--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The surface of things is not where…" description: "\"The surface of things is not where attention should rest.\" — Terence McKenna" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/terence-mckenna-287_attention_the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-atten_1517753.png" --- # The surface of things is not where attention should rest. ![“The surface of things is not where attention should rest.” quote by Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/terence-mckenna-287_attention_the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-atten_1517753.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/terence-mckenna-287_attention_the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-atten_1517753.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/terence-mckenna-287_attention_the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-atten_1517753.png) > “The surface of things is not where attention should rest.” [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True focus should be on underlying realities, not superficial appearances. **In simple terms:** Look beyond the surface. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding before judging. Themes perception depth awareness Mood inquisitive analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - research - art criticism - personal relationships - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy consciousness Questions to Reflect On - What hidden layers might you be missing? - How can you train yourself to notice deeper patterns? A Different Perspective Surface details can sometimes hold essential clues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“Your mind deserves the same attention, rest, and nourishment you give your body, perhaps even more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/your-mind-deserves-the-same-attention-rest-and-nourishment-you-give/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“I don't purchase people with money, or hiss like a snake to attract their attention, all i do is to rest on my couch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-don-t-purchase-people-with-money-or-hiss-like-a-snake-to-attract/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The surface of things gives enjoyment, their interiority gives life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/the-surface-of-things-gives-enjoyment-their-interiority-gives-life/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [It is only after you have come to know the surface of things ... that you can venture to seek what is underneath. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/it-is-only-after-you-have-come-to-know-the-surface-of-things-that-you/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [While you are experimenting, do not remain content with the surface of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-pavlov/while-you-are-experimenting-do-not-remain-content-with-the-surface-of/) [Ivan Pavlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-pavlov/) > [The world is content with setting right the surface of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/the-world-is-content-with-setting-right-the-surface-of-things/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [I love mirrors. They let one pass through the surface of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-chabrol/i-love-mirrors-they-let-one-pass-through-the-surface-of-things/) [Claude Chabrol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-chabrol/) > [I don't dig beneath the surface for things that don't appear before my own eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/i-don-t-dig-beneath-the-surface-for-things-that-don-t-appear-before/) [John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/) > [Nowadays we have so many things that take our attention - phones, Internet - and perhaps we need to disconnect from those and focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-hoult/nowadays-we-have-so-many-things-that-take-our-attention-phones/) [Nicholas Hoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-hoult/) > [I was really kind of shy as a child. But I would do things for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/i-was-really-kind-of-shy-as-a-child-but-i-would-do-things-for/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [I always like to create things that get attention. It used to be a problem when I wasn't famous. Now, I can do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-bunny/i-always-like-to-create-things-that-get-attention-it-used-to-be-a/) [Bad Bunny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-bunny/) > [And of course the things that get the most attention online tend to be similar to those that succeeded under the old model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/and-of-course-the-things-that-get-the-most-attention-online-tend-to/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [I broke things to get attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-broke-things-to-get-attention/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [Attention pays attention to a lot of things, but when attention pays attention to attention, then there is a stillness, and that stillness introduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/attention-pays-attention-to-a-lot-of-things-but-when-attention-pays/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [To make someone happy, give them three things: Attention, Affection and Appreciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/to-make-someone-happy-give-them-three-things-attention-affection-and/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) ## More by Terence McKenna > [History was an incredibly damaging experience, and now it's over . . . in a sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/history-was-an-incredibly-damaging-experience-and-now-it-s-over-in-a/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The history of man that you don't know is what your unconscious is made out of. Just as the history of yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-history-of-man-that-you-don-t-know-is-what-your-unconscious-is/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [We are consciousness. We may not always be monkeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-consciousness-we-may-not-always-be-monkeys/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [What is happening here is we are living past the age, by the millions, living past the age where cultural values make any sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/what-is-happening-here-is-we-are-living-past-the-age-by-the-millions/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [What history is, essentially, is a careening, out-of-control effort to find our way back to this state of primordial balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/what-history-is-essentially-is-a-careening-out-of-control-effort-to/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [And what is the primary datum? It's the felt presence of immediate experience. In other words, being here now is the primary datum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/and-what-is-the-primary-datum-it-s-the-felt-presence-of-immediate/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our culture difinitely takes an egocentric dominator view. The fear of the psychedelic experience is quite literally the fear of losing control. Dominator types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/our-culture-difinitely-takes-an-egocentric-dominator-view-the-fear-of/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Every step into freedom contains within it the potential for greater bondage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/every-step-into-freedom-contains-within-it-the-potential-for-greater/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [This is the message of your life and my life - it’s that nothing lasts. Heraclitus said it: Panta Rhei. All flows, nothing lasts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/this-is-the-message-of-your-life-and-my-life-it-s-that-nothing-lasts/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I often like to think that our map of the world is wrong, that where we have centered physics, we should actually place literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-often-like-to-think-that-our-map-of-the-world-is-wrong-that-where/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Knowledge, or verbal facility, is no proof that you know what you're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/knowledge-or-verbal-facility-is-no-proof-that-you-know-what-you-re/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [No culture on earth is as heavily narcotized as the industrial West in terms of being inured to the consequences of maladaptive behavior. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/no-culture-on-earth-is-as-heavily-narcotized-as-the-industrial-west/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Man was not put on this planet to toil in the mud. Or the god who put us on this planet to toil in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/man-was-not-put-on-this-planet-to-toil-in-the-mud-or-the-god-who-put/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [If you take psychedelics and the Internet and music and put all of that together you have the basis for a new community that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/if-you-take-psychedelics-and-the-internet-and-music-and-put-all-of/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) [Explore all 745 Terence McKenna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The surface of things is not where attention should rest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terence McKenna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-attention-should-rest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-attention-should-rest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/terence-mckenna-287_attention_the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-atten_1517753.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/terence-mckenna-287_attention_the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-atten_1517753.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/terence-mckenna-287_attention_the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-atten_1517753.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The surface of things is not where attention should rest.” — Terence McKenna", "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": "Terence McKenna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The surface of things is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-attention-should-rest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-surface-of-things-is-not-where-attention-should-rest/#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 } } ] } ```