The collection / 30 fragments

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Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

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30 results · Page 1 of 2Play this collection ▷

01c. 2003 AD

By looking on the bright side, we'll activate enthusiasm and turn on the go system.

Adam Grant / quote

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02c. 2003 AD

Reasoning does create a paradox: it leads both to more rule following and more rebelliousness. By explaining moral principles, parents encourage their children to comply voluntarily with rules that align with important values and to question rules that don’t. Good explanations enable children to develop a code of ethics that often coincides with societal expectations; when they don’t square up, children rely on the internal compass of values rather than the external compass of rules.

Adam Grant / quote

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03c. 2003 AD

Originality brings more bumps in the road, yet it leaves us with more happiness and a greater sense of meaning.

Adam Grant / quote

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04c. 2003 AD

Practice makes perfect, but it doesn’t make new

Adam Grant / quote

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05c. 2003 AD

Practice makes perfect, but it doesn’t make new. The gifted learn to play magnificent Mozart melodies and beautiful Beethoven symphonies, but never compose their own original scores.

Adam Grant / quote

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06c. 2003 AD

Having a sense of security in one realm gives us the freedom to be original in another. By covering our bases financially, we escape the pressure to publish half-baked books, sell shoddy art, or launch untested businesses. When

Adam Grant / quote

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07c. 2003 AD

Convictions in our ideas is dangerous not only because it leaves us vulnerable to false positives, but also because it stops us from generating the requisite variety to reach our creative potential.

Adam Grant / quote

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08c. 2003 AD

As Chris Granger, executive vice president at the NBA, explains, "Talented people are attracted to those who care about them. When you help someone get promoted out of your team, it's a short-term loss, but it's a clear long-term gain. It's easier to attract people, because word gets around that your philosophy is to help people.

Adam Grant / quote

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09c. 2003 AD

An employee made a mistake that cost the company $10 million, he walked into the office of Tom Watson, the C.E.O., expecting to get fired. “Fire you?” Mr. Watson asked. “I just spent $10 million educating you.

Adam Grant / quote

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10c. 2003 AD

Rather than looking outward in an attempt to predict the outcome, you turn inward to your identity. You base the decision on who you are--or who you want to be.

Adam Grant / quote

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11c. 2003 AD

Productive givers focus on acting in the long-term best interests of others, even if it's not pleasant. They have the courage to give the critical feedback we prefer not to hear, but truly need to hear. They offer tough love, knowing that we might like them less, but we'll come to trust and respect them more.

Adam Grant / quote

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12c. 2003 AD

The more important argument against grade curves is that they create an atmosphere that's toxic by pitting students against one another. At best, it creates a hypercompetitive culture, and at worst, it sends students the message that the world is a zero-sum game: Your success means my failure.

Adam Grant / quote

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13c. 2003 AD

Bragging about yourself violates norms of modesty and politeness - and if you were really competent, your work would speak for itself.

Adam Grant / quote

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14c. 2003 AD

From a motivation perspective, helping others enriches the meaning and purpose of our own lives, showing us that our contributions matter and energizing us to work harder, longer, and smarter.

Adam Grant / quote

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15c. 2003 AD

When people are depending on us, we end up finding strength we didn't know we had.

Adam Grant / quote

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16c. 2003 AD

The culture of a workplace - an organization's values, norms and practices - has a huge impact on our happiness and success.

Adam Grant / quote

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17c. 2003 AD

Complex tasks are often better handled in the back of our mind, and that's often true of creative tasks - when you have something complex to deal with in writing or research or responding to an email. I'll start working, put it aside, and sometimes I'll wake up the next morning with a solution, or I'll find one when I exercise.

Adam Grant / quote

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18c. 2003 AD

Some of the greatest moments in human history were fueled by emotional intelligence.

Adam Grant / quote

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19c. 2003 AD

Instead of assuming that emotional intelligence is always useful, we need to think more carefully about where and when it matters.

Adam Grant / quote

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20c. 2003 AD

As more women 'lean in' and we collectively continue to fight sexism, there's another barrier to progress that hasn't been addressed: Many men who would like to see more women leaders are afraid to speak up about it.

Adam Grant / quote

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21c. 2003 AD

It's ironic that when you go through a tragedy, you appreciate more. You realize how fragile life is and that there are so many things to still be thankful for.

Adam Grant / quote

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22c. 2003 AD

The mark of higher education isn't the knowledge you accumulate in your head. It's the skills you gain about how to learn.

Adam Grant / quote

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23c. 2003 AD

In the conversation about women in leadership, male voices are noticeably absent.

Adam Grant / quote

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24c. 2003 AD

For women to achieve equal representation in leadership roles, it's important that they have the backing of men as well as women.

Adam Grant / quote

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