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Paradoxically, the best way for a group to be smart is for each person in it to think and act as independently as possible.
James Surowiecki
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Independence in thought leads to collective intelligence.

James Surowiecki's quote conveys the idea that a group's intelligence and problem-solving ability can be maximized when individuals think and act independently. While collaboration is important, it is the unique perspectives and creativity of each member that contribute to smarter decision-making and innovation within the group.

Themes

IndependenceGroupIntelligenceIndividualityCollectiveSmart

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can inspire team-building exercises that encourage independent thinking.

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Linux is a complex example of the wisdom of crowds. It's a good example in the sense that it shows you can set people to work in a decentralized way - that is, without anyone really directing their efforts in a particular direction - and still trust that they're going to come up with good answers.
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It's a familiar truism that at any one moment, financial markets are dominated by either fear or greed. But the healthiest markets are those that are animated by both fear and greed at the same time.
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