree with you, but you do need a few people. And by this point I have a fairly high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/you-don-t-need-everybody-to-agree-with-you-but-you-do-need-a-few/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [I think being interested is really what being civilized is about. I mean, you have to be conscious of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/i-think-being-interested-is-really-what-being-civilized-is-about-i/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [Beauty is a physiological reaction. Beauty is not an object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/beauty-is-a-physiological-reaction-beauty-is-not-an-object/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [I have painted enough to have a lot of respect for mediocre painters. It's really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/i-have-painted-enough-to-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-mediocre-painters/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [Artists are sometimes in a position to tell the truth, but they're positioned as a Cassandra. They're gifted with impeccable prophecy and the assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/artists-are-sometimes-in-a-position-to-tell-the-truth-but-they-re/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [The aesthetic experience has to be given. And beauty is a regular experience of every person - every person who is not clinically depressed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/the-aesthetic-experience-has-to-be-given-and-beauty-is-a-regular/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [Everything I've learned about art was (a) because I was actually interested, or (b) I was actually interested in covering my ass because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/everything-i-ve-learned-about-art-was-a-because-i-was-actually/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [Matisse can make you hate your life for its comparatively insipid joys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/matisse-can-make-you-hate-your-life-for-its-comparatively-insipid-joys/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [Beauty makes us more like ourselves and more like each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/beauty-makes-us-more-like-ourselves-and-more-like-each-other/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [Everybody's got plants, but most are just growing weeds. 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I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/) [Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Of course it does on opening night, but I've never had that devastating stage fright that some people get, but apparently, you can develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/of-course-it-does-on-opening-night-but-i-ve-never-had-that/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I studied philosophy and ended on sociology. 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I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [In the course of our eternal existence, we spend infinitely more time in the spirit world on the other side than we spend in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/in-the-course-of-our-eternal-existence-we-spend-infinitely-more-time/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) Browse all 6,995 Courses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A word is a thought, of course. 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