Jonathan Lethem Quotes

Most architects think in drawings, or did think in drawings; today, they think on the computer monitor. I always tried to think three dimensionally. The interior eye of the brain should be not flat but three dimensional so that everything is an object in space. We are not living in a two-dimensional world.

I visualize things in my mind before I have to do them. It's like having a mental workshop.

I never make notes; just a few small details when I'm writing, but nothing much. The plot is never written down. I will tell the story to myself, but I won't plan it. I'll speak the narrative in my head for a while.

First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.

Whatever man does he must do first in his mind.

I often need a long time to understand things, to imagine a painting I might make.

I don't understand the process of imagination-though I know that I am very much at its mercy.

People seem to have trouble with the imagination. They can't believe that you can just pull things out of your brain like that.

I'm just interested in meditating on certain ideas, and I like to draw: that's my way of thinking.

I don't think in words; I think in pictures, in images.

If I don't have a model in front of me, I don't have an idea.

Something like 'Abstract' can really give people access to the behind-the-scenes of how our physical surroundings take shape.

I start with an idea in my head. I sketch it out quickly as a line drawing, using pencil. It never comes out quite right - usually a bit better than my mental picture.

Each book develops a strong organic shape. And when that shape is complete, the book is complete. I don't know where the end is. I don't start at the beginning. It's like playing Tetris in my head in a very slow kind of way. All the shapes join up.

One rule of invention: before you can invent it, you have to imagine it.

When I was 5 years old, I saw people dancing in my head. In college, I would choreograph for the cultural shows, and in my notes, I would actually create formations of people. It was how my whole brain worked.

I love the creative process - brainstorming and coming up with campaigns.

I'm always seeing stuff and imagining scenes in my head when I'm making music.

When I'm problem-solving with something, I have, effectively, a CAD program in my head that's like a room that has specific qualities to it that I go to some deal of effort to populate. Textures and smells, something like that.

I'm very interested in how visual artists think because I think the way that I think about music is similar. I'm very inspired by aesthetics and space.

I've always been interested in visualizing something, whether it's a memory or an idea you want to be true. I am a big believer in that. I'm constantly thinking of that. If I can't picture something, then it doesn't make sense to me.

With imagination, you can put something where nothing was.

Imagination is a form of seeing

Imagination is the will of things. . . .

I have to see the whole scene in my head before I go out and do it. Which I do. I will envision the entire scene before I shoot it.