--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Simple questions can be profound, and…" description: "\"Simple questions can be profound, and answering them requires us to make stark and honest - and sometimes painful - self-assessments.\" — Frances Hessel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/frances-hesselbein-8660_answer_simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-ans_1206600.png" --- # Simple questions can be profound, and answering them… ![“Simple questions can be profound, and answering them requires us to make stark and honest - and sometimes painful - self-assessments.” quote by Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/frances-hesselbein-8660_answer_simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-ans_1206600.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/frances-hesselbein-8660_answer_simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-ans_1206600.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/frances-hesselbein-8660_answer_simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-ans_1206600.png) > “Simple questions can be profound, and answering them requires us to make stark and honest - and sometimes painful - self-assessments.” [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑reflection reveals deep truths; probing simple questions can expose hidden assumptions and drive growth. **In simple terms:** Simple questions can uncover deep truths. Key Takeaway Embrace honest self‑assessment. Themes self‑growth reflection truth growth Mood introspective motivational Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - personal development - coaching - team building - career planning Key Concepts psychology philosophy leadership Questions to Reflect On - What simple question could you ask yourself today? - How do you handle uncomfortable truths? A Different Perspective Self‑assessment can be uncomfortable and may trigger resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [I've always avoided those sorts of self-assessments because if you give yourself a 10 out of 10 people think you're a big head, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/i-ve-always-avoided-those-sorts-of-self-assessments-because-if-you/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [“Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself. Being true to anyone else or anything else is not only impossible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/your-only-obligation-in-any-lifetime-is-to-be-true-to-yourself-being/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The simplest questions are the most profound. Where were you born? Where is your home? Where are you going? What are you doing? Think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-simplest-questions-are-the-most-profound-where-were-you-born/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“A mind not agitated by good questions cannot appreciate the significance of even the best answers. It is easy enough to learn the answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/a-mind-not-agitated-by-good-questions-cannot-appreciate-the/) [Mortimer J. Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/) > [Lie to me once, & I'll question everything you say after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lie-to-me-once-i-ll-question-everything-you-say-after-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Question with boldness, hold to the truth, and speak without fear,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/question-with-boldness-hold-to-the-truth-and-speak-without-fear/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/) [Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [ “\[T\]he question "What is everything?" has no meaning, even though it seems to be profound. \[...\] The point is, perhaps, that I am not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-question-what-is-everything-has-no-meaning-even-though-it-seems/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More by Frances Hesselbein > [Not long after I was married, World War II began. My husband John volunteered for the Navy and was sent to Pensacola for training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/not-long-after-i-was-married-world-war-ii-began-my-husband-john/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [... I try ... to use my own voice in a way that shows caring, respect, appreciation, and patience. Your voice, your language, help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-try-to-use-my-own-voice-in-a-way-that-shows-caring-respect/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [The leader builds dispersed and diverse leadership - distributing leadership to the outermost edges of the circle to unleash the power of shared responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-leader-builds-dispersed-and-diverse-leadership-distributing/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Leadership is not a basket of tricks or strategies or skills that you pull out. Leadership begins with the quality of the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/leadership-is-not-a-basket-of-tricks-or-strategies-or-skills-that-you/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [If we are to remain mission focused, as we must be if we are to be relevant in an uncertain age, the abandoning those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/if-we-are-to-remain-mission-focused-as-we-must-be-if-we-are-to-be/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [It takes courage for a leader to identify and confront self-imposed barriers, to put in place the personal strategies required to unleash the energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/it-takes-courage-for-a-leader-to-identify-and-confront-self-imposed/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [... I never look at my watch if I'm talking with someone. I think that's such an insulting gesture! It suggests you're trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-never-look-at-my-watch-if-i-m-talking-with-someone-i-think-that-s/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [There is just one reason that we are placed on this Earth. That reason is to love and be loved - in that order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/there-is-just-one-reason-that-we-are-placed-on-this-earth-that-reason/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Communication is not saying something; communication is being heard,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/communication-is-not-saying-something-communication-is-being-heard/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [The Millennial mindset is one on the pulse of changing technology. They multi-task and enjoy a challenge. They need projects that utilize their knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-millennial-mindset-is-one-on-the-pulse-of-changing-technology/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [People know that pursuing a mission without achieving results is dispiriting; achieving results without a mission is meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/people-know-that-pursuing-a-mission-without-achieving-results-is/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [No matter what business you're in, everyone in the organisation needs to know why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/no-matter-what-business-you-re-in-everyone-in-the-organisation-needs/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Key to the societal significance of tomorrow's leaders is the way they embrace the totality of leadership, not just including 'my organization' but reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/key-to-the-societal-significance-of-tomorrow-s-leaders-is-the-way/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [I feel passionately about how I express myself. Language is the greatest motivating force. You can phrase something positively and inspire people to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-feel-passionately-about-how-i-express-myself-language-is-the/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [The leader beyond the millennium will not be the leader who has learned the lessons of how to do it, with ledgers of 'hows'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-leader-beyond-the-millennium-will-not-be-the-leader-who-has/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) [Explore all 79 Frances Hesselbein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) Jon Ellis > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Simple questions can be profound, and answering them requires us to make stark and honest - and sometimes painful - self-assessments.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frances Hesselbein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-answering-them-requires-us-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-answering-them-requires-us-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/frances-hesselbein-8660_answer_simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-ans_1206600.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/frances-hesselbein-8660_answer_simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-ans_1206600.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/frances-hesselbein-8660_answer_simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-ans_1206600.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Simple questions can be profound, and answering them requires us to make stark and honest - and sometimes…” — Frances Hesselbein", "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": "Frances Hesselbein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Simple questions can be profound, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-answering-them-requires-us-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/simple-questions-can-be-profound-and-answering-them-requires-us-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 } } ] } ```