--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If everyone is thinking alike, then…" description: "\"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.\" — George S. Patton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/george-s-patton-1770_thinking_if-everyone-is-thinking-alike-then-someb_3134797.jpg" --- # If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking. ![“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.” quote by George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/george-s-patton-1770_thinking_if-everyone-is-thinking-alike-then-someb_3134797.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/george-s-patton-1770_thinking_if-everyone-is-thinking-alike-then-someb_3134797.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/george-s-patton-1770_thinking_if-everyone-is-thinking-alike-then-someb_3134797.jpg) > “If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.” [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conformity stifles original thought; diversity of perspective is essential for innovation. **In simple terms:** Thinking alike kills creativity. Key Takeaway Encourage dissent and varied viewpoints. Themes creativity diversity critical thinking Mood thoughtful challenging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - brainstorming sessions - policy making - education curricula - corporate culture Key Concepts conformity groupthink innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you foster dissent in your group? - What benefits arise from differing opinions? A Different Perspective Uniform thinking can overlook hidden flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alike Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alike-somebody-5216084/) [Isn Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isn-thinking-1723110/) [Somebody Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-isn-1684982/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking alike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-alike/) ## Related quotes > [If everybody's thinking alike, somebody isn't thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/if-everybody-s-thinking-alike-somebody-isn-t-thinking/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/if-everybody-is-thinking-alike-then-somebody-isn-t-thinking/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [“If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george/if-everyone-is-thinking-alike-someone-isn-t-thinking/) [George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george/) > [When everyone thinks alike, there isn't much thinking taking place. Get out when you can, not when you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lauriston-livermore/when-everyone-thinks-alike-there-isn-t-much-thinking-taking-place-get/) [Jesse Lauriston Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lauriston-livermore/) > [Knowing somebody isn't part of your life anymore is hard... but the harder part is coming to realize that there's no one who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cember-glynnell/knowing-somebody-isn-t-part-of-your-life-anymore-is-hard-but-the/) [Cember Glynnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cember-glynnell/) > [“Anyone who's sold herself for somebody else once isn't going to do it again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/anyone-who-s-sold-herself-for-somebody-else-once-isn-t-going-to-do-it/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [The important thing is that when somebody isn't in top form, there is another ready to replace him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-bonucci/the-important-thing-is-that-when-somebody-isn-t-in-top-form-there-is/) [Leonardo Bonucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-bonucci/) > [Before sex, a man isn't thinking clearly and a woman is thinking clearly. After sex, it reverses. The man is thinking clearly and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/before-sex-a-man-isn-t-thinking-clearly-and-a-woman-is-thinking/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [I am somebody who isn't going to give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-agarwal/i-am-somebody-who-isn-t-going-to-give-up/) [Mayank Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-agarwal/) > [“These days, people aren't going to fill stadiums to get preached at by somebody who isn't beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/these-days-people-aren-t-going-to-fill-stadiums-to-get-preached-at-by/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“If you are thinking it cannot be, it isn't, If you are thinking it will be, it already is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micky-livingston/if-you-are-thinking-it-cannot-be-it-isn-t-if-you-are-thinking-it-will/) [Micky Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micky-livingston/) > [“If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking." Benjamin Franklin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-gautier/if-everyone-is-thinking-alike-then-no-one-is-thinking-benjamin/) [Susannah Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-gautier/) > [Those who talk about individuality the most are the ones who most object to deviation, and in a few years it may be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/those-who-talk-about-individuality-the-most-are-the-ones-who-most/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [“The surest way to corrupt a youth? Teach him to value thinking alike more than thinking differently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche-kauffman/the-surest-way-to-corrupt-a-youth-teach-him-to-value-thinking-alike/) [Friedrich Nietzsche - Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche-kauffman/) > [Where all pretend to be thinking alike, it's likely that no one is thinking at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/where-all-pretend-to-be-thinking-alike-it-s-likely-that-no-one-is/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## More by George S. Patton > [Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/wars-may-be-fought-with-weapons-but-they-are-won-by-men-it-is-the/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/america-loves-a-winner-and-will-not-tolerate-a-loser-this-is-why/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [We must guard against becoming so engrossed in the specific nature of the roots and bark of the trees of knowledge as to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/we-must-guard-against-becoming-so-engrossed-in-the-specific-nature-of/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/successful-generals-make-plans-to-fit-circumstances-but-do-not-try-to/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/there-is-a-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-and-there-is-a-time-to/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/watch-what-people-are-cynical-about-and-one-can-often-discover-what/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [In the space of two days I had evolved two plans, wholly distinct, both of which were equally feasible. The point I am trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/in-the-space-of-two-days-i-had-evolved-two-plans-wholly-distinct-both/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [The leader must be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-leader-must-be-an-actor/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Most battles are won before they are ever fought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/most-battles-are-won-before-they-are-ever-fought/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/discipline-must-be-a-habit-so-ingrained-that-it-is-stronger-than-the/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Battle... brings out all that is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/battle-brings-out-all-that-is-best/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/sure-we-want-to-go-home-we-want-this-war-over-with-the-quickest-way/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-is-before-you-make-an/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/a-man-must-know-his-destiny-if-he-does-not-recognize-it-then-he-is/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/urge-all-of-your-men-to-pray-not-alone-in-church-but-everywhere-pray/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) [Explore all 208 George S. Patton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) ## More Thinking quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. 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If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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