--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The eyes see not what is before them when…" description: "\"The eyes see not what is before them when the mind is intent on other matters.\" — Publilius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/publilius-syrus-594_eye_the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-whe_2055468.png" --- # The eyes see not what is before them when the mind is… ![“The eyes see not what is before them when the mind is intent on other matters.” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/publilius-syrus-594_eye_the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-whe_2055468.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/publilius-syrus-594_eye_the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-whe_2055468.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/publilius-syrus-594_eye_the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-whe_2055468.png) > “The eyes see not what is before them when the mind is intent on other matters.” [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When the mind is preoccupied, perception of the immediate environment diminishes. **In simple terms:** Preoccupied mind misses surroundings. Key Takeaway Cultivate present‑moment awareness. Themes perception mindfulness awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - learning - driving - conversation Key Concepts cognitive focus attention theory Questions to Reflect On - How often do you miss details? - What practice helps you stay present? A Different Perspective The quote assumes a single cause for missed perception, ignoring sensory overload. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Intent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intent/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“14) Use the mind-intent, do not use muscular force. 十 四) 用 意 不 用 力; Shi si) Yong yi bu yong li. 15)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-alve-olson/14-use-the-mind-intent-do-not-use-muscular-force-shi-si-yong-yi-bu/) [Stuart Alve Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-alve-olson/) > [“Intent matters. If you believe you're charmed, capable, likable, popular, then you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-yovanoff/intent-matters-if-you-believe-you-re-charmed-capable-likable-popular/) [Brenna Yovanoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-yovanoff/) > [I have been given eyes to see and a mind to think, and now I know a great secret of life, for I perceive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-have-been-given-eyes-to-see-and-a-mind-to-think-and-now-i-know-a/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [“Reality is not what your eyes show your mind, but what your mind creates for your eyes to see. You’re not limited by logic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dooley/reality-is-not-what-your-eyes-show-your-mind-but-what-your-mind/) [Mike Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dooley/) > [Eyes and Mind are very source to cause pain in the Heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay/eyes-and-mind-are-very-source-to-cause-pain-in-the-heart/) [Vijay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay/) > [“There is such dissociation between what the eyes see and what the mind envisions. The final thought is just a matter of interpretation, coloured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anirban-bose/there-is-such-dissociation-between-what-the-eyes-see-and-what-the/) [Anirban Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anirban-bose/) > [We live with many thoughts, emotions, and habits, but at the same time we have other eyes, another mind capable of watching all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/we-live-with-many-thoughts-emotions-and-habits-but-at-the-same-time/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [In your eyes, I see what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-your-eyes-i-see-what-s-on-my-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love looks not with eyes, but with the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-looks-not-with-eyes-but-with-the-mind/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“His appearance gives no clue to what his profession might be, and yet he doesn't look like a man without a profession either. Consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/his-appearance-gives-no-clue-to-what-his-profession-might-be-and-yet/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [To feel the love ,u need a heart and the eyes of your mind to be open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coralia/to-feel-the-love-u-need-a-heart-and-the-eyes-of-your-mind-to-be-open/) [Coralia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coralia/) > [Whatever your eyes see so do your mind think it into a word that will get your ass whoop!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/whatever-your-eyes-see-so-do-your-mind-think-it-into-a-word-that-will/) Frenchqueen > [Pleasure blinds (so to speak) the eyes of the mind, and has no fellowship with virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pleasure-blinds-so-to-speak-the-eyes-of-the-mind-and-has-no/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“When indeed you positively press your face, so to speak, against the crystalline window of your eyes, your mind is apt to become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/when-indeed-you-positively-press-your-face-so-to-speak-against-the/) [Walter de la Mare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-de-la-mare/) > [“Who do you see when you think of you? Are you an outsider, Cool, distant, angry, swimming against the current, or are you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/who-do-you-see-when-you-think-of-you-are-you-an-outsider-cool-distant/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) ## More by Publilius Syrus > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is his nature, not his standing, that makes the good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-his-nature-not-his-standing-that-makes-the-good-man/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Modesty once lost, never returns into favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/modesty-once-lost-never-returns-into-favour/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/one-ungrateful-person-does-an-injury-to-all-needy-people/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He has existed only, not lived, who lacks wisdom in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-has-existed-only-not-lived-who-lacks-wisdom-in-old-age/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/any-plan-is-bad-which-is-incapable-of-modification/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The evil you do to others you may expect in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The power of habit is very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-power-of-habit-is-very-strong/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Take care that no one hates you justly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/take-care-that-no-one-hates-you-justly/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-has-plenty-of-pepper-will-pepper-his-cabbage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Hasty conclusions lead to speedy repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/hasty-conclusions-lead-to-speedy-repentance/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When reason rules, money is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/when-reason-rules-money-is-a-blessing/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) [Explore all 455 Publilius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More Eye quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) Browse all 16,237 Eye quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The eyes see not what is before them when the mind is intent on other matters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Publilius Syrus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-when-the-mind-is-intent-on-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eye" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-when-the-mind-is-intent-on-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/publilius-syrus-594_eye_the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-whe_2055468.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/publilius-syrus-594_eye_the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-whe_2055468.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/publilius-syrus-594_eye_the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-whe_2055468.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The eyes see not what is before them when the mind is intent on other matters.” — Publilius Syrus", "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": "Publilius Syrus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The eyes see not what is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-when-the-mind-is-intent-on-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-eyes-see-not-what-is-before-them-when-the-mind-is-intent-on-other/#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 } } ] } ```