Favorite Quotes

“Most of my advances were made by mistake. You uncover what is when you get rid of what isn’t.”
– R. Buckminster Fuller

“There are lessons in everything, and if you are fully deployed, you will learn from most of them. Experiences aren’t fully yours until you think about them, analyze them, reflect on them, and finally understand them. Be the designer not the design.”
– Warren Bennis, From the book Becoming a Leader

“Civilizations in decline are consistently characterized by a tendency toward standardization and uniformity.”
– Arnold Toynbee, From the book A Study of History

“Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior.”
– Dee Hock

“Humans seem to have a predisposition to be open and curious about new theories, but it also seems true that they do not abandon old theories until convinced the new ones are better–that is, more useful, compact, and accurate.”
– Paul R. Lawrence and Nitin Nohria, From the book Driven

“Simplicity is the best hope of gaining the consumer’s attention and communicating the meaning of your brand in a very cluttered world.”
– Brian Till and Donna Heckler, From the book Creating Brands People Love

“Stare. It is the way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, and eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long.”
– Walker Evans

“You can’t think your way through every problem. Trying things and engaging people helps you get unstuck.”
– George Kembel, Stanford d.school

“Innovation begins with the eye.”
– Tom Kelley, IDEO

“Simplicity is knowing when less is too little and more is too much. Simplicity = Sanity.”
– John Maeda

“Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down.”
– Kobi Yamada

“A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a metaphor is worth a thousand pictures.”
– Daniel Pink