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About this quote

What does it mean?
Significant innovations seem strange because they do not fit existing mental categories.
In plain terms
Important things look unfamiliar at first.
What can you take from it?
Accept that novelty feels strange.

Where it applies

  • scientific discovery
  • artistic trends
  • business strategy

Putting it to work

  • embrace new ideas
  • question assumptions

Questions to consider

  • Why does this feel strange?
  • Is it truly new?

Another view

Some unrecognizable things are just wrong.

More from Jean Cocteau

  1. Know that your work speaks only to those on the same wavelength as you.

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  2. The ultimate politeness in art consists of speaking only to those who are able to uncover and measure its relationships. Anything else is symbolic, and symboli…

    Permalink to quote #81
  3. Consider metaphysics as an extension of the physical.

    Permalink to quote #78

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