--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The capacity for \"uncontaminated wonder,\"…" description: "\"The capacity for \"uncontaminated wonder,\" ultimately, is what distinguishes the successful from the ordinary, the happily engaged players of whatever e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/warren-g-bennis-3361_capacity_the-capacity-for-uncontaminated-wonder-u_1946054.png" --- # The capacity for "uncontaminated wonder," ultimately, is… ![“The capacity for "uncontaminated wonder," ultimately, is what distinguishes the successful from the ordinary, the happily engaged players of whatever era from the chronically disappointed and malcontent. Therein lies a lesson for geeks, geezers, and the sea of people who fall in between.” quote by Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/warren-g-bennis-3361_capacity_the-capacity-for-uncontaminated-wonder-u_1946054.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/warren-g-bennis-3361_capacity_the-capacity-for-uncontaminated-wonder-u_1946054.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/warren-g-bennis-3361_capacity_the-capacity-for-uncontaminated-wonder-u_1946054.png) > “The capacity for "uncontaminated wonder," ultimately, is what distinguishes the successful from the ordinary, the happily engaged players of whatever era from the chronically disappointed and malcontent. Therein lies a lesson for geeks, geezers, and the sea of people who fall in between.” [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wonder, free from cynicism, separates successful, engaged people from those who are chronically dissatisfied. **In simple terms:** Unspoiled curiosity drives success and happiness. Key Takeaway Cultivate wonder to avoid discontent. Themes wonder success engagement contentment Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - creative work - personal development - career growth Key Concepts psychology of curiosity mindset theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you preserve curiosity? - What fuels chronic disappointment? A Different Perspective Maintaining pure wonder is hard in a complex, often disappointing world. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged/) [Engaged Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged-players-3129200/) [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Geek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geek/) [Geeks Geezers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geeks-geezers-3129202/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Malcontent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malcontent/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Uncontaminated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncontaminated-2536367/) [Uncontaminated Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncontaminated-wonder-3129199/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wonder Ultimately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder-ultimately-3129201/) ## Related quotes > [ “It should go without saying that these rival belief systems \[Judaism, Islam, Christianity\] are all equally uncontaminated by evidence.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/it-should-go-without-saying-that-these-rival-belief-systems-judaism/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [It is imperative to maintain portions of the wilderness untouched so that a tree will rot where it falls, a waterfall will pour its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-devoto/it-is-imperative-to-maintain-portions-of-the-wilderness-untouched-so/) [Bernard DeVoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-devoto/) > [There's something uncontaminated about her, and I don't even mean sexually or whatever. I mean the way she is, at her core. Like when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/there-s-something-uncontaminated-about-her-and-i-don-t-even-mean/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [There are no uncontaminated angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/there-are-no-uncontaminated-angels/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Corporations don't have children. They don't have feelings or souls. They don't depend on uncontaminated water, clean air, or healthy food to survive. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/corporations-don-t-have-children-they-don-t-have-feelings-or-souls/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Unions are at a disadvantage in a company vote because the employees can see that the greatest advocates of unionization are often the malcontents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/unions-are-at-a-disadvantage-in-a-company-vote-because-the-employees/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Countless people...will hate the New World Order...and will die protesting against it...we have to bear in mind the distress of a generation or so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/countless-people-will-hate-the-new-world-order-and-will-die/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [Thou art the Mars of malcontents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-art-the-mars-of-malcontents/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Every American carries in his bloodstream the heritage of the malcontent and the dreamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-fuldheim/every-american-carries-in-his-bloodstream-the-heritage-of-the/) [Dorothy Fuldheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-fuldheim/) > [Like most of the others, I was a seeker, a mover, a malcontent, and at times a stupid hell-raiser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/like-most-of-the-others-i-was-a-seeker-a-mover-a-malcontent-and-at/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [The interesting adults are always the school failures, the weird ones, the losers, the malcontents, this isn’t wishful thinking. It’s the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/the-interesting-adults-are-always-the-school-failures-the-weird-ones/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [... when the struggle seems to be drifting definitely towards a world social democracy, there may still be very great delays and disappointments before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/when-the-struggle-seems-to-be-drifting-definitely-towards-a-world/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [There is no mat space for malcontents or dissenters. One must neither celebrate insanely when he wins, nor sulk when he loses. He accepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/there-is-no-mat-space-for-malcontents-or-dissenters-one-must-neither/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Although I have felt compelled to write things down since I was five years old, I doubt that my daughter ever will, for she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/although-i-have-felt-compelled-to-write-things-down-since-i-was-five/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [In the taverns all was amiable and easy, but the coffeehouses were cauldrons of edgy malcontents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/in-the-taverns-all-was-amiable-and-easy-but-the-coffeehouses-were/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) ## More by Warren G. Bennis > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Great groups deliver great results. And for everyone involved in a great group, great work is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/great-groups-deliver-great-results-and-for-everyone-involved-in-a/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Leadership is like beauty - it's hard to define but you know it when you see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/leadership-is-like-beauty-it-s-hard-to-define-but-you-know-it-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Coaching will become the model for leaders in the future... I am certain that leadership can be learned and that terrific coaches... facilitate learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/coaching-will-become-the-model-for-leaders-in-the-future-i-am-certain/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Servant leadership teaches us that you have to lay your cards on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/servant-leadership-teaches-us-that-you-have-to-lay-your-cards-on-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Recognize and respect mutual self-interests, then build creative collaborations to serve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/recognize-and-respect-mutual-self-interests-then-build-creative/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If great teams don't have an "enemy," they create one for themselves because, as former Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta pointed out, "you can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/if-great-teams-don-t-have-an-enemy-they-create-one-for-themselves/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [All great leaders constantly seek new information and new ways of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/all-great-leaders-constantly-seek-new-information-and-new-ways-of/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Trust is difficult to define, but we know when it's present and when it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/trust-is-difficult-to-define-but-we-know-when-it-s-present-and-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Around the world, the generals are being ousted, and the poets are taking charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/around-the-world-the-generals-are-being-ousted-and-the-poets-are/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [A passion for continual learning, a refined, discerning ear for the moral and ethical consequences of their actions, and an understanding of the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-passion-for-continual-learning-a-refined-discerning-ear-for-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The failure to find the right niche for people - or to let them find their own perfect niches - is a major reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-failure-to-find-the-right-niche-for-people-or-to-let-them-find/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Effective leaders make a full commitment to be a learner, to keep increasing and nourishing their knowledge and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/effective-leaders-make-a-full-commitment-to-be-a-learner-to-keep/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Encourage reflective backtalk: Leaders know the importance of having someone in their lives who will unfailingly and fearlessly tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/encourage-reflective-backtalk-leaders-know-the-importance-of-having/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) [Explore all 132 Warren G. Bennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More Capacity quotes > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I was only operating at about 80% of my capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-was-only-operating-at-about-80-of-my-capacity/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/for-years-mental-health-professionals-taught-people-that-they-could/) [Bruce D. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-d-perry/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [he cult of productivity has its place, but worshipping at its altar daily robs us of the very capacity for joy and wonder that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/he-cult-of-productivity-has-its-place-but-worshipping-at-its-altar/) [Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-is-the-capacity-to-perform-properly-even-when-scared-half-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,320 Capacity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The capacity for \"uncontaminated wonder,\" ultimately, is what distinguishes the successful from the ordinary, the happily engaged players of whatever era from the chronically disappointed and malcontent. 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