Quotes: Problem solving
Problem solving is shown as a blend of method and mindset: ask the right question to make a solution possible, as Einstein suggests, and trust steady effort over sudden insight, as Edison advises. The voices on this page push you to reframe problems, to adjust approach rather than blame circumstances, and to value persistence and clear definition.
La résolution de problèmes, ici, se présente comme un art pratique et moral: il faut poser correctement la question pour qu’une solution existe, comme le rappelle Albert Einstein, et accepter que l’effort compte plus que l’illumination, selon Thomas Edison. Les auteurs explorent la discipline du travail, la clarté des objectifs et l’exigence de repenser l’énoncé quand les résultats manquent.
5 quotes on this theme, each with its source and insight
The quotes
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”
Source: The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance, 1966 · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The sentence appears in Maslow’s 1966 book The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance; the familiar short form is a later paraphrase of his wording.
Maslow warns that familiar tools shape how we perceive problems: rely on one method and every situation starts to look like a use for that method. He wrote this in a 1966 critique of method‑centered science to urge flexibility and humility in problem‑solving.
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The wording is reliably attributed to William Arthur Ward across many quotation collections and author pages, though those sources are secondary rather than the original publication.
- What remains uncertain
- No primary publication or recording by Ward was identified in the provided search results, and minor wording variants appear across sources.
The line contrasts three ways people meet difficulty: gripe, wish, or act. Using a sailing image it reminds us that while we can't command the wind, we can change how we sail. It's a concise call to practical responsibility rooted in mid‑20th‑century American inspirational writing.
“One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.”
Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The wording is commonly attributed to Marie Curie in quotation collections, but no primary publication or dated speech has been located for this exact phrasing.
- What remains uncertain
- Attribution is disputed: the sentence appears in many secondary sources without a verifiable primary reference and may be a paraphrase rather than a directly sourced quote.
The line captures a scientist's forward pull: focus on the unfinished rather than past wins. For Marie Curie it mirrors a relentless curiosity and disciplined effort—valuing the next problem over applause.
“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Source: Harper's Monthly, September 1932; letter by Edison, 1927 · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- Edison explicitly affirmed the saying in a 1927 letter and the Harper's Monthly article of September 1932 printed and approved his formulation.
- What remains uncertain
- Although Edison is the primary source for the famous 1%/99% phrasing, earlier variants and contributions from others helped shape the exact wording.
The line sums up Edison’s conviction that invention is built mainly on steady, methodical work rather than sudden insight. It reflects his lab practice of trial-and-error and disciplined repetition. The familiar 1%/99% wording became fixed through his public remarks and later publications.
“A problem without a solution is a badly posed problem.”
Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The wording is commonly circulated under Albert Einstein's name in secondary sources, but no primary text or dated publication is identified in the provided research.
- What remains uncertain
- Attribution is disputed: available evidence shows repeated secondary citations without a traceable Einstein source, so the quote remains unverified.
The line points to the first step of good thinking: if no solution appears, question the problem's framing. It's used in business, education and engineering to promote reframing over forced fixes. Commonly credited to Einstein, the attribution lacks a primary source.