Conflict Quote by John Dewey
“Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheeplike passivity, and sets us at noting and contriving.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Experience and Education, John Dewey, 1938
Conflict provokes critical thinking, prompting observation, memory, and creative invention, breaking passive complacency.
In simple terms: Conflict sparks thought and invention.
Key Takeaway
Embrace conflict to stimulate learning.
Themes
critical thinking
creativity
awakening
Mood
stimulating
challenging
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- classroom discussion
- team brainstorming
- personal growth
- social activism
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
education
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you channel conflict productively?
- When does conflict become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Conflict can also cause stress and division if unmanaged.
![“The system [of thought] doesn't stay with the difficult problem that produces unpleasant feelings. It's conditioned somehow to move as fast as it can toward more pleasant feelings, without actually facing the thing that's making the unpleasant feeling.” quote by David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e2a/david-bohm-4805_difficult_the-system-of-thought-doesn-t-stay-with_8291.jpg)
