By bringing together what we know and what we don't know through analogy, metaphorical thinking strikes the spark that ignites discovery. James Geary More Quotes by James Geary More Quotes From James Geary You only really discover the strength of your spine when your back is against the wall. James Geary spine wall Advice is given freely because so much of it is worthless. James Geary worthless given advice Metaphors hide in plain sight, and their influence is largely unconscious. We should mind our metaphors, though, because metaphors make up our minds. James Geary influence sight mind London always reminds me of a brain. It is similarly convoluted and circuitous. A lot of cities, especially American ones like New York and Chicago, are laid out in straight lines. Like the circuits on computer chips, there are a lot of right angles in cities like this. But London is a glorious mess. It evolved from a score or so of distinct villages, that merged and meshed as their boundaries enlarged. As a result, London is a labyrinth, full of turnings and twistings just like a brain. James Geary cities new-york brain Metaphor lives a secret life all around us. We utter about six metaphors a minute. Metaphorical thinking is essential to how we understand ourselves and others, how we communicate and learn, discover and invent. James Geary essentials secret thinking Aphorisms are literature's hand luggage. Light and compact, they fit easily into the overhead compartment of your brain. James Geary light brain hands Metaphor impinges on everything, allowing us - poets and non-poets alike - to experience and think about the world in fluid, unusual ways. James Geary way world thinking The mind revels in conjecture. Where information is lacking, it will gladly fill in the gaps. James Geary gaps information mind In the margin for error lies all our room for maneuver. James Geary errors lying rooms Sometimes, you need a door slammed in your face before you can hear opportunity knock. James Geary opportunity doors needs I believe aphorisms are best when first read in the wild, free from the confines of any categories. James Geary aphorism believe firsts Heroism often results as a response to extreme events. James Geary heroism results events A simile is just a metaphor with the scaffolding still up. James Geary simile smile metaphor Metaphor is not just the detection of patterns; it is the creation of patterns. James Geary just patterns metaphor creation There is no aspect of our experience not molded in some way by metaphor's almost imperceptible touch. James Geary touch some experience way Aphorisms are food for thought - like sushi, they come in small portions that are both delicious and exquisitely formed. And, like sushi, I can never get enough. James Geary never thought i-can food Metaphor creates a kind of conceptual synesthesia, in which we understand one concept in the context of another. James Geary context which understand kind Metaphor matters because it creates expectations. James Geary matters because metaphor expectations
