Quotes About Flexibility

A scientist must be absolutely like a child. If he sees a thing, he must say that he sees it, whether it was what he thought he was going to see or not. See first, think later, then test. But always see first. Otherwise you will only see what you were expecting.

She thought that trying to live life according to any plan you actually work out is like trying to buy ingredients for a recipe from the supermarket. You get one of those carts, which simply will not go in the direction you push it, and end up just having to buy completely different stuff. What do you do with it? What do you do with the recipe? She didn't know.

a scientist must also be absolutely like a child. If he sees a thing, he must say that he sees it, whether it was what he thought he was going to see or not. See first, think later, then test. But always see first. Otherwise you will only see what you were expecting. Most scientists forget that.

One of the extraordinary things about life is the sort of places its prepared to put up with living.

Trevor realized that the odd thing about English is that no matter how much you screw sequences word up up, you understood, still, like Yoda, will be. Other languages don't work that way. French? Dieu! Misplace a single le or la and an idea vaporizes into a sonic puff. English is flexible: you can jam it into a Cuisinart for an hour, remove it, and meaning will still emerge.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's quotation: The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function?

nothing is impossible. you just need to learn how to bend the rules.

perfection was not only impossible, but the enemy of success. The real key was flexibility in the face of the unexpected, or, as someone once said, the "known unknowns.

The little reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over.

When the music changes, so does the dance

If one sticks too rigidly to one's principles,one would hardly see anybody,

Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory---let the theory go.

It often seems to me that's all detective work is, wiping out your false starts and beginning again." "Yes, it is very true, that. And it is just what some people will not do. They conceive a certain theory, and everything has to fit into that theory. If one little fact will not fit it, they throw it aside. But it is always the facts that will not fit in that are significant.

When the fact doesn't meet the theory then let go the theory.

Every one's got their own ways of working. I know that. I give my inspectors a free hand always. Every one's got to find out for themselves what method suits them best.

One mustn't refuse the unusual, if it is offered to one.

often seems to me that's all detective work is, wiping out your false starts and beginning again." "Yes, it is very true, that. And it is just what some people will not do. They conceive a certain theory, and everything has to fit into that theory. If one little fact will not fit it, they throw it aside. But it is always the facts that will not fit in that are significant.

What have I always told you? Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory — let the theory go.

That would mean looking at the case from entirely different angle," I said. "One so often has to do that - about everything. Don't you think so?

If the fact will not fit the theory—let the theory go.

The hardest thing to open is a closed mind. (quoted 2017-12-30 in the Toronto Daily Star)

Rooms are a fixed size, which can't be altered without pulling down walls and building new ones. They should be unchanging in shape and proportions. But sometimes they do change depending on who's in them.

Not all traditions hold up over time.

When the weather is hot, keep a cool mind. When the weather is cold, keep a warm heart.