4 ms·

I prefer not to spend my time proving and writing about how something is impossible. Find a way and it will most likely be a solution or path you could have nev

I prefer not to spend my time proving and writing about how something is impossible. Find a way and it will most likely be a solution or path you could have never predicted. This is a fundemental principle held by companies that innovate.

ebbv 11y ago
This attitude is exactly the problem. It's magical thinking. Thinking "outside the box" when it comes to industry standards may be a path to innovation. Thinking "outside the box" when it comes to the laws of physics is a path to nowhere.
- meeper16 11y ago
  Postive attitude does equate to "magical thinking". Check with Einstein and others on what it takes to make breatkthroughs, discoveries and think outside the box in the context of science. With the attitudes of some, we'd never make discoveries! “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world.” ~Albert Einstein You might also enjoy these references as well: http://serenityhacker.com/2009/09/albert-einstein-problem-solving/ http://serenityhacker.com/2009/09/albert-einstein-problem-so... https://cultivatedpages.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/einsteins-brain-and-thinking-outside-the-box/ https://cultivatedpages.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/einsteins-b...
  - ekianjo 11y ago
    > “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world.” ~Albert Einstein Still Einstein did not say that the previous centuries of physics were bullshit. He built on them to further the theory in specific cases (like his work on relativity). Taking quotes out of context is very hazardous and does not prove anything either.
  - kuschku 11y ago
    “Only two things are infinite: The universe and the stupidity of manking. Although I’m not that sure about the universe” – Albert Einstein. This quote fits this situation far better.
    - dang 11y ago
      There's no evidence that Einstein said that. The quote comes from Fritz Perls: http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/04/universe-einstein/ http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/04/universe-einstein/
      - kuschku 11y ago
        Which attributes it to Einstein. The article you linked says that Perls heard it while meeting Einstein in person.
        dang 11y ago
        The article quotes Perls saying (in 1969) "As Albert Einstein said to me". That's not evidence of Einstein saying anything, but of Perls appealing to authority. When Perls published the quip in the 1940s he said "a famous astronomer", not Einstein. He wouldn't have put it that way if Einstein had been the source, especially since he mentions Einstein elsewhere in the same paragraph. The Quote Investigator is extremely conservative in refuting bogus quotes; when they say "probably not", they mean "hell freezes over if". The readiest explanation is that Perls, a showman who (unlike Einstein) often made caustic quips like this one, simply optimized his story over time.
rayiner 11y ago
99% of all ideas won't work. Pessimists do the yeoman's work of society, saying no to these stupid ideas before they hurt somebody.

ebbv 11y ago

This attitude is exactly the problem. It's magical thinking. Thinking "outside the box" when it comes to industry standards may be a path to innovation. Thinking "outside the box" when it comes to the laws of physics is a path to nowhere.

meeper16 11y ago
Postive attitude does equate to "magical thinking". Check with Einstein and others on what it takes to make breatkthroughs, discoveries and think outside the box in the context of science. With the attitudes of some, we'd never make discoveries! “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world.” ~Albert Einstein You might also enjoy these references as well: http://serenityhacker.com/2009/09/albert-einstein-problem-solving/ http://serenityhacker.com/2009/09/albert-einstein-problem-so... https://cultivatedpages.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/einsteins-brain-and-thinking-outside-the-box/ https://cultivatedpages.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/einsteins-b...
- ekianjo 11y ago
  > “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world.” ~Albert Einstein Still Einstein did not say that the previous centuries of physics were bullshit. He built on them to further the theory in specific cases (like his work on relativity). Taking quotes out of context is very hazardous and does not prove anything either.
- kuschku 11y ago
  “Only two things are infinite: The universe and the stupidity of manking. Although I’m not that sure about the universe” – Albert Einstein. This quote fits this situation far better.
  - dang 11y ago
    There's no evidence that Einstein said that. The quote comes from Fritz Perls: http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/04/universe-einstein/ http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/04/universe-einstein/
    - kuschku 11y ago
      Which attributes it to Einstein. The article you linked says that Perls heard it while meeting Einstein in person.
      - dang 11y ago
        The article quotes Perls saying (in 1969) "As Albert Einstein said to me". That's not evidence of Einstein saying anything, but of Perls appealing to authority. When Perls published the quip in the 1940s he said "a famous astronomer", not Einstein. He wouldn't have put it that way if Einstein had been the source, especially since he mentions Einstein elsewhere in the same paragraph. The Quote Investigator is extremely conservative in refuting bogus quotes; when they say "probably not", they mean "hell freezes over if". The readiest explanation is that Perls, a showman who (unlike Einstein) often made caustic quips like this one, simply optimized his story over time.

rayiner 11y ago

99% of all ideas won't work. Pessimists do the yeoman's work of society, saying no to these stupid ideas before they hurt somebody.