Please clarify this saying.
2007-03-14 02:04:30 · 8 answers · asked by SweetPea 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
this means simply that you have to look past the obvious to see what is really happening.
2007-03-14 02:08:52 · answer #1 · answered by nvrrong 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can't see the forest for the trees is the same as "you can't see the forest because of the trees". So all you need, to see the forest past the TOWERING trees is either to stand on something bigger than the trees that are bigger than you, like a mountain or fly over the forest in a helicopter. This can be used, i guess as a religious parable. The mountain being God (or Allah or whoever represents something bigger than the trees for you), and the trees as little problems that look too big for you and forbid you from seeing/enjoying the forest (life), but in actuallity are not! Not for the big fella up there!
2007-03-14 02:26:48 · answer #2 · answered by Biqo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that sometimes the complexities of life are so overwhelming that we miss the obvious. This come from an old story about a city dweller who always heard about the forest but never left the city.
One day he was determined to see this forest that everyone was always talking about, so he hired a carriage to take him into the forest.
The next day someone asked him what he thought of the forest. He replied that it was a real disappointment. He said I could never really get a good look at the forest. There were too many trees in the way.
Love and blessings Don
2007-03-14 02:39:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Trees are only physical things and they represent the forest symbolically .
But the beauty of the trees , plants , Grass , birds ...and many more nature's gifts and the calmness of the deep forests and the healthy fresh air....They are the real forest .So go on and enjoy the real forest .
2007-03-14 03:10:19 · answer #4 · answered by subra 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it means the trees as so abundant that the forest of trees can't be seen through the outer perimeter. Apply that to the situation of conversation
2007-03-14 02:12:11 · answer #5 · answered by Dennis G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are looking at all of the trivial details (the trees), and have lost sight of the big picture (the forest).
2007-03-14 02:12:08 · answer #6 · answered by rouschkateer 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means that you're concentrating on each minor detail that makes up the big picture rather than looking at the big picture itself.
2007-03-14 05:20:25 · answer #7 · answered by Evan S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The background. No really, They say that when there seems to be many answers and you have to pick one, like which one. "Which way do I go, which way do I go?"
2007-03-14 02:13:14 · answer #8 · answered by SALSA 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋