Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by hitting back.
—Piet Hein (1905–1996) Danish Architect, Mathematician, Poet
A problem is your chance to do your best.
—Duke Ellington (1899–1974) American Jazz Pianist, Composer, Bandleader
All the greatest and most important problems of life are fundamentally insolvable. They can never be solved, but only outgrown.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles, they toughen and make strong.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
We only think when we are confronted with a problem.
—John Dewey (1859–1952) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Educator
The easiest way to solve a problem is to pick an easy one.
—Franklin P. Jones
You can’t fly a kite unless you go against the wind and have a weight to keep it from turning a somersault. The same with man. No man will succeed unless he is ready to face and overcome difficulties and is prepared to assume responsibilities.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
If you can talk brilliantly about a problem, it can create the consoling illusion that it has been mastered.
—Stanley Kubrick (1928–99) American Film Director, Writer, Film Producer, Photographer
Snow and adolescence are the only problems that disappear if you ignore them long enough.
—Earl Wilson (1907–87) American Broadway Gossip Columnist
Each problem that I solved became a rule which served afterwards to solve other problems.
—Rene Descartes (1596–1650) French Mathematician, Philosopher
The problem is not that you cannot have what you think you want. The problem is that when you get what you think you want, it won’t satisfy.
—Unknown
When a problem comes along, study it until you are completely knowledgeable. Then find that weak spot, break the problem apart, and the rest will be easy.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems.
—Scott Adams (b.1957) American Cartoonist
Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
Every big problem was at one time a wee disturbance.
—Unknown
We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
Let God’s promises shine on your problems.
—Corrie Ten Boom (1892–1983) Dutch Jewish Humanist
There is only one problem, ever: your uninvestigated story in the moment.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Nobody can tell what I suffer! But it is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods, for through it you can solve every human problem. It should make of you an incurable optimist. It is the open door.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
God is bigger than your problems.
—Mexican Proverb
If we live, we live; if we die, we die; if we suffer, we suffer; if we are terrified, we are terrified. There is no problem about it.
—Alan Watts (1915–73) British-American Philosopher, Author
No problem is insurmountable. With a little courage, teamwork and determination a person can overcome anything.
—Anonymous
If you want to make a permanent change, stop focusing on the size of your problems and start focusing on the size of you!
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
The mere formulation of a problem is far more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skills. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle requires creative imagination and marks real advances in science.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
When I can’t handle events, I let them handle themselves.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
To think that I know what’s best for anyone else is to be out of my business. Even in the name of love, it is pure arrogance, and the result is tension, anxiety, and fear. Do I know what’s right for me? That is my only business. Let me work with that before I try to solve problems for you.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Nearly all our ills are the result of neglect in some way or other. And this truth may be said to apply to the ills of nations as well. Negligence is at the bottom of all decay. And decay always starts by showing little signs-or warnings. Then is the time to show interest and to be alert. There is nothing quite so easy as to neglect, and nothing quite so difficult as to repair that negligence. Negligence always carries a high price. It costs nothing to avoid it.
—George Matthew Adams (1878–1962) American Columnist, Journalist
It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman