And off Quote by Roger von Oech
“The hallmark of creative people is their mental flexibility... Sometimes they are open and probing, at others they're playful and off-the-wall. At still other times, they're critical and faultfinding. And finally they're doggedly persistent in striving to reach their goals.”
About This Quote
Source Book: A Whack on the Side of the Head, 1990
Creative people shift mental modes—exploring, playing, critiquing, and persisting—to solve problems and achieve goals.
In simple terms: Creativity needs flexible thinking and persistence.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate mental flexibility and persistence.
Themes
creativity
flexibility
playfulness
critical thinking
persistence
Mood
enerusiastic
determined
playful
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- brainstorming sessions
- design thinking workshops
- problem solving
- artistic projects
Key Concepts
Mental flexibility
creative process
goal pursuit
Questions to Reflect On
- Which mental mode do you default to?
- How can you balance playfulness with critical analysis?
A Different Perspective
Flexibility can lead to indecision without focus.
![“[Objectivity] cannot exist without mental flexibility, since none of us is objective by nature. We all have opinions, the roots of which are spread out far and often are hidden in darkness. To have an opinion is both our right and our duty. To change this opinion becomes an intellectual obligation…” quote by J. F. Blumrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a4f/j-f-blumrich-244366_nature_objectivity-cannot-exist-without-mental_2030246.jpg)
![“Through the last few decades it [the art object] has been ripped off the wall and twisted through every conceivable permutation, yet back to the wall it insists on going.” quote by Ashley Bickerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/17c/ashley-bickerton-97591_art_through-the-last-few-decades-it-the-art_501091.jpg)
