--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's how he saw climbing, a physical…" description: "\"“That's how he saw climbing, a physical exercise in positive and negative space. The vast expanse of white drawing the small, person-shaped speck into ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/victoria-schwab-1505_climbing_that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-ex_804715.jpg" --- # That's how he saw climbing, a physical exercise in… ![“That's how he saw climbing, a physical exercise in positive and negative space. The vast expanse of white drawing the small, person-shaped speck into sharp relief.” quote by Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/victoria-schwab-1505_climbing_that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-ex_804715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/victoria-schwab-1505_climbing_that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-ex_804715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/victoria-schwab-1505_climbing_that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-ex_804715.jpg) > ““That's how he saw climbing, a physical exercise in positive and negative space. The vast expanse of white drawing the small, person-shaped speck into sharp relief.”” [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote describes climbing as an artistic act that uses contrast between light and dark to highlight the climber’s smallness against a vast backdrop. **In simple terms:** Climbing is seen as a visual contrast of space. Key Takeaway Notice how contrast shapes perception. Themes art perception nature human scale Mood reflective inspired Type descriptive metaphorical When to use this quote - mountain climbing - photography - landscape painting - outdoor education Key Concepts visual contrast spatial awareness physical discipline Questions to Reflect On - How does contrast affect your view of challenges? - What does the small speck symbolize for you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may overlook the physical danger of climbing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Negative space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-space/) [Physical exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-exercise/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [“Is negative space the space you don't like, or the space that is not there? And if it's not there how can you tell?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/is-negative-space-the-space-you-don-t-like-or-the-space-that-is-not/) [Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/) > [“But in order to survive in this foreign world, I had to teach myself that love was very much like a painting. The negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-richman/but-in-order-to-survive-in-this-foreign-world-i-had-to-teach-myself/) [Alyson Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-richman/) > [But I have learned over the years that all I can do is reach for something difficult - try to get the colors right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-gloss/but-i-have-learned-over-the-years-that-all-i-can-do-is-reach-for/) Molly Gloss > [“It's the revelatory aspect, the gradual unfurling of another person, the sense of exploration and discovery that comes from passing a day in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gallari/it-s-the-revelatory-aspect-the-gradual-unfurling-of-another-person/) Adam Gallari > [Negative space is important. When I teach students to read critically I advise them to look for what the author isn't saying just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-belz/negative-space-is-important-when-i-teach-students-to-read-critically/) [Aaron Belz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-belz/) > [Good morning, help at least one person today, and rent no negative space in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-epps/good-morning-help-at-least-one-person-today-and-rent-no-negative/) [Mike Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-epps/) > [“sometimes think of people’s personalities as the negative space around their insecurities. Afraid of intimacy? Cultivate aloofness. Feel invisible? Laugh loud and often. Drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-west/sometimes-think-of-people-s-personalities-as-the-negative-space/) [Lindy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-west/) > [Gates appeal to me because of the negative space they allow. They can be closed but at the same time they allow the seasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/gates-appeal-to-me-because-of-the-negative-space-they-allow-they-can/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“What someone’s lies reveal about them (aspirations to being an accomplished writer, fantasies of an exotic history and a cosmopolitan family) are always sadder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kreider/what-someone-s-lies-reveal-about-them-aspirations-to-being-an/) [Tim Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kreider/) > [You come to the photograph as an aesthetic object with no context... Then you step in and read the text and then out again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taryn-simon/you-come-to-the-photograph-as-an-aesthetic-object-with-no-context/) [Taryn Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taryn-simon/) > [Traditional paintings have few figures in them and value negative space. Japanese calligraphy and brush paintings are in black and white. Haiku is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-sasaki/traditional-paintings-have-few-figures-in-them-and-value-negative/) [Fumio Sasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-sasaki/) > [“Most people dwell in that negative space because so many are conditioned to believe it is all they deserve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/most-people-dwell-in-that-negative-space-because-so-many-are/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [“One of the basic principles of every single art form has to do not with what’s there—the music, the words, the movement, the dialogue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/one-of-the-basic-principles-of-every-single-art-form-has-to-do-not/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“Their arms are separated by only a few inches, and I start to fixate on the negative space between their shoulders and elbows, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/their-arms-are-separated-by-only-a-few-inches-and-i-start-to-fixate/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I was trained to look at colour, edges, to see negative space. I honestly think my greatest influence as a writer is from Cubism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-miller/i-was-trained-to-look-at-colour-edges-to-see-negative-space-i/) [Rebecca Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-miller/) ## More by Victoria Schwab > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“Perhaps it is in our best interest to... to surrender rather than waste words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/perhaps-it-is-in-our-best-interest-to-to-surrender-rather-than-waste/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“The dead are silent, and objects, when they hold impressions, are quiet until you reach through them. But the touch of living is loud.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/the-dead-are-silent-and-objects-when-they-hold-impressions-are-quiet/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“Having something and losing it, it's so much crueler than never having had it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/having-something-and-losing-it-it-s-so-much-crueler-than-never-having/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“People are made up of so many small details. Some—like the smell of cookies baking—we can recreate. Or at least try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/people-are-made-up-of-so-many-small-details-some-like-the-smell-of/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“I suppose it doesn't matter how they get out. All that matters is they do. And when they do, they must be found. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/i-suppose-it-doesn-t-matter-how-they-get-out-all-that-matters-is-they/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“The silliest things shatter you. A T-shirt discovered behind the washing machine. A toy that rolled under a cabinet in the garage, forgotten until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/the-silliest-things-shatter-you-a-t-shirt-discovered-behind-the/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“What a mess. Truths are messy and lies are messy, and I don’t care what Da said, it’s impossible to cut a person into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/what-a-mess-truths-are-messy-and-lies-are-messy-and-i-don-t-care-what/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“People aren't smart when it comes to the dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/people-aren-t-smart-when-it-comes-to-the-dead/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“Let them think you a demon or a god,” she said. “Let them fear you. It does not matter.” “It matters a great deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/let-them-think-you-a-demon-or-a-god-she-said-let-them-fear-you-it/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“What do schools do that for?” he grumbles. “What’s the point of summer if they give you homework?” “Exactly!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/what-do-schools-do-that-for-he-grumbles-what-s-the-point-of-summer-if/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“I am broken the way most writers are, stories leaking through the cracks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/i-am-broken-the-way-most-writers-are-stories-leaking-through-the/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“Do you ever wonder why music brings a soul to surface? What makes beauty work as well as pain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/do-you-ever-wonder-why-music-brings-a-soul-to-surface-what-makes/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“But there was something else, too, a strange excitement at the idea of playing normal, and every time he tried to untangle how he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/but-there-was-something-else-too-a-strange-excitement-at-the-idea-of/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“Maybe one day the words will pour out like so many others, easy and smooth and on their own. Right now they take pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/maybe-one-day-the-words-will-pour-out-like-so-many-others-easy-and/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) [Explore all 231 Victoria Schwab quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) ## More Climbing quotes > [I'm always climbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-caldwell/i-m-always-climbing/) [Tommy Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-caldwell/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [Classic mountaineering grows out of a traditional romantic imagination. Its heart is the feeling, its path is blood, sweat and tears, and its restriction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-kurtyka/classic-mountaineering-grows-out-of-a-traditional-romantic/) [Wojciech Kurtyka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-kurtyka/) > [Placing my buttocks on a cold toilet seat is my climbing Mount Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/placing-my-buttocks-on-a-cold-toilet-seat-is-my-climbing-mount-everest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) > [“Climbing mattered. The danger bathed the world in a halogen glow that caused everything—the sweep of the rock, the orange and yellow lichens, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/climbing-mattered-the-danger-bathed-the-world-in-a-halogen-glow-that/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-neuharth/the-difference-between-a-mountain-and-a-molehill-is-your-perspective/) [Al Neuharth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-neuharth/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Climbing has worked for me in a number of ways on Capitol Hill. I'm much more inclined to look at what people do, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-udall/climbing-has-worked-for-me-in-a-number-of-ways-on-capitol-hill-i-m/) [Mark Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-udall/) > [I love finding something. For me it's not just about the athletic challenge, it's about finding new things. When I'm not doing that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/i-love-finding-something-for-me-it-s-not-just-about-the-athletic/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [I'm a man's man. I go out climbing and live outdoors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mccann/i-m-a-man-s-man-i-go-out-climbing-and-live-outdoors/) [Rory McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mccann/) > [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [For me, the most relevant factor in my ability to perform well on the rock has to do with my love of climbing. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hill/for-me-the-most-relevant-factor-in-my-ability-to-perform-well-on-the/) [Lynn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hill/) [Browse all 1,082 Climbing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That's how he saw climbing, a physical exercise in positive and negative space. The vast expanse of white drawing the small, person-shaped speck into sharp relief.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Victoria Schwab" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-exercise-in-positive-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climbing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-exercise-in-positive-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/victoria-schwab-1505_climbing_that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-ex_804715.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/victoria-schwab-1505_climbing_that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-ex_804715.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a35/victoria-schwab-1505_climbing_that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-ex_804715.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's how he saw climbing, a physical exercise in positive and negative space. The vast expanse of white…” — Victoria Schwab", "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": "Victoria Schwab", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“That's how he saw climbing, a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-exercise-in-positive-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/that-s-how-he-saw-climbing-a-physical-exercise-in-positive-and/#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 } } ] } ```