The smart ones ask when they don’t know. And, sometimes, when they do.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Language was invented to ask questions. Answers may be given by grunts and gestures, but questions must be spoken. Humanness came of age when man asked the first question. Social stagnation results not from a lack of answers but from the absence of the impulse to ask questions.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
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
A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
I am prejudiced in favor of him who, without impudence, can ask boldly.—He has faith in humanity, and faith in himself.—No one who is not accustomed to give grandly can ask nobly and with boldness.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers.
—Robert Half
For every why he had a wherefore.
—Samuel Butler
It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.
—Eugene Ionesco (1909–94) Romanian-born French Dramatist
Good questions outrank easy answers.
—Paul Samuelson (1915–2009) American Economist, Author
Man who waits for roast duck to fly into mouth must wait very, very long time.
—Chinese Proverb
No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions.
—Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1865–1923) German-born American Mathematician, Engineer
There are no foolish questions, only foolish silence
—Indian Proverb
Better to ask twice than to lose your way once.
—Danish Proverb
We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers.
—Carl Sagan (1934–96) American Astronomer
There are innumerable questions to which the inquisitive mind can, in this state, receive no answer; Why do you and I exist? Why was this world created? And since it was to be created, why was it not created sooner?
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The key to getting everything you want is to never put all your begs in one ask-it!
—Unknown
I had six honest serving men. They taught me all I knew. Their names were: Where, What, When, Why, How and Who.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Writer, Poet, Novelist, Short Story Author
Beware of the man who knows the answer before he understands the question.
—Unknown
Schooling, instead of encouraging the asking of questions, too often discourages it.
—Madeleine L’Engle (1918–2007) American Author
It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.
—James Thurber
Don’t wait until you die to learn the warrior’s way. Do it now, each night, just before you drift off to sleep. As you review your day, consider these two questions of courage and love. Learn from each day, so that each day you can show a little more courage and a little more love. Then, as incidents occur, you may rise to the occasion and look back at the end of your life and feel good about the way you lived.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
An expert knows all the answers—if you ask the right questions.
—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. Hamlet
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
You can’t ask for what you want unless you know what it is. A lot of people don’t know what they want or they want much less than they deserve. First you have figure out what you want. Second, you have to decide that you deserve it. Third, you have to believe you can get it. And, fourth, you have to have the guts to ask for it.
—Barbara De Angelis (b.1951) American Self-Help Author
If you spend more time asking appropriate questions rather than giving answers or opinions, your listening skills will increase.
—Brian Koslow
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
Man will not live without answers to his questions.
—Hans Morgenthau (1904–80) German-American Political Scientist
One who never asks either knows everything or nothing.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Leave a Reply