--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Speaking, when you have something to say…" description: "\"Speaking, when you have something to say, is like looking. But who looks? If people could see properly, and see whole, they would all be painters. And ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/pierre-bonnard-19818_ideas_speaking-when-you-have-something-to-say_933509.png" --- # Speaking, when you have something to say, is like looking… ![“Speaking, when you have something to say, is like looking. But who looks? If people could see properly, and see whole, they would all be painters. And it's because people have no idea how to look that they hardly ever understand.” quote by Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/pierre-bonnard-19818_ideas_speaking-when-you-have-something-to-say_933509.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/pierre-bonnard-19818_ideas_speaking-when-you-have-something-to-say_933509.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/pierre-bonnard-19818_ideas_speaking-when-you-have-something-to-say_933509.png) > “Speaking, when you have something to say, is like looking. But who looks? If people could see properly, and see whole, they would all be painters. And it's because people have no idea how to look that they hardly ever understand.” [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing truly requires learning how to look; without this skill, understanding remains shallow. **In simple terms:** Learning to look deepens understanding. Key Takeaway Practice mindful observation. Themes perception art understanding Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - museum visits - daily observation - creative work Key Concepts visual literacy mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you train your eyes? - What does “seeing whole” mean to you? A Different Perspective Not everyone can become a painter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [On speaking: first, have something to say; second, say it; third, stop when you have said it; and finally give it an accurate title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shaw-billings/on-speaking-first-have-something-to-say-second-say-it-third-stop-when/) [John Shaw Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shaw-billings/) > [I am me and I can only be me. If you are you and you are reading this about me then please know I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-hill/i-am-me-and-i-can-only-be-me-if-you-are-you-and-you-are-reading-this/) [Nicole Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-hill/) > [It is a point that I repeat over and over again in teaching public speaking. It is not so much what you say as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-is-a-point-that-i-repeat-over-and-over-again-in-teaching-public/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Never interrupt a lady when she is speaking to you, as if what you have to say is more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-enoch/never-interrupt-a-lady-when-she-is-speaking-to-you-as-if-what-you/) [Suzanne Enoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-enoch/) > [I think the collectors have made an enormous contribution, not only to the market but to painters themselves... These people that buy, that set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-johnson/i-think-the-collectors-have-made-an-enormous-contribution-not-only-to/) [Philip Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-johnson/) > [The avant-garde feel important, but they hardly understand what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vangelis/the-avant-garde-feel-important-but-they-hardly-understand-what-they/) [Vangelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vangelis/) > [I'm so focused on the game that I hardly understand what the people sing or shout or what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/i-m-so-focused-on-the-game-that-i-hardly-understand-what-the-people/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [ In contemporary society \[the typical lady\] is an archaism, and can't hardly understand herself unless she knows her own history. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-james-smith-putnam/in-contemporary-society-the-typical-lady-is-an-archaism-and-can-t/) [Emily James Smith Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-james-smith-putnam/) > [I can hardly understand the Australian accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-santiago/i-can-hardly-understand-the-australian-accent/) [Joey Santiago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-santiago/) > [Generally speaking, we can and should say everything. We just have to choose the right time, otherwise the truth can be worse than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/generally-speaking-we-can-and-should-say-everything-we-just-have-to/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Everything has been said and everything has been done, but you still feel like you are looking for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-zambra/everything-has-been-said-and-everything-has-been-done-but-you-still/) [Alejandro Zambra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-zambra/) > [You listen to something like 'Beast Mode,' and it's almost like looking at a pretty painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaytoven/you-listen-to-something-like-beast-mode-and-it-s-almost-like-looking/) [Zaytoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaytoven/) > [“...tasting a piece of bread that someone bought is like looking at that person, but tasting a piece of bread that they baked is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-abu-jaber/tasting-a-piece-of-bread-that-someone-bought-is-like-looking-at-that/) [Diana Abu-Jaber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-abu-jaber/) > [“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something (or so Thorin said to the young dwarves).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/there-is-nothing-like-looking-if-you-want-to-find-something-or-so/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [If people would just look at the paintings, I don't think they would have any trouble enjoying them. It's like looking at a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/if-people-would-just-look-at-the-paintings-i-don-t-think-they-would/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) ## More by Pierre Bonnard > [I'm trying to do what I have never done - give the impression one has on entering a room: one sees everything and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/i-m-trying-to-do-what-i-have-never-done-give-the-impression-one-has/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [The principal subject is the surface, which has its color, its laws over and above those of object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/the-principal-subject-is-the-surface-which-has-its-color-its-laws/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [One does not always sing out of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/one-does-not-always-sing-out-of-happiness/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [Art is not nature... There was a lot more to be got out of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/art-is-not-nature-there-was-a-lot-more-to-be-got-out-of-color/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [A painting that is well composed is half finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/a-painting-that-is-well-composed-is-half-finished/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [Drawing is feeling. Color is an act of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/drawing-is-feeling-color-is-an-act-of-reason/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [The expression on my face - who on earth would be interested in that? All that I have to say is to be found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/the-expression-on-my-face-who-on-earth-would-be-interested-in-that/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [Draw your pleasure, paint your pleasure, and express your pleasure strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/draw-your-pleasure-paint-your-pleasure-and-express-your-pleasure/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [You reason color more than you reason drawing... Color has a logic as severe as form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/you-reason-color-more-than-you-reason-drawing-color-has-a-logic-as/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [One always talks of surrendering to nature. There is also such a thing as surrendering to the picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/one-always-talks-of-surrendering-to-nature-there-is-also-such-a-thing/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [The important thing is to remember what most impressed you and to put it on canvas as fast as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/the-important-thing-is-to-remember-what-most-impressed-you-and-to-put/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [Color does not add a pleasant quality to design - it reinforces it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/color-does-not-add-a-pleasant-quality-to-design-it-reinforces-it/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [And after drawing comes composition. A well-composed painting is half done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/and-after-drawing-comes-composition-a-well-composed-painting-is-half/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [It seemed to me that it was possible to translate light, forms, and character using nothing but color, without recourse to values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/it-seemed-to-me-that-it-was-possible-to-translate-light-forms-and/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [You cannot possibly invent painting all by yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/you-cannot-possibly-invent-painting-all-by-yourself/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) [Explore all 32 Pierre Bonnard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) ## More Ideas quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Speaking, when you have something to say, is like looking. But who looks? If people could see properly, and see whole, they would all be painters. 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