The world is not always, or ever, exactly as…
The world is not always, or ever, exactly as it seems. A dirty ferry ride may be more than just a dirty ferry ride. There’s something more at least it is possible.
— from The Instruments (Awareness/Perception/Expectations)
In the book
Next, perception, because it is the one we trust most and should trust least. The world is not always — or ever — exactly as it seems; a dirty, miserable ferry ride may, on a second look, turn out to be something else entirely. We never see reality directly; we see only a model of it, built from imperfect observations — and wisdom never forgets the difference. — The Instruments (Awareness/Perception/Expectations)