We grow up thinking that the best answer is in someone else's brain. Much of our education is an elaborate game of 'guess what's in the teacher's head?' What the world really needs to know right now is what kind of dreams and ideas are in your head.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of individual thoughts and creativity over merely replicating others' ideas.
Roger Von Oech highlights the traditional approach to education, where students often feel they need to conform to their teachers' expectations rather than expressing their own unique ideas and dreams. He urges a shift in focus, advocating for the recognition and development of personal creativity and innovative thinking, which he believes are essential for societal progress.
In practice
A teacher might use this quote to inspire students to think outside the box in their projects.
If you fall in love with an idea, you won't see the merits of alternative approaches-and will probably miss an opportunity or two. One of life's great pleasures is letting go of a previously cherished idea. Then you're free to look for new ones. What part of your idea are you in love with? What would happen if you kissed it goodbye?
Take advantage of the ambiguity in the world. Look at something and think what else it might be.
Look for the second right answer.
It's easy to come up with new ideas; the hard part is letting go of what worked for you two years ago, but will soon be out-of-date.
Everyone has a 'risk muscle.' You keep it in shape by trying new things. If you don't, it atrophies. Make a point of using it at least once a day.
From now on I hope always to educate myself as best I can. But lacking this, in future I will relaxedly turn back to my secret mind to see what it has observed when I thought I was sitting this one out. We never sit anything out.
Some read to think, these are rare; some to write, these are common; and some read to talk, and these form the great majority.
The Internet lets women use words, which is their natural tool. Little girls speak in more complex, grammatical sentences than little boys do, and women never lose that superiority in verbal ability.
If only for a half hour a day, a child should do something serviceable to the community
The studious silence of the library ... Thought is the thought of thought. Tranquil brightness.
My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities...like the ability to behave myself.
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