Answers Quote by Daniel Kahneman
“... sometimes when you are asked a question that is difficult, the mind doesn't stay silent if it doesn't have the answer. The mind produces something, and what it produces very characteristically is the answer to an easier but related question.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow, 2011
When faced with a hard question, the mind fills the silence by answering a simpler, related one, revealing hidden assumptions.
In simple terms: The mind answers easier related questions when stuck.
Key Takeaway
Notice and probe the easier answer.
Themes
cognition
problem solving
bias
mindset
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- academic research
- personal decision making
- creative brainstorming
- teaching
- therapy
Key Concepts
heuristics
metacognition
implicit reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- What simpler question am I answering?
- How does this reveal my assumptions?
A Different Perspective
The easy answer may mislead if not examined.
