--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always thought abstractly - through…" description: "\"I've always thought abstractly - through theme and variations rather than narrative.\" — Robert Wilson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-wilson-8083_always_i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-t_2046496.jpg" --- # I've always thought abstractly - through theme and… ![“I've always thought abstractly - through theme and variations rather than narrative.” quote by Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-wilson-8083_always_i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-t_2046496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-wilson-8083_always_i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-t_2046496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-wilson-8083_always_i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-t_2046496.jpg) > “I've always thought abstractly - through theme and variations rather than narrative.” [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Abstract thinking via themes and variations allows creative exploration beyond linear narrative. **In simple terms:** Abstract themes foster creative exploration. Key Takeaway Explore ideas through variation. Themes creativity abstraction variation Mood thoughtful experimental Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - writing - music composition - visual arts - design Key Concepts artistic process conceptual thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance abstraction with clarity? - When is narrative more effective than abstraction? A Different Perspective Some audiences prefer clear stories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstractly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstractly-3811426/) [Abstractly Theme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstractly-theme-3835331/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rather/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Theme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme/) [Theme Variations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme-variations-2782052/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Abstractly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-abstractly-3835330/) [Through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/through/) [Variations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variations/) [Variations Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variations-narrative-3835332/) ## Related quotes > [“The first, clearer, type suggests the musical pattern of theme and variations. The chosen theme persists through the six stages, in various aspects. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hellmut-and-richard-wilhelm-understanding-the-i-ching/the-first-clearer-type-suggests-the-musical-pattern-of-theme-and/) [Hellmut and Richard Wilhelm Understanding the I Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hellmut-and-richard-wilhelm-understanding-the-i-ching/) > [I had been working purely abstractly for so long, it was important for me to see whether I was working abstractly because I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-had-been-working-purely-abstractly-for-so-long-it-was-important-for/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [The aim of philosophy, abstractly formulated, is to understand how things in the broadest possible sense of the term hang together in the broadest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-aim-of-philosophy-abstractly-formulated-is-to-understand-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are only a few notes. Just variations on a theme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/there-are-only-a-few-notes-just-variations-on-a-theme/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I have no time for specialized concerns, working themes or variations that lead to mastery... I like the indefinite, the boundless; I like continual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/i-have-no-time-for-specialized-concerns-working-themes-or-variations/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [I love making music. I love being involved in arranging music. It's very natural to know what I want to hear next and come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-gossard/i-love-making-music-i-love-being-involved-in-arranging-music-it-s/) [Stone Gossard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-gossard/) > [Oh my goodness, they are rocking so many variations of my high-top fade. I mean, Rihanna has taken it to a very angular 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-baker/oh-my-goodness-they-are-rocking-so-many-variations-of-my-high-top/) [Anita Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-baker/) > [Diplomacy is like jazz: endless variations on a theme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holbrooke/diplomacy-is-like-jazz-endless-variations-on-a-theme/) [Richard Holbrooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holbrooke/) > [I'm personally not terribly interested in designing wholesome characters, so I don't have many variations to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-toriyama/i-m-personally-not-terribly-interested-in-designing-wholesome/) [Akira Toriyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-toriyama/) > [When you're calculating variations - especially long ones - it really helps to visualize the board.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-naroditsky/when-you-re-calculating-variations-especially-long-ones-it-really/) [Daniel Naroditsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-naroditsky/) > [I want to show people how there are variations and different interpretations of good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/i-want-to-show-people-how-there-are-variations-and-different/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [Brahms' Variations are better than mine, but mine were written before his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-liszt/brahms-variations-are-better-than-mine-but-mine-were-written-before/) [Franz Liszt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-liszt/) > [With kiting, you have to land a trick, and in that instant you know whether you won or lost - I knew I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maika-monroe/with-kiting-you-have-to-land-a-trick-and-in-that-instant-you-know/) [Maika Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maika-monroe/) > [Every man must have the right fearlessly to think independently and express his opinion about what he knows, what he has personally thought about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/every-man-must-have-the-right-fearlessly-to-think-independently-and/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) ## More by Robert Wilson > [When I was 12 years old, I went to Natchitoches, La.; it was summer vacation with my family. We visited a plantation, Melrose. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/when-i-was-12-years-old-i-went-to-natchitoches-la-it-was-summer/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [I learned loudness from working with Lou Reed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-learned-loudness-from-working-with-lou-reed/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [New York is very provincial. They're very cut-off; they don't have an awareness of so much that is going on in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/new-york-is-very-provincial-they-re-very-cut-off-they-don-t-have-an/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [“The chinese character for "strife" is represented by two women under the same roof.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/the-chinese-character-for-strife-is-represented-by-two-women-under/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [In Europe, unlike the States, they have a cultural policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/in-europe-unlike-the-states-they-have-a-cultural-policy/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [“Eva was a between-the-lines talker. She left the sayable unsaid and said what she meant without saying it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/eva-was-a-between-the-lines-talker-she-left-the-sayable-unsaid-and/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [By giving the leadership to the private sector in a capitalistic society, we're going to measure the value of art by how many products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/by-giving-the-leadership-to-the-private-sector-in-a-capitalistic/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [I think people are looking for an alternative to the fast pace of everyday life and entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-think-people-are-looking-for-an-alternative-to-the-fast-pace-of/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [Usually in theater, the visual repeats the verbal. The visual dwindles into decoration. But I think with my eyes. For me, the visual is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/usually-in-theater-the-visual-repeats-the-verbal-the-visual-dwindles/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [I don't see much difference between living and working. I think living is a part of my work. People often say, 'How can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-don-t-see-much-difference-between-living-and-working-i-think-living/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [Everything in Wagner's work - the music, the acting, the staging - stemmed from the text. Everything served to interpret the text.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/everything-in-wagner-s-work-the-music-the-acting-the-staging-stemmed/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [In my theater, I'm not trying to change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/in-my-theater-i-m-not-trying-to-change-the-world/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [My tax dollar, which goes to New York State Council on the Arts, is by and large only spent to fund people from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/my-tax-dollar-which-goes-to-new-york-state-council-on-the-arts-is-by/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [I never thought about the relationship of my mother, my family, to the content of my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-never-thought-about-the-relationship-of-my-mother-my-family-to-the/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [I never studied theatre; I learned it by doing it. If I had studied theatre, I would not be making the kind of theatre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-never-studied-theatre-i-learned-it-by-doing-it-if-i-had-studied/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) [Explore all 84 Robert Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always thought abstractly - through theme and variations rather than narrative.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Wilson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-theme-and-variations-rather/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-theme-and-variations-rather/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-wilson-8083_always_i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-t_2046496.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-wilson-8083_always_i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-t_2046496.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/robert-wilson-8083_always_i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-t_2046496.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always thought abstractly - through theme and variations rather than narrative.” — Robert Wilson", "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 Wilson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always thought abstractly - through...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-theme-and-variations-rather/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-ve-always-thought-abstractly-through-theme-and-variations-rather/#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 } } ] } ```