Quotes About Ideas

The really good idea is always traceable back quite a long way, often to a not very good idea which sparked off another idea that was only slightly better, which somebody else misunderstood in such a way that they then said something which was really rather interesting.

Whether a distinction is invidious—rooted in harmful attitudes or ideas about a group and so likely to spread contempt—depends not on whether it's conduct- or status-based but on the reasoning behind it. Invidious distinctions are rooted in unfair, socially debilitating attitudes or ideas about people's worth, proper social status, abilities, or actions. By

invidious is the fact that those ideas about African Americans are unfair and socially debilitating. Some

If a 'religion' is defined to be a system of ideas that contains unprovable statements, then Gödel taught us that mathematics is not only a religion, it is the only religion that can prove itself to be one.

The people who keep back change are often exasperating. But they have their work to perform, highly important work, too. Their very opposition, besides helping to weed out the weak ideas, gives the true ideas greater strength. For an idea is not worth much unless it can sturdily make its way through opposition and display toughness of fiber.

Reflection involves not simply a sequence of ideas, but a consequence—a consecutive ordering in such a way that each determines the next as its proper outcome, while each in turn leans back on its predecessors.

We cannot expect to gain true knowledge without acting upon our ideas.

Genuine ignorance is more profitable because likely to be accompanied by humility, curiosity, and open-mindedness; while ability to repeat catch-phrases, cant terms, familiar propositions, gives the conceit of learning and coats the mind with a varnish waterproof to new ideas.

with Paul, with dusty, tired, much-traveled Paul, came Rome's most dangerous opponent—not legions but ideas, not an alternative force but an alternative faith.

There is a risk to avoid in popular science. This is the atmosphere of unquestioned authority; the scientist explains, the reader learns. Science, though, is always provisional, not a final truth, and the adventure lies in the process, the struggle for understanding. When science is explained, the things that are explained are ideas and the observations on which those ideas are based. Ideas develop; ideas should always be questioned. In science as in life, the one sure thing is change.

Hospitality is the key to new ideas, new friends, new possibilities. What we take into our lives changes us. Without new people and new ideas, we are imprisoned inside ourselves.

We must fight all that we dislike in public life. We must substitute better ideas for wrong ideas.

Ideas have a shelf-life. Share yours, let others collaborate, and you'll get new ones.

The aging process is totally minimizing. Life in general is pretty minimizing because you have a lot of big ideas, and you have to battle the mistaken delusions and instability that come with youth.

I would like to write my next book about what happened to critical intelligence in America and how it's been undermined by these really shallow ideas about human life and nature.

Life is the application of noble and profound ideas to life.

I like changing the pace of my life, changing my discipline. It gives me ideas for how to see the world differently.

Even luxuries are arranged according to ideas and ideals, to make them reflect as much of thought-life as possible - and this is Art.

My father felt that his world of ideas was too liberal for traditional rabbinical teachings, and he looked for a chance to find a way in life.

We have an arsenal of ideas about land use possibly as dangerous to human life on the planet as the use of nuclear arms.

The great fun in my life has been getting up every morning and rushing to the typewriter because some new idea has hit me.

Ideas seem to come from everywhere - my life, everything I see, hear, and read, and most of all, from my imagination. I have a lot of imagination.

Only idiots die for an idea! Life is greater and infinitely more valuable than all the ideas!

Make sure that your kids or the kids in your life have an opportunity to share their ideas, and to teach you something about what we know.