Contemplation Quote by William Godwin
“In contemplation and reverie, one thought introduces another perpetually; and it is by similarity, or the hooking of one upon the other, that the process of thinking is carried on.”
About This Quote
Source Book: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, 1793
Thinking proceeds by linking ideas through similarity, creating a chain of thoughts where each new notion builds on the previous one, highlighting the associative nature of cognition.
In simple terms: Ideas connect by similarity, forming a continuous thought chain.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate associative thinking to deepen insight.
Themes
philosophy
cognition
creativity
logic
thought process
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
intellectual
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- writing
- problem solving
- brainstorming
- learning
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
Associative reasoning
mental chaining
conceptual similarity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you break a thought pattern to discover new ideas?
- What role does contrast play in thinking?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on similarity may limit novel connections.
