We have to remember that what we observe is not nature in itself but nature exposed to our method of questioning.
—Werner Heisenberg (1901–76) German Theoretical Physicist
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
If we would have new knowledge, we must get a whole world of new questions.
—Susanne Langer (1895–1985) American Aesthetics Philosopher
The only questions that really matter are the ones you ask yourself.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
To question a wise man is the beginning of wisdom.
—German Proverb
The moment we find the reason behind an emotion … the wall is breached, and the positive memories it has kept from us return too. That’s why it pays to ask those painful questions. The answers can set you free.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Activist, Political Advocate
The power to question is the basis of all human progress.
—Indira Gandhi (1917–84) Indian Head of State
Question everything. Every stripe, every star, every word spoken. Everything.
—Ernest J. Gaines (1933–2019) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
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
There are no right answers to wrong questions.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
Questions took people on quests; occasionally, questions actually led to answers.
—Arthur J. Magida (b.1945) American Journalist, Biographer
When we have arrived at the question, the answer is already near.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The questions that are beyond the reach of economics—the beauty, dignity, pleasure and durability of life—may be inconvenient but they are important.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
Clever people seem not to feel the natural pleasure of bewilderment, and are always answering questions when the chief relish of a life is to go on asking them.
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925) American Encyclopedia Editor, Essayist
If you don’t like the question that’s asked, answer some other question.
—Howard Baker (1925–2014) American Lawyer, Politician
Certainly, Gentlemen, it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents. Their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinions high respect; their business unremitted attention. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasure, his satisfactions, to theirs, and above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own. But his unbiased opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure, no, nor from the law and the Constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
The only interesting answers are those that destroy the questions.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
The scientific mind does not so much provide the right answers as ask the right questions.
—Claude Levi-Strauss (1908–2009) French Social Anthropologist, Philosopher
Questions show the mind’s range, and answers its subtlety.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
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 Writer, Aviator
There are no foolish questions, and no man becomes a fool until he has stopped asking questions.
—Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1865–1923) German-born American Mathematician, Engineer
I don’t pretend we have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worth thinking about.
—Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British Scientist, Science-fiction Writer
A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.
—Bernard M. Baruch (1870–1965) American Financier, Economic Consultant
If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers.
—Thomas Pynchon (b.1937) American Novelist of Postmodernism
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
It’s better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.
—James Thurber
The creative individual has the capacity to free himself from the web of social pressures in which the rest of us are caught. He is capable of questioning the assumptions that the rest of us accept.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
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
A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer.
—Unknown
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