--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In past times when one lived in contact…" description: "\"In past times when one lived in contact with nature, abstraction was easy; it was done unconsciously. Now in our denaturalized age abstraction becomes ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/piet-mondrian-14779_abstraction_in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact_1876920.jpg" --- # In past times when one lived in contact with nature… ![“In past times when one lived in contact with nature, abstraction was easy; it was done unconsciously. Now in our denaturalized age abstraction becomes an effort.” quote by Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/piet-mondrian-14779_abstraction_in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact_1876920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/piet-mondrian-14779_abstraction_in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact_1876920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/piet-mondrian-14779_abstraction_in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact_1876920.jpg) > “In past times when one lived in contact with nature, abstraction was easy; it was done unconsciously. Now in our denaturalized age abstraction becomes an effort.” [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In earlier eras, living close to nature made abstraction effortless; today it requires conscious effort. **In simple terms:** Nature made abstraction easy; now it’s deliberate. Key Takeaway Cultivate conscious abstraction. Themes art nature modernity Mood reflective analytical Type theoretical artistic When to use this quote - design - education - creative practice - environmental adaptation Key Concepts Aesthetic theory cognitive psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does nature influence your creativity? - Can you train abstraction? A Different Perspective Modern life can hinder intuitive abstraction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstraction/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I think, with abstraction, it's easy to fall into a sort of pastiche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bradley/i-think-with-abstraction-it-s-easy-to-fall-into-a-sort-of-pastiche/) [Joe Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bradley/) > [“Books don’t take time away from us,” she said. “They give it back. In this age of abstraction, of multitasking, of speed for speed’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/books-don-t-take-time-away-from-us-she-said-they-give-it-back-in-this/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [A study, by its very nature, is an abstraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-velez-mitchell/a-study-by-its-very-nature-is-an-abstraction/) [Jane Velez-Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-velez-mitchell/) > [This new plastic idea will ignore the particulars of appearance, that is to say, natural form and colour. On the contrary, it should find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/this-new-plastic-idea-will-ignore-the-particulars-of-appearance-that/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [All painting - the painting of the past as well as of the present - shows us that its essential plastic means were only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/all-painting-the-painting-of-the-past-as-well-as-of-the-present-shows/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [The truly modern artist is aware of abstraction in an emotion of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/the-truly-modern-artist-is-aware-of-abstraction-in-an-emotion-of/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [In books lies the soul fo the whole past time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/in-books-lies-the-soul-fo-the-whole-past-time/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [It is past time to hold Washington accountable for runaway, wasteful spending that is fueling inflation and endangering our nation's future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/it-is-past-time-to-hold-washington-accountable-for-runaway-wasteful/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [“I was barely breathing now, my head felt light. I stumbled to the nearest bench and I clasped my hands together, my fingers gripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-thiel/i-was-barely-breathing-now-my-head-felt-light-i-stumbled-to-the/) [Tamara Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-thiel/) > [We have unmistakable proof that throughout all past time, there has been a ceaseless devouring of the weak by the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/we-have-unmistakable-proof-that-throughout-all-past-time-there-has/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“When that little clock on my wall says “Olaotan! Olaotan!! Olaotan!!! It’s half past time to write”, I only have three things at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaotan-fawehinmi/when-that-little-clock-on-my-wall-says-olaotan-olaotan-olaotan-it-s/) [Olaotan Fawehinmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaotan-fawehinmi/) > [“What is a great love of books? It is something like a personal introduction to the great and good men of all past times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/what-is-a-great-love-of-books-it-is-something-like-a-personal/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [“In the temple of science are many mansions, and various indeed are they that dwell therein and the motives that have led them thither.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-the-temple-of-science-are-many-mansions-and-various-indeed-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“There have been extensive human rights violations by American psychiatrists over the last 70 years. These doctors were pad by the American taxpayer through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/there-have-been-extensive-human-rights-violations-by-american/) [Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/) > [Remembering the past times. Those good times. When you were all so happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remembering-the-past-times-those-good-times-when-you-were-all-so-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Piet Mondrian > [To approach the spiritual in art, one will make as little use as possible of reality, because reality is opposed to the spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/to-approach-the-spiritual-in-art-one-will-make-as-little-use-as/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [The more basic the color, the more inward, the more pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/the-more-basic-the-color-the-more-inward-the-more-pure/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [Nature or, that which I see, inspires me, puts me, as with any painter, in an emotional state so that an urge comes about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/nature-or-that-which-i-see-inspires-me-puts-me-as-with-any-painter-in/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [The only problem in art is to achieve a balance between the subjective and the objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/the-only-problem-in-art-is-to-achieve-a-balance-between-the/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [Evolution is always the work of pioneers, and their followers are always small in number. This following is not a clique; it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/evolution-is-always-the-work-of-pioneers-and-their-followers-are/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [ The essence of painting has actually always been to make it \[the universal\] plastically perceptible through colour and line. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/the-essence-of-painting-has-actually-always-been-to-make-it-the/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [I think you too recognize the important relationship between philosophy and art, and it is just this relationship that most painters deny. The great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/i-think-you-too-recognize-the-important-relationship-between/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [The truly modern artist is aware of abstraction in an emotion of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/the-truly-modern-artist-is-aware-of-abstraction-in-an-emotion-of/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [If you follow nature you will not be able to vanquish the tragic in any real degree in your art... We must free ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/if-you-follow-nature-you-will-not-be-able-to-vanquish-the-tragic-in/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [I don't want pictures, I want to find things out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/i-don-t-want-pictures-i-want-to-find-things-out/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [All painting - the painting of the past as well as of the present - shows us that its essential plastic means were only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/all-painting-the-painting-of-the-past-as-well-as-of-the-present-shows/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [Why should art continue to follow nature when every other field has left nature behind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/why-should-art-continue-to-follow-nature-when-every-other-field-has/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [The only problem in art is to achieve a balance between subjective and objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/the-only-problem-in-art-is-to-achieve-a-balance-between-subjective/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [Observing sea, sky and stars, I sought to indicate their plastic function through a multiplicity of crossing verticals and horizontals. Impressed by the vastness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/observing-sea-sky-and-stars-i-sought-to-indicate-their-plastic/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [It is a task of art to express clear vision of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/it-is-a-task-of-art-to-express-clear-vision-of-reality/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) [Explore all 45 Piet Mondrian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) ## More Abstraction quotes > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [The premises from which we begin are not arbitrary ones, not dogmas, but real premises from which abstraction can only be made in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-premises-from-which-we-begin-are-not-arbitrary-ones-not-dogmas/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Two elements are needed to form a truth - a fact and an abstraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/two-elements-are-needed-to-form-a-truth-a-fact-and-an-abstraction/) [Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/) > [But we must not underestimate the potency of the mathematical process of abstraction. A surprising variety of things happen to have both magnitude and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banesh-hoffmann/but-we-must-not-underestimate-the-potency-of-the-mathematical-process/) Banesh Hoffmann > [Sometimes I start in a very realistic fashion, and as I go on from one painting to another of the same kind, it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/sometimes-i-start-in-a-very-realistic-fashion-and-as-i-go-on-from-one/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [I like residing in abstraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/i-like-residing-in-abstraction/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Cancer begins and ends with people. In the midst of scientific abstraction, it is sometimes possible to forget this one basic fact. Doctors treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-goodfield/cancer-begins-and-ends-with-people-in-the-midst-of-scientific/) [June Goodfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-goodfield/) > [Yes, there was an element of abstraction and unreality in misfortune. But when an abstraction starts to kill you, you have to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/yes-there-was-an-element-of-abstraction-and-unreality-in-misfortune/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Computer Science is a science of abstraction -creating the right model for a problem and devising the appropriate mechanizable techniques to solve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-aho/computer-science-is-a-science-of-abstraction-creating-the-right-model/) Alfred Aho > [In 'Self Comes to Mind' I pay a lot of attention to simple creatures without brains or minds, because those 'cartooned abstractions of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/in-self-comes-to-mind-i-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-simple-creatures/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [Don't get stuck on the level of words. A word is no more than a means to an end. It's an abstraction. Not unlike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/don-t-get-stuck-on-the-level-of-words-a-word-is-no-more-than-a-means/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Holidays are in no sense an alternative to the congestion and bustle of the cities and work. Quite the contrary. People look to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/holidays-are-in-no-sense-an-alternative-to-the-congestion-and-bustle/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [The pragmatist turns away from abstraction and insufficiency, from verbal solutions, from bad a priori reasons, from fixed principles, closed systems, and pretended absolutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-pragmatist-turns-away-from-abstraction-and-insufficiency-from/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [ I'd say that \[Louis\] Brandeis practiced a kind of a "living originalism," to use the title of Jack Balkin's great book. He said you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-rosen/i-d-say-that-louis-brandeis-practiced-a-kind-of-a-living-originalism/) [Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-rosen/) > [When novels deal in abstractions, they generally go off the rails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/when-novels-deal-in-abstractions-they-generally-go-off-the-rails/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) [Browse all 562 Abstraction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstraction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In past times when one lived in contact with nature, abstraction was easy; it was done unconsciously. Now in our denaturalized age abstraction becomes an effort.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Piet Mondrian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact-with-nature-abstraction-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abstraction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact-with-nature-abstraction-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/piet-mondrian-14779_abstraction_in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact_1876920.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/piet-mondrian-14779_abstraction_in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact_1876920.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/piet-mondrian-14779_abstraction_in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact_1876920.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In past times when one lived in contact with nature, abstraction was easy; it was done unconsciously. Now in…” — Piet Mondrian", "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": "Piet Mondrian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In past times when one lived...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact-with-nature-abstraction-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/in-past-times-when-one-lived-in-contact-with-nature-abstraction-was/#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 } } ] } ```