The way to see what looks good and understand the reasons it looks good, and to be at one with this goodness as the work proceeds, is to cultivate an inner quietness, a peace of mind so that goodness can shine through.
Robert M. PirsigRead
It's better not to see than to see wrongly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Avoiding misinterpretation can be more beneficial than having a flawed understanding.
This quote emphasizes the importance of perception and understanding. It suggests that sometimes it is preferable to remain uninformed than to form an incorrect belief that can lead to misguided actions or conclusions. The value of seeing accurately and the consequences of misinterpretation are central to this thought, as they highlight how our perceptions shape our reality.
Themes
PerceptionUnderstandingWisdomMisinterpretationKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting, to emphasize the need for clear communication and accurate information.
More from Robert M. Pirsig
All quotes βWhen analytic thought, the knife, is applied to experience, something is always killed in the process.
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The Buddha resides as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does at the top of a mountain.
Robert M. PirsigRead
The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looking for the truth, and it goes away. Puzzling.
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You want to know how to paint a perfect painting? It's easy. Make yourself perfect and then just paint naturally.
Robert M. PirsigRead
This inner peace of mind occurs on three levels of understanding. Physical quietness seems the easiest to achieve, although there are levels and levels of this too, as attested by the ability of Hindu mystics to live buried alive for many days. Mental quietness, in which one has no wandering thoughts at all, seems more difficult, but can be achieved. But value quietness, in which one has no wandering desires at all but simply performs the acts of his life without desire, that seems the hardest.
Robert M. PirsigRead
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