--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people are aware of another sort of…" description: "\"Some people are aware of another sort of thinking which... leads to those simple ideas that are obvious only after they have been thought of... the ter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/edward-de-bono-2489_conventional_some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of_2532222.png" --- # Some people are aware of another sort of thinking which… ![“Some people are aware of another sort of thinking which... leads to those simple ideas that are obvious only after they have been thought of... the term 'lateral thinking' has been coined to describe this orther sort of thinking; 'vertical thinking' is used to denote the conventional logical…” quote by Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/edward-de-bono-2489_conventional_some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of_2532222.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/edward-de-bono-2489_conventional_some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of_2532222.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/edward-de-bono-2489_conventional_some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of_2532222.png) > “Some people are aware of another sort of thinking which... leads to those simple ideas that are obvious only after they have been thought of... the term 'lateral thinking' has been coined to describe this orther sort of thinking; 'vertical thinking' is used to denote the conventional logical process.” [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. Lateral thinking encourages unconventional, creative approaches distinct from standard logical analysis. **In simple terms:** Think differently to solve problems. Key Takeaway Embrace unconventional ideas. Themes creativity problem solving innovation Mood curious inspired Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - business strategy - product design - education - personal decision making Key Concepts lateral thinking vertical thinking cognitive flexibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply lateral thinking in daily tasks? - When is vertical thinking more appropriate? A Different Perspective May overlook rigorous analysis needed for technical accuracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Lateral thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lateral-thinking/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Simple ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-ideas/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [With vertical thinking one may look for different approaches until one finds a promising one. With lateral thinking one goes on generating as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/with-vertical-thinking-one-may-look-for-different-approaches-until/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Lateral thinking... is the process of using information to bring about creativity and insight restructuring. Lateral thinking can be learned, practised and used. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/lateral-thinking-is-the-process-of-using-information-to-bring-about/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Creativity and lateral thinking have exactly the same basis as humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/creativity-and-lateral-thinking-have-exactly-the-same-basis-as-humour/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Intelligence is something we are born with. Thinking is a skill that must be learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/intelligence-is-something-we-are-born-with-thinking-is-a-skill-that/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Lateral thinking is concerned not with playing with the existing pieces but with seeking to change those very pieces. It is concerned with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/lateral-thinking-is-concerned-not-with-playing-with-the-existing/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/there-is-no-doubt-that-creativity-is-the-most-important-human/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [A successful work of art is not one which resolves contradictions in a spurious harmony, but one which expresses the idea of harmony negatively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/a-successful-work-of-art-is-not-one-which-resolves-contradictions-in/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [Natural resources have dropped out of the competitive equation. In fact, a lack of natural resources may even be an advantage. Because the industries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-thurow/natural-resources-have-dropped-out-of-the-competitive-equation-in/) [Lester Thurow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-thurow/) > [To ask the hard question is simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/to-ask-the-hard-question-is-simple/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Being able to ‘think out of the box’ presupposes you were able to think in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lutz/being-able-to-think-out-of-the-box-presupposes-you-were-able-to-think/) [Bob Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lutz/) > [ Stupid. Stupid. Foaly, we are both imbeciles. I don't expect lateral thinking from the LEP, but from you..." ... "What is it?" \[Holly\] asked,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/stupid-stupid-foaly-we-are-both-imbeciles-i-don-t-expect-lateral/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [We would like to believe that we are not in the business of surviving but in being good, and we do not like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-rowe/we-would-like-to-believe-that-we-are-not-in-the-business-of-surviving/) [Dorothy Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-rowe/) > [Don't confuse being stimulating with being blunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/don-t-confuse-being-stimulating-with-being-blunt/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-at-first-the-idea-is-not-absurd-then-there-is-no-hope-for-it/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Held in the palms of thousands of disgruntled people over the centuries have been ideas worth millions - if they only had taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hayes/held-in-the-palms-of-thousands-of-disgruntled-people-over-the/) Robert M. Hayes ## 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 Conventional quotes > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [A language possesses utility only insofar as it can construct conventional boundaries. A language of no boundaries is no language at all, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/a-language-possesses-utility-only-insofar-as-it-can-construct/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [Conventional agriculture has never succeeded in feeding the world, and it's never produced anything good to eat. For the future, we need to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barber/conventional-agriculture-has-never-succeeded-in-feeding-the-world-and/) [Dan Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barber/) > [Contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, Is this really true? It speaks up when the politically correct answer or the conventional wisdom doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/contrarian-thinking-at-its-best-simply-asks-is-this-really-true-it/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [Because investors are not usually penalized for adhering to conventional practices, doing so is the less professionally risky strategy, even though it virtually guarantees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/because-investors-are-not-usually-penalized-for-adhering-to/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [My father was in real estate, banking, and land management. As family life, it was very conventional, happy, and comfortable. We weren't wealthy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/my-father-was-in-real-estate-banking-and-land-management-as-family/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [Our Christian faith is actually very subversive of the conventional notion of success - the notion that what invests a person with worth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-christian-faith-is-actually-very-subversive-of-the-conventional/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I think you will learn to be natural with me, as I find it impossible to be conventional with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-think-you-will-learn-to-be-natural-with-me-as-i-find-it-impossible/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Some days, I think maybe we should try and be a little more conventional, but every time I try, I fail, so I'm learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seinabo-sey/some-days-i-think-maybe-we-should-try-and-be-a-little-more/) [Seinabo Sey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seinabo-sey/) > [The vision of extraordinary achievement is,by definition, a few steps beyond consensus and conventional logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-belsky/the-vision-of-extraordinary-achievement-is-by-definition-a-few-steps/) [Scott Belsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-belsky/) > [“Can you make me remember the conventional way?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-ellen-malpas/can-you-make-me-remember-the-conventional-way/) [Jodi Ellen Malpas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-ellen-malpas/) > [Nobody can live in society without conventions. The reason why sensible people are as conventional as they can bear to be is that conventionality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/nobody-can-live-in-society-without-conventions-the-reason-why/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Currency speculation-over a trillion dollars a day-is a tax-free activity. The notion of a tax on "day trades" or other speculative swaps was revived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/currency-speculation-over-a-trillion-dollars-a-day-is-a-tax-free/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Fear is a problem with film music and films; people want to be conventional, and there's more commercialism today. If you are not daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/fear-is-a-problem-with-film-music-and-films-people-want-to-be/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) Browse all 742 Conventional quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people are aware of another sort of thinking which... leads to those simple ideas that are obvious only after they have been thought of... the term 'lateral thinking' has been coined to describe this orther sort of thinking; 'vertical thinking' is used to denote the conventional logical process.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward de Bono" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of-thinking-which-leads-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conventional" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of-thinking-which-leads-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/edward-de-bono-2489_conventional_some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of_2532222.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/edward-de-bono-2489_conventional_some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of_2532222.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/edward-de-bono-2489_conventional_some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of_2532222.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some people are aware of another sort of thinking which... leads to those simple ideas that are obvious only…” — Edward de Bono", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward de Bono", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some people are aware of another...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of-thinking-which-leads-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/some-people-are-aware-of-another-sort-of-thinking-which-leads-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```