Edward De Bono Quotes

When the positive revolution takes hold it will no longer be enough for politicians to gain points through attack or being negative. Politicians will be expected to be constructive.

~ Edward De Bono

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 Bono

Creativity involves provocation, exploration and risk taking. Creativity involves thought experiments. You cannot tell in advance how the experiment is going to turn out. But you want to be able to carry out the experiment.

~ Edward De Bono

Critical thinking does seem a superior sort of thinking because it seems as though the critic is actually going beyond the scope of what is being criticized in order to criticize it. That is only rarely a true assumption because, most often, the critic will seize on some little aspect that he or she understands and tackle only that.

~ Edward De Bono

The image that concerns most people is the reflection they see in other people's minds.

~ Edward De Bono

It is not the logical part of thinking that changes emotions but the perceptual part. If we see something differently, our emotions may alter with the altered perception. (p64)

~ Edward De Bono

Most of the mistakes in thinking are inadequacies of perception rather than mistakes of logic.

~ Edward De Bono

There may be more danger in prejudices which are apparently founded in logic than in those which are acknowledged as emotions. (p69)

~ Edward De Bono

We may have a perfectly adequate way of doing something, but that does not mean there cannot be a better way. So we set out to find an alternative way. This is the basis of any improvement that is not fault correction or problem solving.

~ Edward De Bono

A myth is a fixed way of looking at the world which cannot be destroyed because looked at through the myth all evidence supports that myth.

~ Edward De Bono

Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are skilled thinkers. The power of a car is separate from the way the car is driven.

~ Edward De Bono

It has always surprised me how little attention philosophers have paid to humor, since it is a more significant process of mind than reason. Reason can only sort out perceptions, but the humor process is involved in changing them.

~ Edward De Bono

Humor is by far the most significant activity of the human brain.

~ Edward De Bono

Humor is probably the most significant characteristics of the human mind. Far more significant than reason. In fact, reason is actually a very cheap commodity.

~ Edward De Bono

It's always amazed me how little attention philosophers, psychologists, or anyone else actually has paid to humor.

~ Edward De Bono

Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are skilled thinkers. The power of a car is separate from the way the car is driven.

~ Edward De Bono

Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it.

~ Edward De Bono

Removing the faults in a stage-coach may produce a perfect stage-coach, but it is unlikely to produce the first motor car.

~ Edward De Bono

To be successful you have to be lucky, or a little mad, or very talented, or find yourself in a rapid growth field.

~ Edward De Bono

Studies have shown that 90% of error in thinking is due to error in perception. If you can change your perception, you can change your emotion and this can lead to new ideas.

~ Edward De Bono

Logic will never change emotion or perception.

~ Edward De Bono

If you never change your mind, why have one?

~ Edward De Bono

In the future, instead of striving to be right at a high cost, it will be more appropriate to be flexible and plural at a lower cost. If you cannot accurately predict the future then you must flexibly be prepared to deal with various possible futures.

~ Edward De Bono