Explore a collection of the most beloved and motivational quotes and sayings about Observation. Share these powerful messages with your loved ones on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or on your personal blog, and inspire the world with their wisdom. We've compiled the Top 100 Observation Quotes and Sayings from 89 influential authors, including Eben Alexander,Alfred Lord Tennyson,Will Rogers,Chevy Chase,Deepak Chopra, for you to enjoy and share.

Observation comes first, then interpretation. By Eben Alexander Observation Interpretation

Let observation with extended observation observe extensively. By Alfred Lord Tennyson Extensively Observation Extended Observe

People learn more from observation that they do from conversation. By Will Rogers People Conversation Learn Observation

You can't observe as much if you're observed by others. By Chevy Chase Observe Observed

Countless acts of observation give substance and reality to what would otherwise be ghosts of existence. This solves the so-called "measurement problem" of By Deepak Chopra Countless Existence Acts Observation Give

I read once that the act of observing changes the nature of what is observed. By Christina Baker Kline Observed Read Act Observing Nature

You can observe a lot just by watching. By Yogi Berra Watching Observe Lot

You can observe a lot by just watching. By Yogi Berra Watching Observe Lot

Experiment is fundamentally only induced observation. By Claude Bernard Experiment Observation Fundamentally Induced

Observation is a passive science, experimentation an active science. By Claude Bernard Science Observation Experimentation Passive Active

There is no pure, disinterested, theory-free observation, By Karl Popper Disinterested Pure Theoryfree Observation

In rational inquiry, we idealize to selected domains in such a way (we hope) as to permit us to discover crucial features of the world. Data and observations, in the sciences, have an instrumental character. They are of no particular interest in themselves, but only insofar as they constitute evidence that permits one to determine fundamental features of the real world, within a course of inquiry that is invariably undertaken under sharp idealizations, often implicit and simply common understanding, but always present. By Noam Chomsky Hope World Features Rational Idealize

Observation is so wide awake, and facts are being so rapidly added to the sum of human experience, that it appears as if the theorizer would always be in arrears, and were doomed forever to arrive at imperfect conclusion; but the power to perceive a law is equally rare in all ages of the world, and depends but little on the number of facts observed. By Henry David Thoreau Facts Observation Awake Experience Arrears

Carlyle said that how to observe was to look, but I say that it is rather to see, and the more you look the less you will observe. By Henry David Thoreau Carlyle Observe

Empirical science is apt to cloud the sight, and, by the very knowledge of functions and processes, to bereave the student of themanly contemplation of the whole. By Ralph Waldo Emerson Empirical Sight Processes Science Apt

We notice what we choose to notice. By Seth Godin Notice Choose

The aim of scientific thought, then, is to apply past experience to new circumstances; the instrument is an observed uniformity in the course of events. By the use of this instrument it gives us information transcending our experience, it enables us to infer things that we have not seen from things that we have seen; and the evidence for the truth of that information depends on our supposing that the uniformity holds good beyond our experience. By William Kingdon Clifford Experience Thought Circumstances Events Instrument

A curiously interested observer sees a great deal, a scientifically interested observer is worthy of all honor, and anxiously interested observer sees what others do not see, but a crazy observer sees perhaps the most, his observation is more intense and more persistent, just as the senses of certain animals are sharper than those of man. By Soren Kierkegaard Observer Interested Deal Honor Persistent

Self-observation brings man to the realization of the necessity of self-change. And in observing himself a man notices that self-observation itself brings about certain changes in his inner processes. He begins to understand that self-observation is an instrument of self-change, a means of awakening. By G.i. Gurdjieff Selfchange Selfobservation Brings Man Realization

We can all see, but can you observe? By A.d. Garrett Observe

We must therefore glean up our experiments in this science from a cautious observation of human life, and take them as they appear in the common course of the world, by men's behaviour in company, in affairs, and in their pleasures. Where experiments of this kind are judiciously collected and compared, we may hope to establish on them a science, which will not be inferior in certainty, and will be much superior in utility to any other of human comprehension. By David Hume Human Life World Company Affairs

To notice is to select, toregard some bits of perception, or some features of the world, as morenoteworthy, more significant, than others. To these we attend, and therest we ignore - for which reason conscious attention is at the same time ignorance despite the fact that it gives us a vividlyclear picture of whatever we choose to notice. By Alan W. Watts Select Toregard Perception World Morenoteworthy

I observe the world and the people surrounding me. By Eric Cantona Observe World People Surrounding

Self-observation helps us to refocus within, to balance ourselves and to be in the present moment ... By Jacqueline Ripstein Selfobservation Moment Refocus Balance Present

Observation had always meant more to me than interaction. By Jeff Vandermeer Observation Interaction Meant

Yet there is a difference between scientific and artistic observation. The scientist observes to turn away and generalize; the artist observes to seize and use reality in all its individuality and peculiarity. By Edmund Blair Bolles Observation Difference Scientific Artistic Observes

You notice. And noticing, you live. By John Graves Notice Noticing Live

The very act of observing disturbs the system. By Werner Heisenberg System Act Observing Disturbs

Man does not limit himself to seeing; he thinks and insists on learning the meaning of phenomena whose existence has been revealed to him by observation. So he reasons, compares facts, puts questions to them, and by the answers which he extracts, tests one by another. This sort of control, by means of reasoning and facts, is what constitutes experiment, properly speaking; and it is the only process that we have for teaching ourselves about the nature of things outside us. By Claude Bernard Man Observation Facts Limit Insists

Silence is more than observation; it informs from non-observation. By Bryant Mcgill Silence Observation Nonobservation Informs

I'm just someone who observes a lot. By Nadine Labaki Lot Observes

Even scientific knowledge, if there is anything to it, is not a random observation of random objects; for the critical objectivity of significant knowledge is attained as a practice only philosophically in inner action. By Karl Jaspers Knowledge Random Objects Action Scientific

I observe myself and I come to know others. By Laozi Observe

The Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti once remarked that observing without evaluating is the highest form of human intelligence. When I first read this statement, the thought, 'What nonsense!' shot through my mind before I realized that I had just made an evaluation. By Marshall B. Rosenberg Indian Philosopher Krishnamurti Intelligence Statement

Association with human beings lures one into self-observation. By Franz Kafka Association Selfobservation Human Lures

No longer in a relational universe, can we study anything as separate from ourselves. Our acts of observation are part of the process that brings forth the manifestation of what we are observing. By Margaret J. Wheatley Universe Longer Relational Study Separate

The discipline, nonetheless, is exacting: everything that can be observed should be observed, even if it is only recalled as the bland background from which the intriguing bits pop out like Venus in the evening sky. The goal is always finding something new, hopefully unimagined and, better still, hitherto unimaginable. By Karl Barry Sharpless Observed Venus Nonetheless Discipline Exacting

Knowledge is observation and is given to those who would look. By L. Ron Hubbard Knowledge Observation

Knowledge will not always take the place of simple observation. By Arnold Lobel Knowledge Observation Place Simple

Observe what is with undivided awareness. By Bruce Lee Observe Awareness Undivided

I observe life more than I live it. By Jayme K. Observe Life Live

I've always found that I personally love to observe things, and I'm good at observing things. By Jamie Johnson Things Found Personally Love Observe

Observations always involve theory. By Edwin Powell Hubble Observations Theory Involve

True observation begins when devoid of set patterns; freedom of expression occurs when one is beyond system. By Bruce Lee True Patterns Freedom System Observation

I have been speculating last night what makes a man a discoverer of undiscovered things. As far as I can conjecture the art consists in habitually searching for the causes and meaning of everything which occurs. By Charles Darwin Things Speculating Night Makes Man

Let observation with observant view,Observe mankind from China to Peru. By Oliver Goldsmith Peru China Observation Observant Viewobserve

To observations which ourselves we make, we grow more partial for th' observer's sake. By Alexander Pope Make Observer Sake Observations Grow

The key to my work is that I stopped, physically, to observe something. I raised my camera and recorded my observations. By Julius Shulman Physically Stopped Key Work Observe

There are two sorts of curiosity - the momentary and the permanent. The momentary is concerned with the odd appearance on the surface of things. The permanent is attracted by the amazing and consecutive life that flows on beneath the surface of things. By Robert Wilson Lynd Momentary Things Curiosity Permanent Surface

The phenomena of nature, especially those that fall under the inspection of the astronomer, are to be viewed, not only with the usual attention to facts as they occur, but with the eye of reason and experience. By William Herschel Nature Astronomer Viewed Occur Experience

Let observation with extensive view, Survey mankind from China to Peru; Remark each anxious toil, each eager strife, And watch the busy scenes of crowded life. By Samuel Johnson Survey Peru Remark China View

The observer listens to nature: the experimenter questions and forces her to reveal herself. By Georges Cuvier Nature Observer Listens Experimenter Questions

The whole value of science consists in the power which it confers upon us of applying to one object the knowledge acquired from like objects; and it is only so far, therefore, as we can discover and register resemblances that we can turn our observations to account. By William Stanley Jevons Account Science Consists Power Confers

If you put yourself in a situation of unpredictability and then find that it's completely possible to accept it, then you become an observer. By David Tudor Observer Put Situation Unpredictability Find

It was not perhaps my business to observe the mystery of his bearing, or search out its origin or aim; but, placed as I was, I could hardly help it. He laid himself open to my observation, according to my presence in the room just that degree of notice and consequence a person of my exterior habitually expects: that is to say, about what is given to unobtrusive articles of furniture, chairs of ordinary joiner's work, and carpets of no striking pattern. By Charlotte Bronte Bearing Aim Business Observe Mystery

But when we observe, we are forced to pay attention. We have to move from passive absorption to active awareness. We have to engage. By Maria Konnikova Observe Attention Forced Pay Awareness

Scientists and artists are the world's noticers. Their job is simply to notice what other people cannot. By Frank Oppenheimer Scientists Noticers Artists World Job

To learn by observation is traveling, people must also bring knowledge with them. By Bayard Taylor Traveling People Learn Observation Bring

Observing humans and observing oneself yields a clear-minded starting point for literature. By Gao Xingjian Literature Observing Humans Oneself Yields

[W]hen the empirical investigator glories in his refusal to go beyond the specialized observation dictated by the traditions of his discipline, be they ever so inclusive, he is making a virtue out of a defense mechanism which insures him against questioning his presuppositions. By Karl Mannheim Hen Discipline Inclusive Presuppositions Empirical

I watch people's behavior and notice things. I think that's why I became a comedian. I notice how stupid the things we do are. By Ellen Degeneres Watch People Behavior Notice Things

One finds the truth by making a hypothesis and comparing observations with the hypothesis. By David Douglass Hypothesis Finds Truth Making Comparing

Observation and experiment for gathering material, induction and deduction for elaborating it: these are are only good intellectual tools. By Francis Bacon Observation Material Induction Tools Experiment

This is the key of modern science and is the beginning of the true understanding of nature . This idea . That to look at the things, to record the details, and to hope that in the information thus obtained, may lie a clue to one or another of a possible theoretical interpretation. By Richard P. Feynman Nature Idea Things Details Obtained

Curiosity lies in a hidden corner of the scientific mind. By Eraldo Banovac Curiosity Mind Lies Hidden Corner

Let me run over the principal steps. We approached the case, you remember, with an absolutely blank mind, which is always an advantage. We had formed no theories. We were simply there to observe and to draw inferences from our observations. By Arthur Conan Doyle Steps Run Principal Case Remember

Through measurement to knowledge. By Heike Kamerlingh Onnes Knowledge Measurement

My investigations resembled the pursuit of the solution to a problem for which I had three data: the object, the thing connected with it in the shadow of my consciousness, and the light wherein that thing would become apparent. By Rene Magritte Thing Data Object Consciousness Apparent

Do not just look, but you should also observe. By Ainun Annisa Observe

The ability to observe, and the ability to see the little things that seem trivial at first, may become amazingly important and meaningful. By Harold Gatty Ability Observe Meaningful Things Trivial

To see things is to enhance your sense of wonder both for the singular pattern of your own experience, and for the meta-patterns that shape all experience. By David Bayles Experience Things Enhance Sense Singular

Inanimate objects sometimes appear endowed with a strange power of sight. A statue notices, a tower watches, the face of an edifice contemplates. By Victor Hugo Inanimate Sight Objects Endowed Strange

Observing your thoughts, feelings & sensations is the grist of the practice. By Allan Lokos Feelings Observing Thoughts Sensations Practice

You have to have some kind of power of observation, almost like a trained observer. By Billy West Observation Observer Kind Power Trained

Laplace considers astronomy a science of observation, because we can only observe the movements of the planets; we cannot reach them, indeed, to alter their course and to experiment with them. "On earth," said Laplace, "we make phenomena vary by experiments; in the sky, we carefully define all the phenomena presented to us by celestial motion." Certain physicians call medicine a science of observations, because they wrongly think that experimentation is inapplicable to it. By Claude Bernard Laplace Planets Science Astronomy Observe

Innocent and infinite are the pleasures of observation. By Henry James Innocent Observation Infinite Pleasures

Every phenomenon manifests itself of its own accord. This manifestation is always distinct from form, and is the essence of the immediate, the trace of the immediate. By Yves Klein Accord Phenomenon Manifests Form Manifestation

To modern educated people, it seems obvious that matters of fact are to be ascertained by observation, not by consulting ancient authorities. But this is an entirely modern conception, which hardly existed before the seventeenth century. By Bertrand Russell People Observation Authorities Modern Educated

Cultivate an ever-continuous power of observation. Wherever you are, be always ready to make slight notes of postures, groups and incidents. By John Singer Sargent Cultivate Observation Evercontinuous Power Postures

You can't do clear observation if you ain't in the field.You can't be a pure observer if you're now in the field. By Toba Beta Field Clear Observation Fieldyou Pure

Science is not, as so many seem to think, something apart, which has to do with telescopes, retorts, and test-tubes, and especially with nasty smells, but it is a way of searching out by observation, trial and classification; whether the phenomena investigated be the outcome of human activities, or of the more direct workings of nature's laws. Its methods admit of nothing untidy or slip-shod; its keynote is accuracy and its goal is truth. By Archibald E. Garrod Retorts Science Telescopes Testtubes Smells

Observing is not the same as experiencing.' Li Wei gestures angrily at my stump. 'You sit there and judge others from a safe distance every day. You assume because you watch us, you understand us. But you don't. By Richelle Mead Observing Experiencing Wei Stump Gestures

Observing someone doesn't mean that you know them. Too many folks think they know you when they really don't know you. By Werley Nortreus Observing Folks

It is necessary to look at the results of observation objectively, because you, the experimenter, might like one result better than another. By Richard P. Feynman Objectively Experimenter Observation Results Result

Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with merely numerically adding to my stores. Other times I have joys, when unexpectedly coming upon an outrageous story that may not be altogether a lie, or upon a macabre little thing that may make some reviewer of my more or less good works mad. But always there is present a feeling of unexplained relations of events that I note, and it is this far-away, haunting, or often taunting, awareness, or suspicion, that keeps me piling on. By Charles Fort Collector Data Miserly Pleased Stores

I am a firm believer, that without speculation there is no good and original observation. By Charles Darwin Believer Observation Firm Speculation Good

In all sensation we pick and choose, interpret, seek and impose order, and devise and test hypotheses about what we witness. Sense data are taken, not merely given: we learn to perceive ... The teacher has forgotten, and the student himself will soon forget, that what he sees conveys no information until he knows beforehand the kind of thing he is expected to see. By Peter Medawar Interpret Choose Seek Order Witness

You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Frequently." "How often?" "Well, some hundreds of times." "Then how many are there?" "How many? I don't know." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed. By Arthur Conan Doyle Observe Frequently Observed Steps Clear

Perceiving how things are is a mode of exploring how things appear. How they appear is, however, an aspect of how they are. To explore appearance is thus to explore the environment, the world. To discover how things are, from how they appear, is to discover an order or pattern in their appearance. The process of perceiving, of finding out how things are, is a process of meeting the world; it is an activity of skillful exploration. By Alva Noe Things World Mode Exploring Explore

From the dawn of exact knowledge to the present day, observation, experiment, and speculation have gone hand in hand; and, whenever science has halted or strayed from the right path, it has been, either because its votaries have been content with mere unverified or unverifiable speculation (and this is the commonest case, because observation and experiment are hard work, while speculation is amusing); or it has been, because the accumulation of details of observation has for a time excluded speculation. By Thomas Henry Huxley Speculation Observation Experiment Hand Day

As you are aware, no perceptions obtained by the senses are merely sensations impressed on our nervous systems. A peculiar intellectual activity is required to pass from a nervous sensation to the conception of an external object, which the sensation has aroused. The sensations of our nerves of sense are mere symbols indicating certain external objects, and it is usually only after considerable practice that we acquire the power of drawing correct conclusions from our sensations respecting the corresponding objects. By Hermann Von Helmholtz Sensations Objects Aware Systems Nervous

The teacher must derive not only the capacity, but the desire, to observe natural phenomena. The teacher must understand and feel her position of observer: the activity must lie in the phenomenon. By Maria Montessori Teacher Capacity Desire Phenomena Derive

The majority of individuals view their surroundings with a minimal amount of observational effort. They are unaware of the rich tapestry of details that surrounds them, such as the subtle movement of a person's hand or foot that might betray his thoughts or intentions. By Joe Navarro Effort Majority Individuals View Surroundings

That's the beauty of the famous scientific method. You observe your subject, ask questions, and then research before establishing a hypothesis. By Claudia Burgoa Method Beauty Famous Scientific Subject

The realization, early in high school, that a particle behaved differently if observed or left alone. By Lara Santoro Realization Early School High Particle

It is what makes conscious of the conditions and laws of observing which applied in this manner become a theme on its own. The activity of consciousness depending on the way the work itself proceeds, becomes the subject of my attention this way and it is precisely because of this voyeuristic attitude toward the own observation and experience of the subject that the conscious analytic dimension in the work shows. By Antoni Tapies Conscious Makes Conditions Laws Observing

We are the subjects of an experiment which is not a little interesting to me. By Henry David Thoreau Subjects Experiment Interesting

Very often conditions are recorded as observable "under thy fingers" [ ... ] Among such observations it is important to notice that the pulsations of the human heart are observed. By James Henry Breasted Observable Fingers Conditions Recorded Thy

Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. By Noam Chomsky Discovery Things Ability Puzzled Simple

interest in what is happening By Bill Dedman Interest Happening