--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before it can be solved, a problem must…" description: "\"Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined.\" — William Feather" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/william-feather-2664_clearly_before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-b_12043.png" --- # Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined. ![“Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined.” quote by William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/william-feather-2664_clearly_before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-b_12043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/william-feather-2664_clearly_before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-b_12043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/william-feather-2664_clearly_before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-b_12043.png) > “Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined.” [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A problem must be precisely articulated before any solution can be pursued, because vague definitions lead to misguided effort. **In simple terms:** Define the problem first. Key Takeaway Clarity precedes solution. Themes critical thinking problem solving communication analysis precision Mood focused analytical determined Type advice observation maxim When to use this quote - project planning - research design - team brainstorming - policy development Key Concepts definition scope focus Practical Applications - strategic planning - diagnostic assessment Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions are hidden in the current problem statement? - How might redefining the problem change the approach? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly/) [Clearly Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly-defined-370244/) [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-clearly-370243/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Solved Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solved-problem-297152/) ## Related quotes > [Black Power can be clearly defined for those who do not attach the fears of white America to their questions about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stokely-carmichael/black-power-can-be-clearly-defined-for-those-who-do-not-attach-the/) [Stokely Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stokely-carmichael/) > [A problem clearly stated is a problem half solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-problem-clearly-stated-is-a-problem-half-solved/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have solved the problem of controlling the attention of the child, you have solved the entire problem of its education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/when-you-have-solved-the-problem-of-controlling-the-attention-of-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [The Cold War was obviously driven by a very intense ideological struggle that was very clearly defined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/the-cold-war-was-obviously-driven-by-a-very-intense-ideological/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [If you are not a clearly defined human being, it is very hard to define your image... What I've realized in my own journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/if-you-are-not-a-clearly-defined-human-being-it-is-very-hard-to/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [What gets measured (and clearly defined) does get done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-gets-measured-and-clearly-defined-does-get-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes a clearly defined error is the only way to discover the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wiker/sometimes-a-clearly-defined-error-is-the-only-way-to-discover-the/) [Benjamin Wiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wiker/) > [Today, as never before, the issue is clearly defined-liberty and freedom of choice, or oppression and subjugation for the individual and for nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/today-as-never-before-the-issue-is-clearly-defined-liberty-and/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [There's no problem so great it can't be solved. If it can't be solved, it's not a problem, it's reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-coloroso/there-s-no-problem-so-great-it-can-t-be-solved-if-it-can-t-be-solved/) [Barbara Coloroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-coloroso/) > [Every problem solved is a problem made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/every-problem-solved-is-a-problem-made/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [One problem I have definitely solved is the problem of not having enough to worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/one-problem-i-have-definitely-solved-is-the-problem-of-not-having/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [A problem solved is a problem caused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/a-problem-solved-is-a-problem-caused/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [“Whatever your problem is, let that problem clearly understand this: You will never stop till you solve it! Let your enemy know how decisive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/whatever-your-problem-is-let-that-problem-clearly-understand-this-you/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You must maximize the probability that someone shows up at front door of your store or website and ends up with a solved problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-houston/you-must-maximize-the-probability-that-someone-shows-up-at-front-door/) [Drew Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-houston/) > [“They solved the problem of coexistence through the use of individual stereo headphones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-billias/they-solved-the-problem-of-coexistence-through-the-use-of-individual/) [Stephen Billias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-billias/) ## More by William Feather > [Deliver me from all evildoers that talk nothing but sickness and failure. Grant me the companionship of men who think success and men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/deliver-me-from-all-evildoers-that-talk-nothing-but-sickness-and/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Unnecessary hustle is one of the American follies. We hustle at both work and play, and consequently enjoy neither to the utmost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/unnecessary-hustle-is-one-of-the-american-follies-we-hustle-at-both/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Business is like a wheelbarrow-it stands still until someone pushes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/business-is-like-a-wheelbarrow-it-stands-still-until-someone-pushes-it/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [A good man likes a hard boss. I don't mean a nagging boss or a grouchy boss. I mean a boss who insists on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/a-good-man-likes-a-hard-boss-i-don-t-mean-a-nagging-boss-or-a-grouchy/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Loneliness is something you can't walk away from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/loneliness-is-something-you-can-t-walk-away-from/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Success in business hinges mostly on the ability to get the important things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/success-in-business-hinges-mostly-on-the-ability-to-get-the-important/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [It's not the increasing competition; it's going back to real work that most of us complain about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/it-s-not-the-increasing-competition-it-s-going-back-to-real-work-that/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [A man must not deny his manifest abilities, for that is to evade his obligations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/a-man-must-not-deny-his-manifest-abilities-for-that-is-to-evade-his/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Always remember that there is a law of compensation which operates just as infallibly as gravitation, and that victory goes at last where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/always-remember-that-there-is-a-law-of-compensation-which-operates/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [When ordering lunch, the big executives are just as indecisive as the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/when-ordering-lunch-the-big-executives-are-just-as-indecisive-as-the/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/success-seems-to-be-largely-a-matter-of-hanging-on-after-others-have/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Too many of us vote for our prejudices instead of our desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/too-many-of-us-vote-for-our-prejudices-instead-of-our-desires/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Indifference and inaction must always pay a penalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/indifference-and-inaction-must-always-pay-a-penalty/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [He that succeeds makes an important thing of the immediate task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/he-that-succeeds-makes-an-important-thing-of-the-immediate-task/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [One right and honest definition of business is mutual helpfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/one-right-and-honest-definition-of-business-is-mutual-helpfulness/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) [Explore all 155 William Feather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) ## More Clearly quotes > [Clearly, I'm way older than everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/clearly-i-m-way-older-than-everyone/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [“to communicate clearly enough so that there’s no room for interpretation, but also humbly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/to-communicate-clearly-enough-so-that-there-s-no-room-for/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [Clearly, you can't believe everything you read in the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-koum/clearly-you-can-t-believe-everything-you-read-in-the-press/) [Jan Koum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-koum/) > [My aunt and uncle are clearly civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/my-aunt-and-uncle-are-clearly-civilians/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [ \[We\] make images to see clearly: then we see clearly what we have made. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/we-make-images-to-see-clearly-then-we-see-clearly-what-we-have-made/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [While sleep is clearly vital to emotional well-being, what is it, exactly, about sleep that is so necessary? As it turns out, mood disorders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/while-sleep-is-clearly-vital-to-emotional-well-being-what-is-it/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [I can say this very clearly: I have come into this Congress with an antiwar bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/i-can-say-this-very-clearly-i-have-come-into-this-congress-with-an/) [Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/) > [The problem men seem to have, and women, too, is that they have this very structured idea that we should find a partner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-kendal/the-problem-men-seem-to-have-and-women-too-is-that-they-have-this/) [Felicity Kendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-kendal/) > [Time starts out as a notion. But after you turn fifty, time is not a notion anymore but a fact that you start feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/time-starts-out-as-a-notion-but-after-you-turn-fifty-time-is-not-a/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Clearly, those of us women who play football wish that there was more coverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta/clearly-those-of-us-women-who-play-football-wish-that-there-was-more/) [Marta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marta/) > [The upshot here is that Gil Scott-Heron is still a warrior, even if the front lines have moved. He's made a record not without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hermes/the-upshot-here-is-that-gil-scott-heron-is-still-a-warrior-even-if/) [Will Hermes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hermes/) > [We hope that the elected officials will respond positively to a ground swell of letters, phone calls, e-mails and visits from parents. The law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hope-that-the-elected-officials-will-respond-positively-to-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Clearly if the United States' relationship with Cuba changed, which would require a regime change inside Cuba, if Cuba moved towards a more democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/clearly-if-the-united-states-relationship-with-cuba-changed-which/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) [Browse all 603 Clearly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Feather" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-be-clearly-defined/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clearly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-be-clearly-defined/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/william-feather-2664_clearly_before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-b_12043.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/william-feather-2664_clearly_before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-b_12043.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/william-feather-2664_clearly_before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-b_12043.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined.” — William Feather", "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": "William Feather", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before it can be solved, a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-be-clearly-defined/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-be-clearly-defined/#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 } } ] } ```