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Intelligence is something we are born with. Thinking is a skill that must be learned.
Edward De Bono
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Intelligence is innate, while the ability to think critically must be developed through learning.

This quote by Edward De Bono distinguishes between intelligence, which is often seen as a natural gift, and thinking, which he argues is a deliberate skill that requires practice and education. It emphasizes the importance of nurturing and enhancing our thinking abilities in order to utilize our inherent intelligence effectively.

Themes

IntelligenceThinkingSkillLearningEducation

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about personal development, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of learning.

More from Edward De Bono

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.
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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.
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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.
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(...) 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.
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Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it.
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Quote by Edward De Bono | QuoteProject