# Quotes about problems - Quotes: 35 - Authors: 28 - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.json ## Quotes > The remedy is worse than the disease. [Francis Bacon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon.md) · [The Essays](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays/the-remedy-is-worse.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > DONALD BARTHELME: ...I was trying to make fiction that was like certain kinds of modern painting. You know, tending toward the abstract. But it’s really very dicey in fiction, because if you get too abstract it just looks like fog, for example. > > JO BRANS: Words, after all, have referents. They mean something—colors don’t. > > BARTHELME: Not in the same way. So, the project is next to impossible, which is what makes it interesting. There’s nothing so beautiful as having a very difficult problem. It gives purpose to life. And to work. I’m still worrying with it. [Donald Barthelme](https://www.leafyquotes.com/donald-barthelme.md) · [Not-Knowing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/donald-barthelme/not-knowing.md) · p. 298 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/donald-barthelme/not-knowing/donald-barthelme-i-was.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Somehow we should learn to know that our problems are our most precious possessions. They are the raw materials of our salvation: no problem — no redemption. [Laurens Van Der Post](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurens-van-der-post.md) · [A Walk with a White Bushman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurens-van-der-post/a-walk-with-a-white-bushman.md) · p. 71 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/laurens-van-der-post/a-walk-with-a-white-bushman/somehow-we-should.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > It is through the pain of confronting and resolving problems that we learn. [M. Scott Peck](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck.md) · [The Road Less Travelled](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-road-less-travelled.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-road-less-travelled/it-is-through.md) Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Do we want to teach our children to solve them? [M. Scott Peck](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck.md) · [The Road Less Travelled](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-road-less-travelled.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/m-scott-peck/the-road-less-travelled/life-is-a-series.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Looked at in a wide enough frame, maybe her problems weren’t so large. They just seemed that way when she held them up against her eyes where they’d block out all the light. [James S. A. Corey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey.md) · [The Mercy of Gods](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey/the-mercy-of-gods.md) · p. 51 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-s-a-corey/the-mercy-of-gods/looked-at-in-a-wide.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Trouble is just like love, after all; it comes in unannounced and takes over before you've had a chance to reconsider, or even to think. (p59) [Alice Hoffman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alice-hoffman.md) · [Practical Magic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alice-hoffman/practical-magic.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alice-hoffman/practical-magic/trouble-is-just.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > ...when we have more minds concerned, any challenge shrinks proportionally. The solution to our greatest problems may simply be involvement. [William Coperthwaite](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-coperthwaite.md) · [A Handmade Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-coperthwaite/a-handmade-life.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-coperthwaite/a-handmade-life/when-we-have.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md), [cooperation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cooperation.md) > Treat the Disease, Not the Symptom. [Randy Pausch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randy-pausch.md) · [The Last Lecture](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randy-pausch/the-last-lecture.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randy-pausch/the-last-lecture/treat-the-disease.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Don't solve problems, pursue opportunities. [Kevin Kelly](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly.md) · [New Rules for the New Economy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly/new-rules-for-the-new-economy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kevin-kelly/new-rules-for-the-new-economy/dont-solve-problems.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > When you don't share your problems, you resent hearing the problems of other people. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Invisible Monsters](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/invisible-monsters.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/invisible-monsters/when-you-dont.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > “Where there is mind, there is always solution,” Keneenk taught. All problems contained the elements of their answer. [David Brin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin.md) · [Startide Rising](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin/startide-rising.md) · p. 183 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin/startide-rising/where-there-is-mind.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Design is really a special case of problem solving. One wants to bring about a desired state of affairs. Occasionally one wants to remedy some fault but more usually one wants to bring about something new. For that reason design is more open ended than problem solving. It requires more creativity. It is not so much a matter of linking up a clearly defined objective with a clearly defined starting position (as in problem solving) but more a matter of starting out from a general position in the direction of a general objective [Edward de Bono](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edward-de-bono.md) · [Lateral Thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edward-de-bono/lateral-thinking.md) · p. 198 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edward-de-bono/lateral-thinking/design-is-really.md) Topics: [creativity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/creativity.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > A flock of sheep was moving slowly down a country lane which was bounded by high banks. A motorist in a hurry came up behind the flock and urged the shepherd to move his sheep to the side so that the car could drive through. The shepherd refused since he could not be sure of keeping all the sheep out of the way of the car in such a narrow lane. Instead he reversed the situation. He told the car to stop and then he quietly turned the flock round and drove it back past the stationary car. [Edward de Bono](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edward-de-bono.md) · [Lateral Thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edward-de-bono/lateral-thinking.md) · p. 100 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edward-de-bono/lateral-thinking/a-flock-of-sheep.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > If you rely only on experience, you’ll simply keep applying old solutions to new problems. I know a lot of people who feel they have an identity only when they’re talking about their problems. That way, they exist, because their problems are linked to what they judge to be their history. [Paulo Coelho](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paulo-coelho.md) · [Aleph](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paulo-coelho/aleph.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paulo-coelho/aleph/if-you-rely.md) Topics: [experience](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/experience.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > In summary, there are no small problems. Problems that appear small are large problems that are not understood (p. 17). [Santiago Ramon Y Cajal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/santiago-ramon-y-cajal.md) · [Advice for a Young Investigator](https://www.leafyquotes.com/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/advice-for-a-young-investigator.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/santiago-ramon-y-cajal/advice-for-a-young-investigator/in-summary-there.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > The more we study the major problems of our time, the more we come to realise that they cannot be understood in isolation. They are systemic problems, which means that they are interconnected and interdependent. [Fritjof Capra](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fritjof-capra.md) · [The Web of Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fritjof-capra/the-web-of-life.md) · p. 3 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fritjof-capra/the-web-of-life/the-more-we-study.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > The problems for which I could find no solution in fact had no solution. [Michael Moorcock](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-moorcock.md) · [The Eternal Champion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-moorcock/the-eternal-champion.md) · p. 137 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-moorcock/the-eternal-champion/the-problems-for.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > You seem to be using some sort of logical system where when you get near any explanation, you say: “By definition my problem is insoluble. Now that explanation over there would solve it. But since I’ve defined my problem as insoluble, then by definition that solution doesn’t apply.” [Samuel R. Delany](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany.md) · [Triton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/triton.md) · p. 123 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/triton/you-seem-to-be-using.md) Topics: [logic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/logic.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > The worst takes its time to come, and then to pass. [Anne Rice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-rice.md) · [Pandora](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-rice/pandora.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-rice/pandora/the-worst-takes.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > But I believe without any doubt at all that our greatest good fortune was that even in the most extreme difficulties we might lose our patience but never our sense of humor. [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gabriel-garcia-marquez.md) · [Living to Tell the Tale](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gabriel-garcia-marquez/living-to-tell-the-tale.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gabriel-garcia-marquez/living-to-tell-the-tale/but-i-believe.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > In wretched outcomes, the devil is in the details. [Jane Jacobs](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-jacobs.md) · [Dark Age Ahead](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-jacobs/dark-age-ahead.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-jacobs/dark-age-ahead/in-wretched-outcomes.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Without difficulties, life would be like a stream without rocks and curves - about as interesting as concrete. Without problems, there can be no personal growth, no group achievement, no progress for humanity. But what matters about problems is what one does with them. Eeyores don't overcome problems. No, it's the other way around. [Benjamin Hoff](https://www.leafyquotes.com/benjamin-hoff.md) · [The Te of Piglet](https://www.leafyquotes.com/benjamin-hoff/the-te-of-piglet.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/benjamin-hoff/the-te-of-piglet/without-difficulties-life.md) Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > What can be just as hard to see as problems-in-the-making is that a good many "problems" aren't really problems to begin with. People who don't see situations for what they are often struggle against difficulties that aren't there and create difficulties in the process. Or turn small difficulties into large ones. [Benjamin Hoff](https://www.leafyquotes.com/benjamin-hoff.md) · [The Te of Piglet](https://www.leafyquotes.com/benjamin-hoff/the-te-of-piglet.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/benjamin-hoff/the-te-of-piglet/what-can-be-just.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > It is characteristic of all deep human problems that they are not to be approached without some humor and some bewilderment. [Freeman Dyson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/freeman-dyson.md) · [Disturbing The Universe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/freeman-dyson/disturbing-the-universe.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/freeman-dyson/disturbing-the-universe/it-is-characteristic.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Like running hurdles. Work so hard, jump over every one, fast, high enough but no higher, because you can't afford to hang in the air. And then, when the race is over, you're dripping with sweat, either they beat you or you beat them... and then a couple of guys come out and move the hurdles out of the way. Turns out they were nothing. All that work to jump over them, but now they're gone. [Orson Scott Card](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card.md) · [Enchantment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/enchantment.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/enchantment/like-running-hurdles.md) Topics: [meaning of life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meaning-of-life.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you. [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle.md) · [The Hound of the Baskervilles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles.md) · p. 696 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles/there-is-nothing.md) Topics: [perseverance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/perseverance.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Nothing clears up a case so much as stating it to another person. [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle.md) · [The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-memoirs-of-sherlock-holmes.md) · p. 336 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-memoirs-of-sherlock-holmes/nothing-clears-up-a-case.md) Topics: [conversation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conversation.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > The one-eyed view of our universe says you must not look far afield for problems. Such problems may never arrive. Instead, tend to the wolf within your fences. The packs ranging outside may not even exist. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Children Of Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/children-of-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/children-of-dune/the-one-eyed-view.md) Topics: [the present moment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-present-moment.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Often there's no need to tear off an arm to remove a splinter. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Children Of Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/children-of-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/children-of-dune/often-theres-no-need.md) Topics: [moderation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/moderation.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > There are problems in this universe for which there are no answers. Nothing. Nothing can be done. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Dune Messiah](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune-messiah.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune-messiah/there-are-problems.md) Topics: [acceptance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/acceptance.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Anything outside yourself, this you can see and apply your logic to it. But it's a human trait that when we encounter personal problems, these things most deeply personal are the most difficult to bring out for our logic to scan. We tend to flounder around, blaming everything but the actual, deep-seated thing that's really chewing on us. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune/anything-outside-yourself.md) Topics: [logic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/logic.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > The solutions all are simple—after you have arrived at them. But they're simple only when you know already what they are. [Robert M. Pirsig](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig.md) · [Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/the-solutions-all.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > It has occasionally been remarked upon that it is as easy to overlook something large and obvious as it is to overlook something small and niggling, and that the large things one overlooks can often cause problems. [Neil Gaiman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman.md) · [Stardust](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman/stardust.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman/stardust/it-has-occasionally.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging. [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://www.leafyquotes.com/niccolo-machiavelli.md) · [Discourses on Livy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/niccolo-machiavelli/discourses-on-livy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/niccolo-machiavelli/discourses-on-livy/so-in-all.md) Topics: [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md)