Conception Quote by Susanne Katherina Langer
“A mind that is very selective to forms... is apt to use its images metaphorically, to exploit their possible significance for the conception of remote or intangible ideas.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Role of Form in Thought by Susanne Katherina Langer, 1950
Selective perception shapes mental imagery, allowing abstract concepts to be formed through metaphorical use of familiar forms.
In simple terms: Our mind uses familiar shapes to grasp abstract ideas.
Key Takeaway
Leverage familiar patterns to understand complex topics.
Themes
cognition
metaphor
abstraction
creativity
Mood
analytical
creative
Type
educational
strategic
When to use this quote
- teaching
- marketing
- design
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
lingistics
Questions to Reflect On
- In what ways do you use familiar images to explain new ideas?
- When might metaphor hinder clear understanding?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on metaphor can oversimplify nuanced concepts.
![“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life of our father.' [...] Even after a couple of brandies he felt extremely reluctant to discuss sex and his father. 'It's something I'd rather not think about,' he said. 'We all come into…” quote by John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/280/john-mortimer-7362_conception_take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-m_4946.jpg)
