conceptual transformation Quotes

The clarification of our political ideas insensibly changes into and becomes indistinguishable from the history of political ideas.

Civilization consists in giving something an unfitting name, then dream about the result. And indeed the false name and the real dream create a new reality. The object really becomes another, because we turned it into another one. We manufacture realities.

Every paint-stroke takes you farther and farther away from your initial concept. And you have to be thankful for that.

Scientific revolutions, almost by definition, defy common sense.

Her old thoughts were going to come in handy now, but new words would have to be made and said to fit them.

The human mind moves always forward, alters its viewpoint and enlarges its thought substance, and the effect of these changes is to render past systems of thinking obsolete or, when they are preserved, to extend, to modify and subtly or visibly to alter their value.

A man by tumbling his thoughts, and forming them into expressions, gives them a new fermentation, which works them into a finer body.