All of us are watchers—of television, of clocks, of traffic — but few of us are observers. Everyone is looking; not many are seeing.

Todos somos miradores—de la tele, de los relojes, del transito—pero pocos de nosotros somos observadores. Todos estan mirando, pero no todos estan viendo.

— Peter M. Leschak”

I think this such a great quote for teaching or understanding the role of ethnography. It’s not so much about the passive act of watching but the more engaged notion of seeing - peering into something - a world - beyond yours.

I originally posted this on my quotes blog, Dichos y Vida.