--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we think of as reality is a…" description: "\"What we think of as reality is a continuous synthesis of elements from a fixed hierarchy of a priori concepts and the ever changing data of the senses...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/robert-m-pirsig-817_concepts_what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continu_2955096.png" --- # What we think of as reality is a continuous synthesis of… ![“What we think of as reality is a continuous synthesis of elements from a fixed hierarchy of a priori concepts and the ever changing data of the senses.” quote by Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/robert-m-pirsig-817_concepts_what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continu_2955096.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/robert-m-pirsig-817_concepts_what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continu_2955096.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/robert-m-pirsig-817_concepts_what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continu_2955096.png) > “What we think of as reality is a continuous synthesis of elements from a fixed hierarchy of a priori concepts and the ever changing data of the senses.” [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reality is built from innate concepts combined with sensory input, constantly reshaped. **In simple terms:** Reality blends innate ideas and sensory data. Key Takeaway Recognize how assumptions shape perception. Themes philosophy perception knowledge Mood contemplative inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - daily decision making - critical thinking - creative problem solving Key Concepts Kantian epistemology constructivism Questions to Reflect On - How do your preconceptions limit your view? - What sensory data challenges your beliefs? A Different Perspective Assumes a fixed hierarchy of concepts, which may be culturally biased. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Continuous Synthesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuous-synthesis-4472914/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed/) [Fixed Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed-hierarchy-4472915/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Continuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-continuous-4472913/) [Senses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senses/) [Synthesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/synthesis/) [Think Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-reality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Zen motorcycle maintenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen-motorcycle-maintenance/) ## Related quotes > [To speak of certain government and establishment institutions as 'the system' is to speak correctly . . . They are sustained by structural relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-speak-of-certain-government-and-establishment-institutions-as-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [My favorite piece of technical writing: Assembly of Japanese bicycle require great peace of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/my-favorite-piece-of-technical-writing-assembly-of-japanese-bicycle/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Any philosophic explanation of Quality is going to be both false and true precisely because it is a philosophic explanation. The process of philosophic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/any-philosophic-explanation-of-quality-is-going-to-be-both-false-and/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [A person isn't considered insane if there are a number of people who believe the same way. Insanity isn't supposed to be a communicable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/a-person-isn-t-considered-insane-if-there-are-a-number-of-people-who/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Civilization, or "the system" or "society" or whatever you want to call it, is best served not by mules but by free men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/civilization-or-the-system-or-society-or-whatever-you-want-to-call-it/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through that car window everything you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/in-a-car-you-re-always-in-a-compartment-and-because-you-re-used-to-it/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [I think this fear of insanity is comparable to the fear people once had of falling off the edge of the world. Or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-think-this-fear-of-insanity-is-comparable-to-the-fear-people-once/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [To an experienced Zen Buddhist, asking if one believes in Zen or one believes in the Buddha, sounds a little ludicrous, like asking if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-an-experienced-zen-buddhist-asking-if-one-believes-in-zen-or-one/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [What's wrong with technology is that it's not connected in any real way with matters of the spirit and of the heart. And so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-s-wrong-with-technology-is-that-it-s-not-connected-in-any-real/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Quality... you know what it is, yet you don't know what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/quality-you-know-what-it-is-yet-you-don-t-know-what-it-is/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [That's all the motorcycle is, a system of concepts worked out in steel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/that-s-all-the-motorcycle-is-a-system-of-concepts-worked-out-in-steel/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [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/robert-m-pirsig/in-the-temple-of-science-are-many-mansions-and-various-indeed-are-2/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The best students always are flunking. Every good teacher knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-best-students-always-are-flunking-every-good-teacher-knows-that/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If a revolution destroys a systematic government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/if-a-revolution-destroys-a-systematic-government-but-the-systematic/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Programs of a political nature are important end products of social quality that can be effective only if the underlying structure of social values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/programs-of-a-political-nature-are-important-end-products-of-social/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## More by Robert M. Pirsig > [“And from time to time you find your “county road” takes you onto a two-rutter and then a single rutter and then into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/and-from-time-to-time-you-find-your-county-road-takes-you-onto-a-two/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“I started to roll over for more sleep but heard a rooster crowing and then became aware we are on vacation and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-started-to-roll-over-for-more-sleep-but-heard-a-rooster-crowing-and/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even though quality cannot be defined, you know what quality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-though-quality-cannot-be-defined-you-know-what-quality-is/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [I suppose philosophy is historically not a woman's game, though that is changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-suppose-philosophy-is-historically-not-a-woman-s-game-though-that/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Up until my first book was published, I had all this potential, people would say, and I screwed up. After it, I could say:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/up-until-my-first-book-was-published-i-had-all-this-potential-people/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [There is a perennial classical question that asks which part of the motorcycle, which grain of sand in which pile, is the Buddha. Obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/there-is-a-perennial-classical-question-that-asks-which-part-of-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Of the value traps, the most widespread and pernicious is value rigidity. This is an inability to revalue what one sees because of commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/of-the-value-traps-the-most-widespread-and-pernicious-is-value/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Historically mystics have claimed that for a true understanding of reality metaphysics is too “scientific”. Metaphysics is not reality. Metaphysics is names about reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/historically-mystics-have-claimed-that-for-a-true-understanding-of/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“What’s emerging from the pattern of my own life is the for belief that the crisis is being caused by the inadequacy of existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-s-emerging-from-the-pattern-of-my-own-life-is-the-for-belief/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [To speak of certain government and establishment institutions as 'the system' is to speak correctly . . . They are sustained by structural relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-speak-of-certain-government-and-establishment-institutions-as-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If a revolution destroys a systematic government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/if-a-revolution-destroys-a-systematic-government-but-the-systematic/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-only-zen-you-can-find-on-the-tops-of-mountains-is-the-zen-you/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Only social patterns can control biological patterns, and the instrument of conversation between society and biology is not words. The instrument of conversation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/only-social-patterns-can-control-biological-patterns-and-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even in the presence of others he was completely alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-in-the-presence-of-others-he-was-completely-alone/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Explore all 351 Robert M. Pirsig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## More Concepts quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [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/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. To me, the party hasn't begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-do-like-talking-with-friends-about-big-concepts-you-know-the-stuff/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [For a physicist mathematics is not just a tool by means of which phenomena can be calculated, it is the main source of concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/for-a-physicist-mathematics-is-not-just-a-tool-by-means-of-which/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [All significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/all-significant-concepts-of-the-modern-theory-of-the-state-are/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) [Christy Nockels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-nockels/) > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/) [Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/) > [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) [Browse all 2,468 Concepts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we think of as reality is a continuous synthesis of elements from a fixed hierarchy of a priori concepts and the ever changing data of the senses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. Pirsig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continuous-synthesis-of-elements/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concepts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continuous-synthesis-of-elements/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/robert-m-pirsig-817_concepts_what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continu_2955096.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/robert-m-pirsig-817_concepts_what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continu_2955096.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fd/robert-m-pirsig-817_concepts_what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continu_2955096.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we think of as reality is a continuous synthesis of elements from a fixed hierarchy of a priori…” — Robert M. Pirsig", "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": "Robert M. Pirsig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we think of as reality...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continuous-synthesis-of-elements/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-we-think-of-as-reality-is-a-continuous-synthesis-of-elements/#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 } } ] } ```