--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Possibilities play a much bigger role in…" description: "\"Possibilities play a much bigger role in thinking than most people believe. Without possibilities you cannot make progress.\" — Edward de Bono" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fe/edward-de-bono-2489_believe_possibilities-play-a-much-bigger-role-in_2935580.png" --- # Possibilities play a much bigger role in thinking than… ![“Possibilities play a much bigger role in thinking than most people believe. Without possibilities you cannot make progress.” quote by Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fe/edward-de-bono-2489_believe_possibilities-play-a-much-bigger-role-in_2935580.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fe/edward-de-bono-2489_believe_possibilities-play-a-much-bigger-role-in_2935580.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fe/edward-de-bono-2489_believe_possibilities-play-a-much-bigger-role-in_2935580.png) > “Possibilities play a much bigger role in thinking than most people believe. Without possibilities you cannot make progress.” [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thinking expands when we consider many alternatives; possibilities drive innovation and progress. **In simple terms:** Considering options fuels progress. Key Takeaway Explore many options. Themes creativity innovation problem solving Mood inspired curious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - personal development - scientific research Key Concepts lateral thinking possibility thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance options with action? - What limits your imagination? A Different Perspective Too many possibilities can cause analysis paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-possibilities-1783213/) [Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibilities/) [Possibilities Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibilities-make-3500485/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-people/) ## Related quotes > [All we are given is possibilities — to make ourselves one thing or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/all-we-are-given-is-possibilities-to-make-ourselves-one-thing-or/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Believe in all possibilities. The best is yet to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/believe-in-all-possibilities-the-best-is-yet-to-come/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-am-where-i-am-because-i-believe-in-all-possibilities/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [All we are given are possibilities to make ourselves one thing or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/all-we-are-given-are-possibilities-to-make-ourselves-one-thing-or/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [The future belongs to those who believe in possibilities in every opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-future-belongs-to-those-who-believe-in-possibilities-in-every/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [“But in these woods it's best to believe in all possibilities. There's more in these woods than a man can ever hope to understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kent-krueger/but-in-these-woods-it-s-best-to-believe-in-all-possibilities-there-s/) [William Kent Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kent-krueger/) > [Good movies make you care, make you believe in possibilities again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/good-movies-make-you-care-make-you-believe-in-possibilities-again/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [It was best to believe in all possibilities...there were more mysteries in the world than a man could ever hope to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kent-krueger/it-was-best-to-believe-in-all-possibilities-there-were-more-mysteries/) [William Kent Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kent-krueger/) > [You've got to believe in the possibilities. You've got to believe that tomorrow can be better than today. And here's the big one. Believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/you-ve-got-to-believe-in-the-possibilities-you-ve-got-to-believe-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“If he expected an answer - and he wasn't certain that he didn't - he was disappointed. He told himself he had imagined the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kent-krueger/if-he-expected-an-answer-and-he-wasn-t-certain-that-he-didn-t-he-was/) [William Kent Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kent-krueger/) > [To believe only possibilities is not faith, but mere Philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/to-believe-only-possibilities-is-not-faith-but-mere-philosophy/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [If you embrace possibility thinking, your dreams will go from molehill to mountain size, and because you believe in possibilities, you put yourself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-embrace-possibility-thinking-your-dreams-will-go-from-molehill/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The possibilities in sci-fi are wonderful. The subject is bigger than everything we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-gretsch/the-possibilities-in-sci-fi-are-wonderful-the-subject-is-bigger-than/) [Joel Gretsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-gretsch/) > [One of my worries about America is the epidemic of depression we've been in. One of the possibilities about that is that the 'I'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/one-of-my-worries-about-america-is-the-epidemic-of-depression-we-ve/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [If you allow for the possibilities of something better, you move toward it instinctively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/if-you-allow-for-the-possibilities-of-something-better-you-move/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) ## More by Edward de Bono > [We still seek to solve conflicts with 'judgement' instead of designing the way forwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/we-still-seek-to-solve-conflicts-with-judgement-instead-of-designing/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Traditional thinking is all about "what is" Future thinking will also need to be about what can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/traditional-thinking-is-all-about-what-is-future-thinking-will-also/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [“In 80% of Socrates' dialogues there was no constructive outcome. He saw his role as simply pointing out what was "wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/in-80-of-socrates-dialogues-there-was-no-constructive-outcome-he-saw/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/the-music-that-really-turns-me-on-is-either-running-toward-god-or/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [People should realize we're jerks just like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/people-should-realize-we-re-jerks-just-like-them/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The effective thinker treats arrogance as the major sin of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/the-effective-thinker-treats-arrogance-as-the-major-sin-of-thinking/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [To be successful you have to be lucky, or a little mad, or very talented, or find yourself in a rapid growth field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/to-be-successful-you-have-to-be-lucky-or-a-little-mad-or-very/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/argument-is-meant-to-reveal-the-truth-not-to-create-it/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Complexity creates confusion, simplicity focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/complexity-creates-confusion-simplicity-focus/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The weapons of the positive revolution are not bullets and bombs but simple human perceptions. Bullets and bombs may offer physical power but eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/the-weapons-of-the-positive-revolution-are-not-bullets-and-bombs-but/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [“In real-life situations apparently logical lines of argument are often (not always) based on an inability to see alternative possibilities. In a similar way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/in-real-life-situations-apparently-logical-lines-of-argument-are/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/an-expert-is-someone-who-has-succeeded-in-making-decisions-and/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [It wouldn't cost too much to change the rules of trade so that poor countries can work their way out of poverty. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/it-wouldn-t-cost-too-much-to-change-the-rules-of-trade-so-that-poor/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [It has always surprised me how little attention philosophers have paid to humor, since it is a more significant process of mind than reason.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/it-has-always-surprised-me-how-little-attention-philosophers-have/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The need to be right all the time is the biggest bar to new ideas. It is better to have enough ideas for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/the-need-to-be-right-all-the-time-is-the-biggest-bar-to-new-ideas-it/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) [Explore all 161 Edward de Bono quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Possibilities play a much bigger role in thinking than most people believe. 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