Quotes from Edward B. Burger

The whole of science is merely a refinement of everyday thinking.

Often we are persuaded by authority and repetition rather than by evidence and reality.

Having essential goals in mind makes daily decisions clearer.

Mistakes and failure are not signs of weakness; instead they are opportunities for future success. Failure is a sign of a creative mind, of original thought and strength.

The mind-set that mistakes are poisonous often freezes us into inaction

refuse to accept assertions blindly. Challenge everything and everyone—including your teachers. Don't be intimidated. You are the best authority on what you don't understand—trust yourself: don't be afraid to ask the questions you need to ask, and be brave enough to change your thinking when you uncover a blind spot.

the path to change is not through greater willpower and harder work, but rather through thinking differently.

Two men are walking in the woods. A ferocious grizzly bear charges at them and they start to run. While running, they shout: Man 1: We'll never outrun the bear. Man 2: I don't have to. My only question is "Can I outrun you?

There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality. —Pablo Picasso

The whole of science is merely a refinement of everyday thinking. —Albert Einstein

Search for evidence and don't be satisfied until you know the why.

One of the challenges of life is to be open-minded about new ideas and new possibilities.

The simple and familiar hold the secrets of the complex and unknown.

In everything you do, refine your skills and knowledge about fundamental concepts and simple cases. Once is never enough. As you revisit fundamentals, you will find new insights. It may appear that returning to basics is a step backward and requires additional time and effort; however, by building on firm foundations you will soon see your true abilities soar higher and faster.

If you can't solve a problem, then there is an easier problem you can't solve: find it. —George Polya When

Deep work on simple, basic ideas helps to build true virtuosity—not just in music but in everything.

mistakes are positive elements of quintessential thinking and failure is an important part of the foundation upon which to build success.

As you learn more, the fundamentals become at once simpler but also subtler, deeper, more nuanced, and more meaningful.

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. —B. F. Skinner

successful people regularly focus on the core purpose of their profession or life. True experts continually deepen their mastery of the basics. Trumpeting

Remember: Extraordinary people are just ordinary people who are thinking differently—and that could be you. Ordinary

Mistakes, loss, and failure are all flashing lights clearly pointing the way to deeper understanding and creative solutions.

good progress is often the herald of great progress.

The right dream. You may dream of creating that one new idea that will solve lots of problems (and lead to fame and fortune). But the better dream is to see yourself standing on what seems to be the summit and climbing higher by taking one small step after another. That modest habit of effective thinking will help you accomplish things you never dreamed possible.