--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Abstract thinking leads to greater…" description: "\"Abstract thinking leads to greater creativity... But in our businesses and our lives, we often do the opposite. We intensify our focus rather than wide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/daniel-h-pink-1532_abstract_abstract-thinking-leads-to-greater-creat_2423838.png" --- # Abstract thinking leads to greater creativity... But in… ![“Abstract thinking leads to greater creativity... But in our businesses and our lives, we often do the opposite. We intensify our focus rather than widen our view.” quote by Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/daniel-h-pink-1532_abstract_abstract-thinking-leads-to-greater-creat_2423838.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/daniel-h-pink-1532_abstract_abstract-thinking-leads-to-greater-creat_2423838.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/daniel-h-pink-1532_abstract_abstract-thinking-leads-to-greater-creat_2423838.png) > “Abstract thinking leads to greater creativity... But in our businesses and our lives, we often do the opposite. We intensify our focus rather than widen our view.” [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing narrowly limits creativity; expanding perspective fosters innovative solutions. **In simple terms:** Broaden your focus for creativity. Key Takeaway Think wider. Themes creativity focus innovation Mood inquisitive motivational Type business philosophical When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - strategic planning - design thinking - education - leadership training Key Concepts cognitive flexibility problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance focus and breadth? - When does specialization hinder creativity? A Different Perspective Narrow focus can be necessary for execution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Abstract thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract-thinking/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Creativity Businesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity-businesses-6143397/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Greater Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-creativity-1374100/) [Intensify Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensify-focus-6143398/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [“The willingness to be a champion for stupid ideas is the key to greater creativity, innovation, fulfillment, inspiration, motivation and success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/the-willingness-to-be-a-champion-for-stupid-ideas-is-the-key-to/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [Art - when it is really doing what it should do - teaches abstract thinking; it teaches teamwork; it teaches people to actually think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-t-jones/art-when-it-is-really-doing-what-it-should-do-teaches-abstract/) [Bill T. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-t-jones/) > [I began to realize that an intuitive understanding and consciousness was more significant than abstract thinking and intellectual logical analysis. Intuition is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-began-to-realize-that-an-intuitive-understanding-and-consciousness-2/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“Recounting the narrative of our personal story in a methodical and chronological manner helps us see our life in a historical perspective. Telling our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/recounting-the-narrative-of-our-personal-story-in-a-methodical-and/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [One of the problems with watching TV is that you've got a fairly low level of language operating all the time. Quite a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/one-of-the-problems-with-watching-tv-is-that-you-ve-got-a-fairly-low/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“He wasn't normally conscious of it, but there was one part of his body that was extremely sensitive, somewhere along his back. This soft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/he-wasn-t-normally-conscious-of-it-but-there-was-one-part-of-his-body/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I think, first and foremost ,Marie Antoinette was intellectually impoverished. She really had never been introduced to the notion of abstract thinking - of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lasky/i-think-first-and-foremost-marie-antoinette-was-intellectually/) [Kathryn Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lasky/) > [Thinking - in particular abstract thinking, which most of us are introduced to through the study of mathematics and literature - helps us learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lasky/thinking-in-particular-abstract-thinking-which-most-of-us-are/) [Kathryn Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lasky/) > [“The most dangerous thing about an academic education is that it enables my tendency to over-intellectualize stuff, to get lost in abstract thinking instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/the-most-dangerous-thing-about-an-academic-education-is-that-it/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“Common Core math standards seem unaware that children are not miniaturized adults, who are absolutely incapable of certain kinds of cognition. For example, genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-marselle/common-core-math-standards-seem-unaware-that-children-are-not/) [Terry Marselle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-marselle/) > [There are all kinds of features that will become part of cell phones that will help us offload the more laborious things of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cooper/there-are-all-kinds-of-features-that-will-become-part-of-cell-phones/) [Martin Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cooper/) > [“The abstract thinking of the world is never to be expected of persons in high places...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-abstract-thinking-of-the-world-is-never-to-be-expected-of-persons/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [“I began to realize that an intuitive understanding and consciousness was more significant than abstract thinking and intellectual logical analysis,” he later said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/i-began-to-realize-that-an-intuitive-understanding-and-consciousness/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“There are three categories of criteria that an individual must meet in order to be diagnosed with ASD. The categories are listed below along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wylie/there-are-three-categories-of-criteria-that-an-individual-must-meet/) [Philip Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wylie/) > [“The brain works in a holistic, cooperative way that makes our basest desire or most abject fear as expressive of who we are as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/the-brain-works-in-a-holistic-cooperative-way-that-makes-our-basest/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) ## More by Daniel H. Pink > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“morning people to be pleasant, productive folks—“introverted,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/morning-people-to-be-pleasant-productive-folks-introverted/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“tweeters felt active, engaged, and hopeful—generally rose in the morning, plummeted in the afternoon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/tweeters-felt-active-engaged-and-hopeful-generally-rose-in-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The longer it takes for a boss to respond to their e-mails, the less satisfied people are with their leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-longer-it-takes-for-a-boss-to-respond-to-their-e-mails-the-less/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [For creative tasks, the best approach is often just to hire great people and get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/for-creative-tasks-the-best-approach-is-often-just-to-hire-great/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The less evidence of extrinsic motivation during art school, the more success in professional art both several years after graduation and nearly twenty years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-less-evidence-of-extrinsic-motivation-during-art-school-the-more/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [If you look at the very best presidents, the most effective presidents, they were always decent salespeople. Ronald Reagan was an extremely effective salesman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/if-you-look-at-the-very-best-presidents-the-most-effective-presidents/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“the more they chat and gossip—the more they get done”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-more-they-chat-and-gossip-the-more-they-get-done/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“continuing to think about job demands during breaks may result in strain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/continuing-to-think-about-job-demands-during-breaks-may-result-in/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“The quality of the problem that is found is a forerunner of the quality of the solution that is attained . . .” Getzels concluded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-quality-of-the-problem-that-is-found-is-a-forerunner-of-the/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“innovation and creativity are greatest when we are not at our best”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/innovation-and-creativity-are-greatest-when-we-are-not-at-our-best/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Temporal landmarks slow our thinking, allowing us to deliberate at a higher level and make better decisions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/temporal-landmarks-slow-our-thinking-allowing-us-to-deliberate-at-a/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Jobs that offer autonomy but little challenge bore us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/jobs-that-offer-autonomy-but-little-challenge-bore-us/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“richest experiences in our lives aren’t when we’re clamoring for validation from others, but when we’re listening to our own voice—doing something that matters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/richest-experiences-in-our-lives-aren-t-when-we-re-clamoring-for/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) [Explore all 230 Daniel H. Pink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) [Anthony W. Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-w-ivins/) > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... Painting operates through signs which are not abstract and incorporeal like words. The signs of painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/painting-is-a-richer-language-than-words-painting-operates-through/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) [Browse all 1,403 Abstract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Abstract thinking leads to greater creativity... But in our businesses and our lives, we often do the opposite. We intensify our focus rather than widen our view.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel H. 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