A small visual puzzle is circulating on the internet: it shows only a cloud silhouette filled with a square grid. It often appears accompanied by a striking statement: “Most people are narcissistic,” followed by the challenge: “Count the squares.”
This spectacular line is there only to attract attention. What this puzzle actually illustrates is much more universal: the way our minds interpret shapes, patterns, and the world around us.
At first glance, most people only notice the smallest squares of the grid. This reaction is natural. The human brain tends to focus on the simplest and most obvious details before grasping the overall structure. This puzzle reveals nothing about personality. It simply illustrates how perception works and how easily we draw hasty conclusions from the first thing we see.
The more people try this puzzle, the more striking the diversity of answers becomes. Some only count the nine small squares. Others begin to notice medium-sized shapes, or even a single larger square created by the grid.
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