Gary Paulsen Quotes

We have too many intellectuals who are afraid to use the pistol of common sense.

When we examine the opinions of men, we find that nothing is more uncommon than common sense; or, in other words, they lack judgment to discover plain truths or to reject absurdities and palpable contradictions.

Every problem can be solved as long as they use common sense and apply the right research and techniques.

Don't leave hold of your common sense. Think about what you're doing and how the technology can enhance it. Don't think about technology first.

... common sense is very rare.

We must rely less on spreadsheets and funding formulas and more on common sense.

Intelligence is the ability to solve problems

You cannot solve a problem unless you diagnose the problem.

That is the first thing I know for sure: (1.) If the questions don't make sense, neither will the answers.

Organized common (or uncommon) sense -- very basic knowledge -- is an enormously powerful tool. There are huge dangers with computers. People calculate too much and think too little.

I agree that it's important to be of a virtuous nature, but I would also contend that if you had to choose between giving a man a noble disposition or teaching him to think clearly, you'd do better to teach him to think clearly. Too many problems in this world are caused by men with noble dispositions and clouded minds.

We cannot expect that everyone, to use the phrase of a decade ago, will talk sense to the American people. But we can hope that fewer people will listen to nonsense. And the notion that this Nation is headed for defeat through deficit, or that strength is but a matter of slogans, is nothing but just plain nonsense.

Logic is the hygiene the mathematician practices to keep his ideas healthy and strong.

Common sense is, of all kinds, the most uncommon. It implies good judgment, sound discretion, and true and practical wisdom applied to common life.

When you have to prove the value of your ideas by persuading other people to pay for them, it clears out an awful lot of woolly thinking.

It is better to do the right problem the wrong way than the wrong problem the right way.

Intuition is the art, peculiar to the human mind, of working out the correct answer from data that is, in itself, incomplete or even, perhaps, misleading.

The test of real and vigorous thinking, the thinking which ascertains truths instead of dreaming dreams, is successful application to practice.

With thought, all problems can be resolved.

I'm not a scientist either, but I can use my brain, and I can talk to one.

... good intentions are not sufficient to solve our problems.

All true knowledge contradicts common sense.

Without a commitment to science and rationality in its proper domain, there can be no solution to the problems that engulf us. Still, the Yahoos never rest.

If it is stupid but it works, it isn't stupid. (a Shin'a'in saying)

You can't solve a problem until you address the problem.