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
Sometimes the situation is only a problem because it is looked at in a certain way. Looked at in another way, the right course of action may be so obvious that the problem no longer exists.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Situations can appear as problems depending on our perspective; a shift in viewpoint can reveal solutions.
Edward De Bono's quote suggests that the perception of a situation greatly influences whether it is viewed as a problem or not. By changing our perspective, what initially seems like an insurmountable issue may become clear and obvious, leading to effective solutions. This highlights the importance of mindset and flexibility in our approach to challenges.
Themes
PerspectiveSolutionProblem-SolvingMindsetChange
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting discussing project challenges, this quote can encourage members to explore different viewpoints.
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.
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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