--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to think new thoughts that…" description: "\"If you want to think new thoughts that are different, then do what creative people do - get the problem reasonably clear and then refuse to look at any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/richard-hamming-14135_answers_if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-a_2833934.jpg" --- # If you want to think new thoughts that are different, then… ![“If you want to think new thoughts that are different, then do what creative people do - get the problem reasonably clear and then refuse to look at any answers until you've thought the problem through carefully how you would do it, how you could slightly change the problem to be the correct one.” quote by Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/richard-hamming-14135_answers_if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-a_2833934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/richard-hamming-14135_answers_if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-a_2833934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/richard-hamming-14135_answers_if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-a_2833934.jpg) > “If you want to think new thoughts that are different, then do what creative people do - get the problem reasonably clear and then refuse to look at any answers until you've thought the problem through carefully how you would do it, how you could slightly change the problem to be the correct one.” [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The advice encourages clear problem definition and withholding premature solutions to foster creative, thoughtful problem solving. **In simple terms:** Define problems clearly and avoid early answers to think creatively. Key Takeaway Pause before solving to explore deeper solutions. Themes creativity problem solving thinking Mood inquisitive pragmatic Type creative advice methodology When to use this quote - research - innovation - design thinking Key Concepts clarity iteration Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance thoroughness with speed? - When is it okay to jump to solutions? A Different Perspective May delay decision‑making in urgent contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Carefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carefully/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Correct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correct/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-people/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Reasonably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasonably/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Slightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slightly/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-new/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-problem-303886/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Thoughts Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-different-427711/) [Through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/through/) [Until](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/until/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-think/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Look at the weaknesses of others with compassion, not accusation. It's not what they're not doing or should be doing that's the issue. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/look-at-the-weaknesses-of-others-with-compassion-not-accusation-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When anybody laughs, he has no mind, no thought, no problem, no suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/when-anybody-laughs-he-has-no-mind-no-thought-no-problem-no-suffering/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [Every time you think the problem is 'out there,' that very thought is the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/every-time-you-think-the-problem-is-out-there-that-very-thought-is/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I love the idea of leaving some of the original abstract thought in, because the problem is that when you pick up a pen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-hansard/i-love-the-idea-of-leaving-some-of-the-original-abstract-thought-in/) [Glen Hansard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-hansard/) > [“Anytime we think the problem is “out there,” that thought is the problem. We empower what’s out there to control us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/anytime-we-think-the-problem-is-out-there-that-thought-is-the-problem-2/) [Stephen R. 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We empower whats out there to control us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anytime-we-think-the-problem-is-out-there-that-thought-is-the-problem/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The key is to do something else until your brain is consciously free of any thought of the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-oakley/the-key-is-to-do-something-else-until-your-brain-is-consciously-free/) [Barbara Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-oakley/) > [“The moment you think the problem is outside of you, that thought is the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-olpin/the-moment-you-think-the-problem-is-outside-of-you-that-thought-is/) [Michael Olpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-olpin/) > [Everything has been thought of before, but the problem is to think of it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/everything-has-been-thought-of-before-but-the-problem-is-to-think-of/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We wanna believe that we're different than the average guy that's working 9-to-5, that our thoughts are different than his. Our inspirations and desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/we-wanna-believe-that-we-re-different-than-the-average-guy-that-s/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [The change is radical it gives us new natures, it makes us love what we hated and hate what we loved, it sets us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-change-is-radical-it-gives-us-new-natures-it-makes-us-love-what/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [In the present time you don't really establish what you're going through, but after time it's declared something. Right now there could be some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hedlund/in-the-present-time-you-don-t-really-establish-what-you-re-going/) [Garrett Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hedlund/) ## More by Richard Hamming > [Science is composed of laws which were originally based on a small, carefully selected set of observations, often not very accurately measured originally; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/science-is-composed-of-laws-which-were-originally-based-on-a-small/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Typing is no substitute for thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/typing-is-no-substitute-for-thinking/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Mathematics is an interesting intellectual sport but it should not be allowed to stand in the way of obtaining sensible information about physical processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/mathematics-is-an-interesting-intellectual-sport-but-it-should-not-be/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Given two people with exactly the same ability, the one person who manages day in and day out to get in one more hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/given-two-people-with-exactly-the-same-ability-the-one-person-who/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [“It is not easy to become an educated person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/it-is-not-easy-to-become-an-educated-person/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/the-purpose-of-computing-is-insight-not-numbers/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Mathematicians stand on each others' shoulders and computer scientists stand on each others' toes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/mathematicians-stand-on-each-others-shoulders-and-computer-scientists/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [What are the important problems of your field?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/what-are-the-important-problems-of-your-field/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [In mathematics we do not appeal to authority, but rather you are responsible for what you believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/in-mathematics-we-do-not-appeal-to-authority-but-rather-you-are/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Beware of finding what you're looking for. A favorite aphorism he often used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/beware-of-finding-what-you-re-looking-for-a-favorite-aphorism-he/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Mathematics is not merely an idle art form, it is an essential part of our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/mathematics-is-not-merely-an-idle-art-form-it-is-an-essential-part-of/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [Perhaps the central problem we face in all of computer science is how we are to get to the situation where we build on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/perhaps-the-central-problem-we-face-in-all-of-computer-science-is-how/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [One of the characteristics of successful scientists is having courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/one-of-the-characteristics-of-successful-scientists-is-having-courage/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [There are wavelengths that people cannot see, there are sounds that people cannot hear, and maybe computers have thoughts that people cannot think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/there-are-wavelengths-that-people-cannot-see-there-are-sounds-that/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [“The more you know, the more you learn; the more you learn, the more you can do; the more you can do, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/the-more-you-know-the-more-you-learn-the-more-you-learn-the-more-you/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) [Explore all 47 Richard Hamming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [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/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [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/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want to think new thoughts that are different, then do what creative people do - get the problem reasonably clear and then refuse to look at any answers until you've thought the problem through carefully how you would do it, how you could slightly change the problem to be the correct one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Hamming" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-are-different-then-do-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-are-different-then-do-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/richard-hamming-14135_answers_if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-a_2833934.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/richard-hamming-14135_answers_if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-a_2833934.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/richard-hamming-14135_answers_if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-a_2833934.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want to think new thoughts that are different, then do what creative people do - get the problem…” — Richard Hamming", "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": "Richard Hamming", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you want to think new...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-are-different-then-do-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/if-you-want-to-think-new-thoughts-that-are-different-then-do-what/#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 } } ] } ```