---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The eye obeys exactly the action of the…"
description: "\"The eye obeys exactly the action of the mind.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the_2922195.png"
---

#  The eye obeys exactly the action of the mind.

![“The eye obeys exactly the action of the mind.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the_2922195.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the_2922195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the_2922195.png)

> “The eye obeys exactly the action of the mind.”

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The mind directs the eye; thoughts shape perception.

**In simple terms:** Thoughts control what we see.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate positive thoughts to influence perception.

Themes

perception mindfulness psychology

Mood

contemplative thoughtful

Type

psychological philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily mindfulness
- visualization techniques
- mental framing

Key Concepts

cognitive bias visual focus

Questions to Reflect On

- How do your thoughts affect what you notice?
- What practices improve mental focus?

A Different Perspective

Negative thoughts can still dominate perception.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/)

## Related quotes

> [Every individual man has a bias which he must obey, and...it is only as he feels and obeys this that he rightly develops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-individual-man-has-a-bias-which-he-must-obey-and-it-is-only-as/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Power obeys reality, and not appearances; power is according to quality, and not quantity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/power-obeys-reality-and-not-appearances-power-is-according-to-quality/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [She who ne'er answers till a husband cools, Or, if she rules him, never shows she rules; Charms by accepting, by submitting, sways, Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-who-ne-er-answers-till-a-husband-cools-or-if-she-rules-him-never/)

[Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/)

> [If any man obeys the gods, they listen to him also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/if-any-man-obeys-the-gods-they-listen-to-him-also/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [“In nations where it exists, every individual takes an equal share in sovereign power and participates equally in the government of the state. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/in-nations-where-it-exists-every-individual-takes-an-equal-share-in/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [He is wisest, who only gives, True to himself, the best he can: Who drifting on the winds of praise, The inward monitor obeys.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/he-is-wisest-who-only-gives-true-to-himself-the-best-he-can-who/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [Whoever obeys the gods, to him they particularly listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/whoever-obeys-the-gods-to-him-they-particularly-listen/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [The cat lives alone, has no need of society, obeys only when she pleases, pretends to sleep that she may see more clearly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-cat-lives-alone-has-no-need-of-society-obeys-only-when-she/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The western world now obeys the percepts of commerce.A bloody demanding religion,if you ask me.The do's and don'ts change every season and your "everyone"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-verhoef/the-western-world-now-obeys-the-percepts-of-commerce-a-bloody/)

[Esther Verhoef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-verhoef/)

> [“only a fool obeys the law if it is against his own advantage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-z-lavine/only-a-fool-obeys-the-law-if-it-is-against-his-own-advantage/)

[T.Z. Lavine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-z-lavine/)

> [“A man chooses...a slave obeys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ryan/a-man-chooses-a-slave-obeys/)

[Andrew Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ryan/)

> [No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baden-powell/no-man-is-much-good-unless-he-believes-in-god-and-obeys-his-laws/)

[Robert Baden-Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baden-powell/)

> [“The truth is that so long as we hold both sides of the proposition together they contain nothing inconsistent with right belief, but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-truth-is-that-so-long-as-we-hold-both-sides-of-the-proposition/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Do not judge others. Do to others what you would have them do to you. Whoever obeys is like a man who built his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-judge-others-do-to-others-what-you-would-have-them-do-to-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [John 14:21) Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goddey-wilson/john-14-21-whoever-has-my-commands-and-obeys-them-he-is-the-one-who/)

[GODDEY WILSON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goddey-wilson/)

## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson

> [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [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/)

> [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

[Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [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/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The eye obeys exactly the action of the mind.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the-mind/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the-mind/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the_2922195.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the_2922195.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the_2922195.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The eye obeys exactly the action of the mind.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The eye obeys exactly the action...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the-mind/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-eye-obeys-exactly-the-action-of-the-mind/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
