Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) (1904–91) American Children’s Books Writer, Writer, Cartoonist, Animator
Thought takes man out of servitude, into freedom.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Think and wonder, wonder and think.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) (1904–91) American Children’s Books Writer, Writer, Cartoonist, Animator
If the track is tough and the hill is rough, THINKING you can just ain’t enough!
—Shel Silverstein (1932–99) American Cartoonist, Author
I have no riches but my thoughts. Yet these are wealth enough for me.
—Sara Teasdale (1884–1933) American Poet
Thought is a kind of opium; it can intoxicate us, while still broad awake; it can make transparent the mountains and everything that exists.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
You must be what it is that you’re seeking. This is a universe of attraction and energy. You can’t have a desire to attract a mate who’s confident, generous, non-judgmental, and gentle, and expect that desire to be manifested if you’re thinking and acting in nonconfident, selfish, judgmental, or arrogant ways…
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
I knew I was a winner back in the late sixties. I knew I was destined for great things. People will say that kind of thinking is totally immodest. I agree. Modesty is not a word that applies to me in any way—I hope it never will.
—Arnold Schwarzenegger (b.1947) Austrian-American Athlete, Actor, Politician
Writing and learning and thinking are the same process.
—William Zinsser (1922–2015) American Writer, Editor, Literary Critic, Teacher
Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed. The entire universe need not arm itself to crush him. A vapour, a drop of water suffices to kill him. But, if the Universe were to crush him, man would still be more noble than that which killed him, because he knows that he dies and the advantage which the universe has over him; the universe knows nothing of this.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
It is astonishing what an effort it seems to be for many people to put their brains definitely and systematically to work.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
No one has ever been able to control his thinking, although people may tell the story of how they have. I don’t let go of my thoughts?—I meet them with understanding. Then they let go of me.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Man is obviously made for thinking. Therein lies all his dignity and his merit; and his whole duty is to think as he ought.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
You become what you think about all day long.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Sixty minutes of thinking of any kind is bound to lead to confusion and unhappiness.
—James Thurber
Rarely do we find men who willingly to engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
An idea is always a generalization, and generalization is a property of thinking. To generalize means to think.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) German Philosopher
All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy soul-for the soul is dyed by the thoughts. Dye it then, with a continuous series of such thoughts as these-that where a man can live, there if he will, he can also live well.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
A person may dwell so long upon a thought that it may take him a prisoner.
—E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax (1881–1959) British Politician, Political leader
Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes. Genuine ignorance is profitable because it is likely to be accompanied by humility, curiosity, and open-mindedness; whereas ability to repeat catch-phrases, cant terms, familiar propositions, gives the conceit of learning and coats the mind with varnish waterproof to new ideas.
—John Dewey (1859–1952) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Educator
If I look confused it is because I am thinking.
—Samuel Goldwyn (1879–1974) Polish-born American Film Producer, Businessperson
No amount of energy will take the place of thought. A strenuous life with its eyes shut is a kind of wild insanity.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, Clergyman
Physiological response to thinking and to pain is the same; and man is not given to hurting himself.
—Martin H. Fischer
It is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean. For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while.
—Luther Burbank (1849–1926) American Botanist, Scientist
Sad people dislike the happy, and the happy the sad; the quick thinking the sedate, and the careless the busy and industrious.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
On artificial intelligence: the real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
—B. F. Skinner (1904–90) American Psychologist, Social Philosopher, Inventor, Author
A thought which does not result in an action is nothing much, and an action which does not proceed from a thought is nothing at all.
—Georges Bernanos (1888–1948) French Novelist, Polemicist
Confidence is not a guarantee of success, but a pattern of thinking that will improve your likelihood of success, a tenacious search for ways to make things work.
—John Eliot (b.1971) American Psychologist, Academic
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