Quotes by Edward de Bono

About Edward de Bono:

Edward de Bono is a Maltese physician, psychologist, author, inventor and consultant. He originated the term lateral thinking, wrote the book Six Thinking Hats and is a proponent of the teaching of thinking as a subject in schools.
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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

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 crit...

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

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

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

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.

Edward de Bono

Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations.

Edward de Bono

We need creativity in order to break free from the temporary structures that have been set up by a particular sequence of experience.

Edward de Bono

Most executives, many scientists, and almost all business school graduates believe that if you analyze data, this will give you new ideas. Unfortunately, this belief is totally wrong. The mind can only see what it is prepared to see.

Edward de Bono

If you never change your mind, why have one?

Edward de Bono

Logic will never change emotion or perception.

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

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

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

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

In a sense, words are encyclopedias of ignorance because they freeze perceptions at one moment in history and then insist we continue to use these frozen perceptions when we should be doing better.

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

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

Creativity is a great motivator because it makes people interested in what they are doing. Creativity gives hope that there can be a worthwhile idea. Creativity gives the possibility of some sort of achievement to everyone. Creativity makes life more...

Edward de Bono

Author Bio

  • NameEdward de Bono
  • DescriptionMaltese physician
  • BornMay 19, 1933
  • CountryMalta
  • ProfessionPhysician; Psychologist; Writer