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
I do a great deal of work with young children, and if you give a child a problem, he may come up with a highly original solution, because he doesn't have the established route to it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Children's creativity is often unconstrained by traditional methods, allowing them to find unique solutions.
This quote by Edward De Bono highlights the innate creativity of young children when faced with problems. Unlike adults, who may be restricted by conventional thinking and established methods, children can approach challenges from fresh perspectives, leading to original and innovative solutions. It emphasizes the importance of encouraging this type of thinking in education and problem-solving.
Themes
CreativityChildrenProblem-SolvingEducationOriginality
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on creative thinking, I would quote Edward De Bono to emphasize the importance of allowing children to explore problems freely.
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.
Edward De BonoRead
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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