Quote

Language is the biggest barrier to human progress because language is an encyclopedia of ignorance. Old perceptions are frozen into language and force us to look at the world in an old fashioned way.

Edward de Bono

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Edward de Bono
Age: 88 †
Born: 1933
Born: May 19
Died: 2021
Died: June 9
Philosopher
Physician
Psychologist
University Teacher
Republic of Malta
Edward Charles Francis Publius de Bono
Looks
Communication
Encyclopedia
Way
Ignorance
Barrier
World
Progress
Perceptions
Force
Fashioned
Language
Frozen
Look
Barriers
Human
Biggest
Humans
Perception

More quotes by Edward de Bono

Image
Possibilities play a much bigger role in thinking than most people believe. Without possibilities you cannot make progress.
Edward de Bono
Image
Analysis is simplifying, breaking down things into parts, picking out strands and elements. Analysis is comparing unknown things with things that are known. Analysis also involves picking out relationships and putting them back together as a whole.
Edward de Bono
Image
Being right is not too difficult. Your choose your perception. You select your information. You leave out what does not suit you. You drag in some general-purpose value words. You throw in a sneer or two about the opposition, and you are a fine fellow who made a fine speech.
Edward de Bono
Image
A person who knows all the answers, has an opinion on everything, has a certainty backed up by rational argument, has very little possibility of further progress. Such a person is unlikely to walk away from a discussion with anything more than a reaffirmation of how right he or she has been all along.
Edward de Bono
Image
Creative thinking is not a talent, it is a skill that can be learned. It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities which improves teamwork, productivity and, where appropriate, profits.
Edward de Bono
Image
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
Image
The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt.
Edward de Bono
Image
If you never change your mind, why have one?
Edward de Bono
Image
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
Image
The purpose of science is not to analyze or describe but to make useful models of the world. A model is useful if it allows us to get use out of it.
Edward de Bono
Image
Maybe the social value of truth is as a destination - so long as we do not assume we have arrived there.
Edward de Bono
Image
It is historical continuity that maintains most assumptions, not repeated assessment of their validity.
Edward de Bono
Image
You can analyse the past, but you have to design the future
Edward de Bono
Image
You cannot dig a hole in a different place by digging the same hole deeper
Edward de Bono
Image
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
Image
I think there is a danger with young people of being dependent in the sense that they don't acquire any identity or self-image of themselves as thinkers.
Edward de Bono
Image
Simplicity before understanding is simplistic simplicity after understanding is simple.
Edward de Bono
Image
The mind can only see what it is prepared to see.
Edward de Bono
Image
What the joke displays is a switch in perception. This is important in changing the way we think.
Edward de Bono
Image
Explaining belief has alwayas been difficult. How do you explain a love and a logic at the heart of the universe when the world is so out of whack? Explaining faith is impossible - vision over visibility - instinct over intellect - a songwriter plays a chore with the faith that he will hear the next one in his head.
Edward de Bono