A thorn can only be extracted if you know where it is.

The march of good fortune has backward slips: to retreat one or two paces gives wings to the jumper.

Every little thing counts in a crisis.

Crises and deadlocks, when they occur, have at least this advantage: that they force us to think.

You can't solve a problem? Well, get down and investigate the present facts and [the problem's] past history! When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it.

He who regards many things easy will find many difficulties. Therefore the sage regards things difficult, and consequently never has difficulties.

When you're ready to do something about a problem, almost anything can help. When you're not ready, no amount of workshops, counselling or programs will effect a change. The rule is: When a student is ready, the teacher appears.

If you get to be a really big headliner, you have to be prepared for people throwing bottles at you in the night.

If you find a good solution and become attached to it, the solution may become your next problem.

The Rule of Accuracy: When working toward the solution of a problem, it always helps if you know the answer.

When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only of how to solve the problem; but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.

The big cities of America are becoming Third World countries.

If olive oil comes from olives, then where does baby oil come from?

Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.

Every major industrial society believes it has a serious youth problem.

The unsolved problems pile up and inevitably produce catastrophes at regular intervals. The Italians always see the next one approaching with a clear eye, but, like sleepers in a nightmare, cannot do anything to ward it off.

You're either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.