Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want.
—Joseph Wood Krutch (1893–1970) American Writer, Critic, Naturalist
Beware of the man who knows the answer before he understands the question.
—Unknown
The simplest questions are the most profound. Where were you born? Where is your home? Where are you going? What are you doing? Think about these once in a while and watch your answers change.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
A major stimulant to creative thinking is focused questions. There is something about a well-worded question that often penetrates to the heart of the matter and triggers new ideas and insights.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Man will not live without answers to his questions.
—Hans Morgenthau (1904–80) German-American Political Scientist
A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions.
—Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1865–1923) German-born American Mathematician, Engineer
In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the dog.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask?
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
It is not what happens to us that determines our character, our experience, our karma, and our destiny – but how we relate to what happens.
—Lama Surya Das (b.1950) American Buddhist Scholar, Teacher
Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Poet, Writer, Painter
The questions which one asks oneself begin, at least, to illuminate the world, and become one’s key to the experience of others.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers.
—Carl Sagan (1934–96) American Astronomer
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
—Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Artist
Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.
—Shakti Gawain (b.1948) American Author, Environmentalist
The word question is derived from the Latin quarrier (to seek) which is the same root as the word for quest. A creative life is a continued quest, and good questions can be very useful guides. Most useful are open-ended questions; they allow for fresh unanticipated answers to reveal themselves.
—Unknown
We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.
—Lloyd Alexander (1924–2007) American Writer of Fantasy Novels
Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers.
—Robert Half
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: “What are you doing for others?”
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Man, if you gotta ask you’ll never know.
—Louis Armstrong (1901–71) American Musician
In examinations the foolish ask questions that the wise cannot answer.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
To be or not to be that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the stings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take up arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing them, end them.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
That is the essence of a witch-hunt, that any questioning of the evidence or the procedures in itself constitutes proof of complicity.
—Bergen Evans
Charm is a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Read less and think more. Read about great things and think about great questions and issues.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
If you want a wise answer, ask a reasonable question.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I asked the zebra,
Are you black with white strips?.
Or white with black strips?.
And the zebra asked me,
Are you good with bad habits?.
Or are you bad with good habits?.
Are you noisy with quiet times?.
Or are you quiet with noisy times?.
Are you happy with sad days?.
Or are you sad with happy days?.
Are you neat with some sloppy ways?.
Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?.
And on and on and on and on
And on and on he went.
I’ll never ask a zebra
About stripes
Again.
—Shel Silverstein (1930–99) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Short story Author, Playwright, Author, Songwriter
It is not every question that deserves an answer.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Better to ask twice than to lose your way once.
—Danish Proverb
In the words of Max DePree: “Management has a lot to do with answers. But leadership is a function of questions. And the first question for a leader always is: ‘Who do we intend to be?’ Not ‘What are we going to do?’ but ‘Who do we intend to be?'”
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
The one who asks questions doesn’t lose his way
—African Proverb
It’s easier to see both sides of a question than the answer.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
Any man who knows all the answers most likely misunderstood the questions
—Unknown
He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The most important questions in life can never be answered by anyone except oneself.
—John Fowles (1926–2005) English Novelist
You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.
—Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006) Egyptian Novelist
The smart ones ask when they don’t know. And, sometimes, when they do.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
“Why” and “how” are words so important that they cannot be too often used.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Questions show the mind’s range, and answers its subtlety.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) (1904–91) American Children’s Books Writer, Writer, Cartoonist, Animator
When someone says, That’s a good question. You can be sure it’s a lot better than the answer you’re going to get.
—Unknown
An expert knows all the answers—if you ask the right questions.
—Unknown
Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
There are no foolish questions and no one becomes a fool until they have stopped asking questions.
—Unknown
If you spend more time asking appropriate questions rather than giving answers or opinions, your listening skills will increase.
—Brian Koslow