Jonah Lehrer Quotes

Early on, in discussions of financial oversight, people would say, 'Well, this is a very complicated problem, therefore it requires a complicated solution.' And at that step, I would say, 'Well, wait a minute. Just because it's a complicated problem doesn't mean the best course of action immediately is one that's complicated.'

The problem is that we attempt to solve the simplest questions cleverly, thereby rendering them unusually complex. One should seekthe simple solution.

Complexity has and will maintain a strong fascination for many people. It is true that we live in a complex world and strive to solve inherently complex problems, which often do require complex mechanisms. However, this should not diminish our desire for elegant solutions, which convince by their clarity and effectiveness. Simple, elegant solutions are more effective, but they are harder to find than complex ones, and they require more time, which we too often believe to be unaffordable

Folks that has brought up children know that there's no hard and fast method in the world that'll suit every child. But them as never have think it's all as plain and easy as Rule of Three—just set your three terms down so fashion, and the sum'll work out correct.

Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.

The way to keep yourself from making assumptions is to ask questions.

If simple, painless solutions to public problems existed, they would have been found long ago.

Our goal is to try to bring a calm and simplicity to what are incredibly complex problems so that you're not aware really of the solution.

There is no problem so complicated that you can't find a very simple answer to it if you look at it right.

I was popular at some times and not so popular at other times. But what mattered was trying to solve problems and deal with circumstances. Some of which I was able to anticipate. Some of which caught us totally by surprise.

We fail when we try to give simple answers to complicated problems.

..things are never as complicated as they seem. It is only our arrogance that prompts us to find unnecessarily complicated answers to simple problems.

Every person under your supervision is different. They're all different. They're identical in most ways, but not in all ways. You have to study and analyze every individual under your supervision and try to work with them in a way that will be most productive.

I always try to look at conflicts from as many different angles as is humanly possible, and in a lot of ways there is no one answer.

It will take you less time and effort to do a thing the difficult way than it will to buy, try and discard all the shortcuts.

To every problem, there is a most simple solution.

It is commonplace that a problem stated is well on its way to solution, for statement of the nature of a problem signifies that the underlying quality is being transformed into determinate distinctions of terms and relations or has become an object of articulate thought.

If you had hope, maybe you could find a way to make things change,. Because if you thought about it, there were so many reasons to try.

Try to achieve the impossible and direct your people to ways of achieving it.

Large companies are very good at solving extremely complex problems in a globally optimal way.

There are definitely times when the outside eye can shine a light on something you weren't aware of. They're usually exposing a flaw or a problem. Sometimes they're saying, "Hey, this doesn't really work. Have you seen this?" And then, you go, "Oh, I didn't really see that. You're right, that doesn't work." If they're good, they shine a light on issues that you're blind to because you're too close to it.

Learn from your mistakes, trying to figure out what the best way to go forward is.

Keep it simple, when you get too complex you forget the obvious.

Our agenda, by necessity, is as complex and encompassing as the problems we face: beware of politicians promising simple solutions.

Governors have to balance budgets. And they have to make decisions. And they have to do things that sometimes aren't popular. And they also have to bring people together to try to solve problems.