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 important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
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
Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the question themselves, as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, some day far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) Austrian Poet
Historians are like deaf people who go on answering questions that no one has asked them.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
[The great questions of the day] are not decided by speeches and majority votes, but by blood and iron.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) German Chancellor, Prime Minister
It’s very flattering to ask others about matters they’re little qualified to discuss.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
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
Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions.
—Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) American Faith Healer
He who knows all the answers has not yet been asked all the questions.
—Unknown
The man who questions opinion is wise; the man who quarrels with fact is a fool.
—Frank A. Garbutt (1869–1938) American Inventor, Movie Pioneer
If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Better to ask twice than to lose your way once.
—Danish Proverb
If there is something to gain and nothing to lose by asking, by all means ask!
—W. Clement Stone (1902–2002) American Self-help Guru, Entrepreneur
People create their own questions because they are afraid to look straight. All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don’t sit looking at it- walk.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher
One who never asks either knows everything or nothing.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.
—James Thurber
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
—Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Artist
Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
The key to getting everything you want is to never put all your begs in one ask-it!
—Unknown
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
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
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
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
Read less and think more. Read about great things and think about great questions and issues.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
“Why” and “how” are words so important that they cannot be too often used.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers.
—Robert Half
You don’t want a million answers as much as you want a few forever questions. The questions are diamonds you hold in the light. Study a lifetime and you see different colours from the same jewel. The same questions, asked again, bring you just the answers you need just the minute you need them.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live.
—Joan Borysenko