Knowledge Quote by Guy Claxton
““As we have seen, the modern mind has a distorted image of itself that leads it to neglect some of its own most valuable learning capacities. We now know that the brain is built to linger as well as to rush, and that slow knowing sometimes leads to better answers. We know that knowledge makes itself known through sensations, images, feelings and inklings, as well as through clear, conscious thoughts. Experiments tell us that just interacting with complex situations without trying to figure them out can deliver a quality of understanding that defies reason and articulation. Other studies have shown that confusion may be a vital precursor to the discovery of a good idea. To be able to meet the uncertain challenges of the contemporary world, we need to heed the message of this research, and to expand our repertoire of ways of learning and knowing to reclaim the full gamut of cognitive possibilities.””
About This Quote
The quote argues that modern thinking overemphasizes speed, neglecting slower, sensory‑rich ways of learning that foster deeper insight and creativity. It urges embracing confusion and varied cognition to meet complex challenges.
In simple terms: Fast thinking limits learning; slower, sensory experiences deepen understanding.
Key Takeaway
Embrace slower, varied learning to unlock insight.
Themes
cognition
learning
creativity
uncertainty
mindfulness
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education reform
- problem solving
- creative work
- personal growth
Key Concepts
slow thinking
embodied cognition
confusion as catalyst
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you incorporate slower, sensory learning into daily tasks?
- What role does confusion play in your creative process?
A Different Perspective
Speed‑focused approaches can miss nuanced insights.
![“These technical impediments [... things like ignorance, impatience, unexamined assumptions, habit ...] get in the way of what would otherwise occur or develop quite naturally, such as wakefulness, awareness, inspiration and infallible intuition. Things that should be our birth right. This…” quote by H.M. Forester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d1/h-m-forester-17957_habits_these-technical-impediments-things-like_832691.jpg)
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
