David Macaulay Quotes

The most important thing is insight, that is to be - curious - to wonder, to mull, and to muse why it is that man does what he does.

You gotta ask 'why' questions. 'Why did you do this?' A 'why' question you can't answer with one word.

The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.

I was always an outsider, always standing outside, observing and trying to figure things out. Which is exactly what you need to do as a writer, I suppose.

My favorite question is 'Why?' I think it can be really helpful - I also think it can be annoying to people at times; I'll admit that. But I really do try to understand why are we approaching it this way, does it makes sense, is this the right answer, why is it the right answer, are there other paths to getting there, could those be better.

Science is about questioning things.

I think you need to have a healthy sense of doubt because I think doubt leads to inquiry.

Stick to the man who looks out of the window and tries to understand the world. Keep clear of the man who looks in at the window and tries to understand you.

It's not enough to have the right answers. You have to have the right questions.

I wish that we worried more about asking the right questions instead of being so hung up on finding answers.

Our minds, bodies, feelings, relationships are all informed by our questions. What you ask is who you are. What you find depends on what you search for. And what shapes our lives are the questions we ask, refuse to ask, or never think of asking.

It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.

I'm just quizzical about how things work and why things are.

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.

The question is just as important as the answer.

I've always had questions about how things work and why it was that way. From all kinds of perspectives, from the physical to the spiritual.

The basic drive behind real philosophy is curiosity about the world, not interest in the writings of philosophers.

Religion asks you to believe things without questioning, and technology and science always encourage you to ask hard questions and why it is important in science and technology. So I was always interested in science and technology.

I remember when I was a kid in school and teachers would explain things to me about what I read, and I'd think, Where did they get that? I didn't read that in there. Later you look at it and think, That's kind of an interesting idea.

If you never ask yourself any questions about the meaning of a passage, you cannot expect the book to give you any insight you do not already possess.

I am one of the people who love the why of things.

Logic takes care of itself; all we have to do is to look and see how it does it.

I have labored carefully, not to mock, lament, or execrate, but to understand human actions

Millions saw the apple fall but Newton was the one who asked 'why.'

If you ask the right questions, you learn a lot about people.