"Any ground subtracts its own hue from the colors which it carries and therefore influences"

In this quote, Josef Albers is recommending that the environment or context in which something is viewed can greatly impact how it is perceived. He utilizes the metaphor of "ground" to represent this environment, and discusses that it has the power to change the colors that exist. This means that the colors we see are not entirely identified by the things itself, but also by the background or setting in which it is placed. Albers is highlighting the importance of considering the environments and how they can affect our perception of things. This concept can be applied to numerous aspects of life, from art and design to relationships and communication.