--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unfortunately, our existing traditional…" description: "\"Unfortunately, our existing traditional thinking habits insist that you must attack something and show it to be bad before you can suggest a change. It..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/edward-de-bono-2489_acknowledge_unfortunately-our-existing-traditional-t_1969777.png" --- # Unfortunately, our existing traditional thinking habits… ![“Unfortunately, our existing traditional thinking habits insist that you must attack something and show it to be bad before you can suggest a change. It is more difficult to acknowledge that something is excellent and then to ask for change because although it is excellent, it is not enough.” quote by Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/edward-de-bono-2489_acknowledge_unfortunately-our-existing-traditional-t_1969777.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/edward-de-bono-2489_acknowledge_unfortunately-our-existing-traditional-t_1969777.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/edward-de-bono-2489_acknowledge_unfortunately-our-existing-traditional-t_1969777.png) > “Unfortunately, our existing traditional thinking habits insist that you must attack something and show it to be bad before you can suggest a change. It is more difficult to acknowledge that something is excellent and then to ask for change because although it is excellent, it is not enough.” [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. People tend to criticize before proposing improvements, making it harder to change something that’s already good because excellence feels insufficient. **In simple terms:** Criticism precedes change; excellence feels lacking. Key Takeaway Recognize strengths before suggesting changes. Themes criticism change excellence mindset Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - product reviews - policy updates - personal growth Key Concepts cognitive bias decision making innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can you frame praise as a basis for improvement? - What barriers prevent acknowledging excellence? A Different Perspective Excellent things may still need refinement, not just praise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-difficult-701852/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Habits Insist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits-insist-3301213/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Suggest Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggest-change-3301212/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-habits-1137881/) [Traditional Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional-thinking-784471/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Our existing thinking habits are excellent, just as the rear wheels of a motor car are excellent, but not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/our-existing-thinking-habits-are-excellent-just-as-the-rear-wheels-of/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Complacency with our traditional judgement based thinking methods is not enough. Our existing thinking habits are excellent just as the rear wheel of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/complacency-with-our-traditional-judgement-based-thinking-methods-is/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Once we rid ourselves of traditional thinking we can get on with creating the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-bertrand/once-we-rid-ourselves-of-traditional-thinking-we-can-get-on-with/) [Jimmy Bertrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-bertrand/) > [The traditional thinking has been that the stock market likes certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/the-traditional-thinking-has-been-that-the-stock-market-likes/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [The tools we use have a profound and devious influence on our thinking habits, and therefore on our thinking abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-tools-we-use-have-a-profound-and-devious-influence-on-our/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [“It is not only the violin that shapes the violinist, we are all shaped by the tools we train ourselves to use, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-w-dijkstra/it-is-not-only-the-violin-that-shapes-the-violinist-we-are-all-shaped/) [Edsger W. Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-w-dijkstra/) > [Although most of us don't spend time thinking about our thoughts, increasing your awareness of your thinking habits proves useful in building resilience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/although-most-of-us-don-t-spend-time-thinking-about-our-thoughts/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Even people who aren’t geniuses can outthink the rest of mankind if they develop certain thinking habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/even-people-who-aren-t-geniuses-can-outthink-the-rest-of-mankind-if/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [I think that there are excellent and poor thinking habits just as there are healthy and unhealthy eating habits; and when a man really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/i-think-that-there-are-excellent-and-poor-thinking-habits-just-as/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“This includes drugs, alcohol, environmental toxins, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, depression, negative thinking patterns, excessive stress, and a lack of exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-g-amen/this-includes-drugs-alcohol-environmental-toxins-obesity-hypertension/) [Daniel G. Amen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-g-amen/) > [We are all shaped by the tools we use, in particular: the formalisms we use shape our thinking habits, for better or for worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/we-are-all-shaped-by-the-tools-we-use-in-particular-the-formalisms-we/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [As an athlete, I'm always thinking about habits and goals and how to achieve the things I want to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/as-an-athlete-i-m-always-thinking-about-habits-and-goals-and-how-to/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [A programming language is a tool that has profound influence on our thinking habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/a-programming-language-is-a-tool-that-has-profound-influence-on-our/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) ## 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 Acknowledge quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-to-ease-our-fear-and-be-truly-happy-is-to-acknowledge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/on-thanksgiving-day-we-acknowledge-our-dependence/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [You can't go into games with any fear. You can acknowledge a good team but you can't go in worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/you-can-t-go-into-games-with-any-fear-you-can-acknowledge-a-good-team/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [We must acknowledge that bearing and raising children is not some pesky, peripheral activity that we engage in, but the whole point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-maushart/we-must-acknowledge-that-bearing-and-raising-children-is-not-some/) [Susan Maushart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-maushart/) > [When we pray, we must begin by conceiving God in full and vigorous images, but we must go on to acknowledge the inadequacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-farrer/when-we-pray-we-must-begin-by-conceiving-god-in-full-and-vigorous/) [Austin Farrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-farrer/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. We could almost say that being willing to be a fool is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/acknowledging-foolishness-is-a-very-powerful-and-important-experience/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Actually, when I look at my old notebooks, I think I have been a bit self-indulgent and have given myself too much time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/actually-when-i-look-at-my-old-notebooks-i-think-i-have-been-a-bit/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I would like, then, to end by putting in a good word for the non-industrious poor. At least they aren’t hurting anyone. Insofar as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/i-would-like-then-to-end-by-putting-in-a-good-word-for-the-non/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [No one seriously doubts Socrates' maxim: The unexamined life isn't worth living. Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/no-one-seriously-doubts-socrates-maxim-the-unexamined-life-isn-t/) [Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/) > [As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. To make oneself more numb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/as-objects-of-contemplation-images-of-the-atrocious-can-answer-to/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [It is in the measure that special methods acknowledge their common core in transcendental method, that norms common to all the sciences will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/it-is-in-the-measure-that-special-methods-acknowledge-their-common/) [Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/) > [I can hear of the brilliant accomplishments of any of my sex with pleasure and rejoice in that liberality of sentiment which acknowledges them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/i-can-hear-of-the-brilliant-accomplishments-of-any-of-my-sex-with/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) [Browse all 1,475 Acknowledge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Unfortunately, our existing traditional thinking habits insist that you must attack something and show it to be bad before you can suggest a change. 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