Asking Quote by Thomas Troward
“The law of floatation was not discovered by contemplating the sinking of things, but by contemplating the floating of things which floated naturally, and then intelligently asking why they did so.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Science of Thought, 1919
Understanding natural buoyancy comes from observing what floats, not what sinks, prompting deeper inquiry.
In simple terms: Study what works, not just what fails.
Key Takeaway
Observe successful examples before solving problems.
Themes
science
observation
inquiry
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- engineering design
- business strategy
- personal growth
Key Concepts
physics
philosophy of science
Questions to Reflect On
- What “floating” examples can you study in your field?
- How does curiosity drive innovation?
A Different Perspective
Focusing only on successes can ignore valuable lessons from failures.
![“I have this habit of asking 'why do you want to do it?' and then interrupting them to say, 'here's why you want to do it.' Because it's in the 'yes...and' spirit [rule of improvisation].” quote by Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f23/mike-birbiglia-1343_asking_i-have-this-habit-of-asking-why-do-you-w_896488.jpg)
