--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The point is that, whenever we propose a…" description: "\"“The point is that, whenever we propose a solution to a problem, we ought to try as hard as we can to overthrow our solution, rather than defend it. Fe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/karl-popper-2167_solution-to-a-proble_the-point-is-that-whenever-we-propose-a_2204097.jpg" --- # The point is that, whenever we propose a solution to a… ![“The point is that, whenever we propose a solution to a problem, we ought to try as hard as we can to overthrow our solution, rather than defend it. Few of us, unfortunately, practice this precept; but other people, fortunately, will supply the criticism for us if we fail to supply it ourselves.” quote by Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/karl-popper-2167_solution-to-a-proble_the-point-is-that-whenever-we-propose-a_2204097.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/karl-popper-2167_solution-to-a-proble_the-point-is-that-whenever-we-propose-a_2204097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/karl-popper-2167_solution-to-a-proble_the-point-is-that-whenever-we-propose-a_2204097.jpg) > ““The point is that, whenever we propose a solution to a problem, we ought to try as hard as we can to overthrow our solution, rather than defend it. Few of us, unfortunately, practice this precept; but other people, fortunately, will supply the criticism for us if we fail to supply it ourselves.”” [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We should constantly challenge our own ideas rather than defend them, inviting external criticism to improve them. **In simple terms:** Criticize your own solutions to improve them. Key Takeaway Seek critique, not just approval. Themes critical thinking self‑skepticism intellectual humility Mood analytical inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - research projects - policy design - product development - team brainstorming Key Concepts philosophy of science methodology open‑mindedness Questions to Reflect On - Who can you invite to critique your work? - How do you handle criticism? A Different Perspective Self‑critique can be uncomfortable and may stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Overthrow Solution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overthrow-solution-302250/) [Point Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-propose-4853565/) [Problem Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-ought-1237140/) [Propose Solution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propose-solution-302253/) [Solution Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solution-defend-302251/) [Solution to a problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solution-to-a-problem/) ## Related quotes > [Whenever we propose a solution to a problem, we ought to try as hard as we can to overthrow our solution, rather than defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/whenever-we-propose-a-solution-to-a-problem-we-ought-to-try-as-hard/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“Never, ever propose a solution to a case until you’ve isolated and defined the problem. Then and only then can you propose a solution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cheng/never-ever-propose-a-solution-to-a-case-until-you-ve-isolated-and/) [Victor Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cheng/) > [When you solve a problem, you ought to thank God and go on to the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-rusk/when-you-solve-a-problem-you-ought-to-thank-god-and-go-on-to-the-next/) [Dean Rusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-rusk/) > [“Issues related to diversity such as racial injustice are everyone’s problem, and thus everyone ought to be part of the solution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-a-longman/issues-related-to-diversity-such-as-racial-injustice-are-everyone-s/) [Karen A Longman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-a-longman/) > [An idea is more powerful than an opinion. Without an idea the human race would cease to exist. Because an idea becomes the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/an-idea-is-more-powerful-than-an-opinion-without-an-idea-the-human/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“Killing is a solution to a problem. Murder is something you do because you want to. You divorce your wife because you don’t love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mayne/killing-is-a-solution-to-a-problem-murder-is-something-you-do-because/) [Andrew Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mayne/) > [When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/when-i-m-working-on-a-problem-i-never-think-about-beauty-i-think-only/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Design may be the logical solution to a problem, but it's never a formula. Design grows out of clarity of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-sheets/design-may-be-the-logical-solution-to-a-problem-but-it-s-never-a/) [Millard Sheets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-sheets/) > [If you're not stubborn, you'll give up on experiments too soon. And if you're not flexible, you'll pound your head against the wall and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/if-you-re-not-stubborn-you-ll-give-up-on-experiments-too-soon-and-if/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [Bill Clinton was in the line of great progressive presidents who faced the realities in his own time and applied innovative solutions to problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-blumenthal/bill-clinton-was-in-the-line-of-great-progressive-presidents-who/) [Sidney Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-blumenthal/) > [Why? What is so wonderful about mass murder that nobody in the history of the world has ever fond any smarter solution to problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/why-what-is-so-wonderful-about-mass-murder-that-nobody-in-the-history/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Whatever creativity is, it is in part a solution to a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/whatever-creativity-is-it-is-in-part-a-solution-to-a-problem/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Design is a solution to a problem. Art is a question to a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maeda/design-is-a-solution-to-a-problem-art-is-a-question-to-a-problem/) [John Maeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maeda/) > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More by Karl Popper > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“As indicated by our example, methodological nominalism is nowadays fairly generally accepted in the natural sciences. The problems of the social sciences, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/as-indicated-by-our-example-methodological-nominalism-is-nowadays/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Science is perhaps the only human activity in which errors are systematically criticized and, in time, corrected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-perhaps-the-only-human-activity-in-which-errors-are/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [A system is empirical or scientific only if it is capable of being tested by experience. These considerations suggest that not the verifiability but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/a-system-is-empirical-or-scientific-only-if-it-is-capable-of-being/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Bold ideas, unjustified anticipations, and speculative thought, are our only means for interpreting nature: our only organon, our only instrument, for grasping her. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/bold-ideas-unjustified-anticipations-and-speculative-thought-are-our/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [ \[The aim of science is\] to explain what so far has taken to be an explicans, such as a law of nature. The task… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-aim-of-science-is-to-explain-what-so-far-has-taken-to-be-an/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [There can be no ultimate statements science: there can be no statements in science which can not be tested, and therefore none which cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/there-can-be-no-ultimate-statements-science-there-can-be-no/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Evolution is not a fact. Evolution doesn't even qualify as a theory or as a hypothesis. It is a metaphysical research program, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/evolution-is-not-a-fact-evolution-doesn-t-even-qualify-as-a-theory-or/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [I am opposed to looking upon logic as a kind of game. ... One might think that it is a matter of choice or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/i-am-opposed-to-looking-upon-logic-as-a-kind-of-game-one-might-think/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-history-of-science-like-the-history-of-all-human-ideas-is-a/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Good tests kill flawed theories; we remain alive to guess again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/good-tests-kill-flawed-theories-we-remain-alive-to-guess-again/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [There is no pure, disinterested, theory-free observation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/there-is-no-pure-disinterested-theory-free-observation/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [We have the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should tolerate even them whenever we can do so without running a great risk;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/we-have-the-right-not-to-tolerate-the-intolerant-we-should-tolerate/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Better our hypotheses die for our errors than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/better-our-hypotheses-die-for-our-errors-than-ourselves/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“Every time we proceed to explain some conjectural law or theory by a new conjectural theory of a higher degree of universality, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/every-time-we-proceed-to-explain-some-conjectural-law-or-theory-by-a/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) [Explore all 181 Karl Popper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) ## More Solution to a problem quotes > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Design is a solution to a problem. Art is a question to a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maeda/design-is-a-solution-to-a-problem-art-is-a-question-to-a-problem/) [John Maeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maeda/) > [Whatever creativity is, it is in part a solution to a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/whatever-creativity-is-it-is-in-part-a-solution-to-a-problem/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Why? What is so wonderful about mass murder that nobody in the history of the world has ever fond any smarter solution to problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/why-what-is-so-wonderful-about-mass-murder-that-nobody-in-the-history/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Bill Clinton was in the line of great progressive presidents who faced the realities in his own time and applied innovative solutions to problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-blumenthal/bill-clinton-was-in-the-line-of-great-progressive-presidents-who/) [Sidney Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-blumenthal/) > [If you're not stubborn, you'll give up on experiments too soon. And if you're not flexible, you'll pound your head against the wall and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/if-you-re-not-stubborn-you-ll-give-up-on-experiments-too-soon-and-if/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [Design may be the logical solution to a problem, but it's never a formula. Design grows out of clarity of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-sheets/design-may-be-the-logical-solution-to-a-problem-but-it-s-never-a/) [Millard Sheets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-sheets/) > [When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/when-i-m-working-on-a-problem-i-never-think-about-beauty-i-think-only/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [“Killing is a solution to a problem. Murder is something you do because you want to. You divorce your wife because you don’t love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mayne/killing-is-a-solution-to-a-problem-murder-is-something-you-do-because/) [Andrew Mayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mayne/) > [An idea is more powerful than an opinion. Without an idea the human race would cease to exist. Because an idea becomes the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/an-idea-is-more-powerful-than-an-opinion-without-an-idea-the-human/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“As one learns more and more about the networks of protocological control, it becomes almost second nature to project protocol into every physical system:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-galloway/as-one-learns-more-and-more-about-the-networks-of-protocological/) [Alexander Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-galloway/) > [It is clear that the photo ID requirement is not a solution to a problem but is instead a political ploy to prevent traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-veasey/it-is-clear-that-the-photo-id-requirement-is-not-a-solution-to-a/) [Marc Veasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-veasey/) > [Many things made me become a vegetarian, among them the higher food yield as a solution to world hunger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/many-things-made-me-become-a-vegetarian-among-them-the-higher-food/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [“he presented me with a mathematical conundrum,” he said. “It’s a famous one, the P = NP problem. Basically, it asks whether it’s more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keigo-higashino/he-presented-me-with-a-mathematical-conundrum-he-said-it-s-a-famous/) [Keigo Higashino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keigo-higashino/) [Browse all 125 Solution to a problem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solution-to-a-problem/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The point is that, whenever we propose a solution to a problem, we ought to try as hard as we can to overthrow our solution, rather than defend it. 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