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
Language is the biggest barrier to human progress because language is an encyclopedia of ignorance. Old perceptions are frozen into language and force us to look at the world in an old fashioned way.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Language limits our understanding and perception of the world, hindering progress.
In this quote, Edward De Bono argues that language serves as a barrier to human progress by embedding outdated perceptions and ignorance within its structure. He suggests that the way we communicate can constrain our thinking, locking us into traditional views that may prevent innovative ideas and perspectives from emerging. As a result, our reliance on established language can stifle creativity and hinder our ability to adapt to new realities.
Themes
LanguageProgressPerceptionIgnoranceCommunication
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the challenges of collaboration in multicultural teams.
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.
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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.
Edward De BonoRead
Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it.
Edward De BonoRead
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