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The Creative Insights of Heraclitus

1. "The cosmos speaks in patterns.
2. Expect the unexpected, or you won't find it.
3. Everything flows.
4. You can't step into the same river twice.
5. That which opposes produces a benefit.
6. A wonderful harmony is created when we join together the seemingly unconnected.
7. If all things turned to smoke, the nose would become the discerning organ.
8. The Sun will not exceed its limits, because the avenging Furies, ministers of Justice would find out.
9. Lovers of wisdom must open their minds to very many things.
10. I searched into myself.
11. Knowing many things doesn't teach insight.
12. Many fail to grasp what's right in the palm of their hand.
13. When there is no sun, we can see the evening stars.
14. The most beautiful order is a heap of sweepings piled at random.
15. Things love to conceal their true nature.
16. Those who approach life like a child playing a game, moving and pushing pieces, possess the power of kings.
17. Sea water is both pure and polluted; for fish it is drinkable and life-giving; for humans undrinkable and destructive.
18. On a circle, an end point can also be a beginning point.
19. It is disease that makes health pleasant, hunger that makes fullness good, and weariness that makes rest sweet.
20. The doctor inflicts pain to cure suffering.
21. The way up and the way down are one in the same.
22. A thing rests by changing.
23. The barley-wine drink falls apart unless it is stirred.
24. While we're awake, we share on universe, but in sleep we each turn away to a world of our own.
25. Dogs bark at what they don't understand.
26. Donkeys prefer garbage to gold.
27. Every walking animal is driven to its purpose with a whack.
28. there is a greater need to extinguish arrogance than a blazing fire.
29. Your character is your destiny.
30. The sun is new each day (von Oech, 2002, p. 12-13)."

Reference:  von Oech, R. (2002). Expect the Unexpected (or you won't find it): a creativity tool based on the ancient wisdom of heraclitus.  New York: The Free Press.

What are your creative insights?

Expect the Unexpected is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center.  A complete listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu/

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Created: 2008-04-02, Updated: 2008-11-12