You can observe a lot by just watching.
—Yogi Berra (1925–2015) American Sportsperson
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
—George Carlin (1937–2008) American Stand-up Comedian
A few observations and much reasoning lead to error; many observations and a little reasoning to truth.
—Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) American Surgeon, Biologist
To behold is not necessarily to observe, and the power of comparing and combining is only to be obtained by education. It is much to be regretted that habits of exact observation are not cultivated in our schools; to this deficiency may be traced much of the fallacious reasoning and the false philosophy which prevails.
—Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German Philosopher, Linguist, Statesman
Observation is an old man’s memory.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
You can observe a lot by watching.
—Yogi Berra (1925–2015) American Sportsperson
Every man who observes vigilantly and resolves steadfastly grows unconsciously into genius.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
When general observations are drawn from so many particulars as to become certain and indisputable, these are jewels of knowledge.
—Isaac Watts (1674–1748) English Hymn writer
A person who is too nice an observer of the business of the crowd, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
A right judgment draws us a profit from all things we see.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
General observations drawn from particulars are the jewels of knowledge, comprehending great store in a little room.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
The cure for admiring the house of lords is to go and look at it.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
Those who cannot themselves observe can at least acquire the observation of others.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I pity the man who can travel from Dan to Beersheba, and cry, ’tis all barren—and so it is, and so is all the world to him who will not cultivate the fruits it offers.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
People’s minds are changed through observation and not through argument.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Where there is much light, the shadows are deepest.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Swift defined observation to be an old man’s memory.
—James A. Garfield (1831–81) American Head of State, Lawyer, Educator
There is no more difficult art to acquire than the art of observation, and for some men it is quite as difficult to record an observation in brief and plain language.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
An observant man, in all his intercourse with society and the world, constantly and unperceived marks on every person and thing the figure expressive of its value, and therefore, on meeting that person or thing, knows instantly what kind and degree of attention to give it.—This is to make something of experience.
—John Foster Dulles (1888–1959) American Republican Public Official, Lawyer
Reason, Observation, and Experience—the Holy Trinity of Science.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen?. Chance favors only the prepared mind.
—Louis Pasteur (1822–95) French Biologist
I always know what’s happening on the court. I see a situation occur, and I respond.
—Larry Bird (b.1956) American Basketball Player
Shakespeare says, we are creatures that look before and after; the more surprising that we do not look round a little, and see what is passing under our very eyes.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
How many attractions for us have our passing fellows in the streets, both male and female, which our ethics forbid us to express, which yet infuse so much pleasure into life. A lovely child, a handsome youth, a beautiful girl, a heroic man, a maternal woman, a venerable old man, charm us, though strangers, and we cannot say so, or look at them but for a moment.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
We are very much what others think of us. The reception our observations meet with gives us courage to proceed, or damps our efforts.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Even the clearest and most perfect circumstantial evidence is likely to be at fault, after all, and therefore ought to be received with great caution. Take the case of any pencil, sharpened by any woman: if you have witness, you will find she did it with a knife; but if you take simply the aspect of the pencil, you will say she did it with her teeth.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
Each one sees what he carries in his heart.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Observation-activity of both eyes and ears.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist