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
The system will always be defended by those countless people who have enough intellect to defend but not quite enough to innovate.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that many people are skilled at defending existing systems but lack the creativity to innovate or change them.
Edward De Bono highlights a common phenomenon in society where individuals possess the intelligence to argue in favor of existing structures but do not have the visionary insight required to bring about new ideas or innovations. This often leads to a stagnation in progress, as defenders of the status quo may resist change even when it is necessary for growth and improvement, thus creating a barrier to creativity and evolution within systems.
Themes
SystemDefendIntellectInnovateProgressCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about the importance of innovation in technology fields.
More from Edward De Bono
All quotes βDealing 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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