Vera John-Steiner famous quotes

One of the major challenges facing creative individuals is that of building upon the continuity of human knowledge while achieving novel insights. ... On the one hand, to intensify an inquiry and develop a sense of commitment to a creative life, the learner needs models, teachers, and collaborators. On the other hand, the individual, while building upon the past, needs to transform it, and thus broaden his or her choices.
-- Vera John-Steiner

#Teacher #Creativity #Commitment

Language is double-edged; through words a fuller view of reality emerges, but words can also serve to fragment reality.
-- Vera John-Steiner

#Reality #Views #Language

Thinking ... is a soundless dialogue, it is the weaving of patterns, it is a search for meaning. The activity of thought contributes to and shapes all that is specifically human.
-- Vera John-Steiner

#Thinking #Patterns #Weaving

Generative ideas emerge from joint thinking, from significant conversations, and from sustained, shared struggles to achieve new insights from partners in thought.
-- Vera John-Steiner

#Struggle #Thinking #Ideas

To think, it seems to me, is to hold an idea long enough to unlock and shape its power in the varied contexts of shared human knowledge.
-- Vera John-Steiner

#Thinking #Ideas #Long

If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.

My dad is a chemical engineer, and my mom was a teacher. They were pretty serious about education, but I always thought about things a little bit differently.

The teacher that I was for decades, and that I still am in a certain way, wondered what was meant by the word education. I was truly dumbfounded at the very thought of dealing with such an essential and extensive subject.

I started with ballet and then my cousin Sarah introduced me to her tap teachers.

Creativity comes from applying things you learn in other fields to the field you work in.

Learning gives creativity Creativity leads to thinking Thinking provides knowledge Knowledge makes you great.

The one thing that cannot be outsourced is creativity. We have to find ways to support creative people because the only way we are going to improve our laws... is by creating our way out of it.

Smoking dope and hanging up Che's picture is no more a commitment than drinking milk and collecting postage stamps. A revolution in consciousness is an empty high without a revolution in the distribution of power. We are not interested in the greening of Amerika except for the grass that will cover its grave.

Canada has for many years been a beacon to the rest of the world for its commitment to pluralism and for its support for the multicultural richness and diversity of its peoples

The United States has an absolute, uncompromising commitment to Israel's security and an absolute conviction that Israel alone must decide the steps necessary to ensure that security. That is Israel's prerogative. We accept that. We endorse that. Whatever Israel decides cannot, will not, will never, not ever, alter our fundamental commitment to her security.