"You can show me some stick ice cream and I can tell you if it's good or not just looking at it"

The quote by O. Winston Link, "You can show me some stick ice cream and I can tell you if it's great or not simply looking at it", indicates a much deeper understanding of quality and experience beyond shallow looks. Initially glance, this may appear like an easy going or whimsical remark about ice cream, however it reveals a broader insight into the speaker's ability to recognize quality based upon experience or intuition.

Link, renowned for his renowned photography work recording steam locomotives in the mid-20th century, was thoroughly familiar with the subtleties of his craft. If we relate this expertise to the quote, it recommends that Link possessed an acute perceptiveness established from years of developing his skills and sensibilities. He could evaluate the quality or value of something, in this case, stick ice cream, without requiring to taste it, drawing from his detailed understanding of what makes an ice cream truly "excellent.".

This concept extends well beyond ice cream and speaks to a universal style of know-how and instinct. Those who have actually spent significant time immersed in a specific field frequently develop a practically instinctual capability to evaluate the quality of work, item, or experience with little bit more than a glimpse. This capability is not just about seeing what shows up but involves a synthesis of previous experiences, context, and an understanding of the finer information that an inexperienced eye might miss out on.

Furthermore, this quote may review the idea of appearances versus reality. While someone less skilled might evaluate the merits of an item-- or even a circumstance-- based on surface characteristics, a skilled specialist has the ability to look much deeper, understanding the factors that contribute to the genuine quality that is not immediately visible.

In essence, Link's declaration about ice cream is a metaphorical commentary on his perceptive capabilities, highlighting how true expertise permits one to make informed judgments rapidly and properly, transcendent of instant sensory evidence.