Obvious State is a creative studio, their artwork and goods are inspired by beautiful language that has stood the test of time, poetry that stretches the imagination, and philosophy that prompts us to think deeply. Obvious State takes snippets of text from literature, philosophy, and poetry as inspiration for a visual response and illustration. 

“He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.” – John Stuart Mill

From his classic philosophical treatise On Liberty: 

“He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side; if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion.”

This illustration depicts the border between two contrasting spaces as a tightrope. The walker’s balance pole becomes the balance of a scale weighing both sides of the argument dispassionately.

Product Details:

• Cover: 18pt recycled chipboard made from recycled content & books
• 32 college ruled sheets, uncoated 70# paper
• Pocket sized: 3.5 x 5 inches
• Saddle stitched with matching black staples
• Made in US in partnership with Scout Books.

You can shop the collection here.