There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.
Edward De BonoRead
Everyone has the right to doubt everything as often as he pleases and the duty to do it at least once. No way of looking at things is too sacred to be reconsidered. No way of doing things is beyond improvement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-doubt and questioning beliefs are essential for growth and improvement.
This quote by Edward De Bono emphasizes the importance of skepticism and the value of questioning established beliefs and practices. It suggests that everyone should critically evaluate their thoughts and ways of doing things, as this process is crucial for personal and societal advancement. By encouraging doubt and reconsideration, we can foster a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation.
Themes
DoubtImprovementQuestioningBeliefsGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about innovation, one might use this quote to encourage team members to question existing processes.
More from Edward De Bono
All quotes →Dealing with complexity is an inefficient and unnecessary waste of time, attention and mental energy. There is never any justification for things being complex when they could be simple.
Edward De BonoRead
As competition intensifies, the need for creative thinking increases. It is no longer enough to do the same thing better . . . no longer enough to be efficient and solve problems.
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Most of the mistakes in thinking are inadequacies of perception rather than mistakes of logic.
Edward De BonoRead
(...) being right all the time acquires a huge importance in education, and there is this terror of being wrong. The ego is so tied to being right that later on in life you are reluctant to accept that you are ever wrong, because you are defending not the idea but your self-esteem. (...) this terror of being wrong means that people have enormous difficulties in changing ideas.
Edward De BonoRead
Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it.
Edward De BonoRead
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