Conventional Quotes

“If we are really ready for thinking, not the traditional, conventional, rehashed thinking, but the exploratory and adventurous thinking, we can move forward and discover the astounding appeal of new mind-blowing visions. ( "Ready-to-wear thinking")”
― Erik Pevernagie

“He was blessed with an unconventional mind, which overcame his conventional middle-class upbringing.”
― Michael M. Lewis, Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street

“Life is not a list of checkboxes that we have to tick off sequentially one after another. Got a degree? Tick. Booked a house under my name? Tick. Got married? Tick. Had Children? Tick. All this sound too cliché, too depressing. These are acts which people do under the influence of peer pressure, mimicking each other, and not willingly as a genuine choice of their own.”
― Abhaidev, That Thing About You

“Without recourse to the conventional
The ultimate cannot be shown”
― Nāgārjuna, The Root Stanzas of the Middle Way: The Mulamadhyamakakarika

“Whatever are Snorks?"
"Don't you really know what a Snork is?" said Snufkin in amazement. "They must be the same family as you, I should think, because they look the same, except that they aren't often white. They can be any color in the world (like an Easter egg), and they change color when they get upset."
Moomintroll looked quite angry. "Well!" he said. "I've never heard of that branch of the family. A real Moomintroll is always white. Changing color indeed! What an idea!”
― Tove Jansson, Comet in Moominland

“Psychologists discovered that there are two routes to achievement: conformity and originality. Conformity means following the crowd down conventional paths and maintaining the status quo. Originality is taking the road less traveled, championing a set of novel ideas that go against the grain but ultimately make things better.”
― Adam Grant, Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

“An artist who conforms to conventional ideas is nothing but a mere charlatan.”
― Michael Bassey Johnson

“You and I both know being conventional is overrated.”
― Rebekah Crane, The Upside of Falling Down

“Everyone had been so much more entertaining then. What had happened?
Age, he guessed, And with it: Jobs. Money. Children. The things to forestall death, the things to ensure one's relevance, the things to comfort and provide context and content. The march forward, one dictated by biology and convention, that not even the most irreverent mind could withstand.”
― Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life

“For the people of her town—and she would guess the vast majority of humanity—observed the world not with their minds and imagination but solely with their eyes, which was a severe limitation.”
― Ray Smith, The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen

“NEVER accept "conventional wisdom" when it comes to finance. If others keep failing, why do you want to follow them?”
― Ziad K. Abdelnour, Economic Warfare: Secrets of Wealth Creation in the Age of Welfare Politics

“How is Prudence?" she heard him ask. It hurt to hear the note of wary longing in his voice.
"Quite well, I believe. She's in London for the season." Beatrix hesitated before adding carefully, "We are still friends, but perhaps not as fond of each other as we once were."
"Why?"
His gaze was alert now. Clearly any mention of Prudence earned his close attention.
Because of you, Beatrix thought, and managed a faint, wry smile. "It seems we have different interests." I'm interested in you, and she's interested in your inheritance.
"You're hardly cut from the same cloth."
Hearing the sardonic note in his voice, Beatrix tilted her head and regarded him curiously. "I don't take your meaning."
He hesitated. "I only meant that Miss Mercer is conventional. And you're... not." His tone was seasoned with the merest hint of condescension... but there was no mistaking it.
Abruptly all the feelings of compassion and tenderness disappeared as Beatrix realized that Christopher Phelan had not changed in one regard: he still didn't like her.
"I would never want to be a conventional person," she said. "They're usually dull and superficial."
It seemed he took that as a slight against Prudence.
"As compared to people who bring garden pests to picnics? No one could accuse you of being dull, Miss Hathaway."
Beatrix felt the blood drain from her face. He had insulted her. The realization made her numb.
"You may insult me," she said, half amazed that she could still speak. "But leave my hedgehog alone.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“I have every expectation that naturopathic doctors that recommend supplements will take over from expensive conventional healthcare that relies on costly pharmaceutical prescriptions.”
― Steven Magee

“If you think you are a rebel in society - a nice relationship. Think about when your heart rebels against you when you are 3x older. A very similar thing in structure when a part rebels against the whole disrespecting the conventional state of things.”
― Thomas Vato

“Florentino Ariza had stripped her of the virginity of a conventional marriage, more pernicious than congenital virginity or the abstinence of widowhood.”
― Gabriel García Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

“Originals is a fascinating, eye-opening read that will help you not just recognize your own unique gifts, but find the strength to challenge conventional wisdom to bring them to life.”
― Adam Grant, Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

“We hoped to push managers to create innovative proposals and break the boundaries of their conventional thinking.”
― W. Chan Kim, Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant

“Robotic vacuums can clean better than conventional vacuums.”
― Steven Magee, Hypoxia, Mental Illness & Chronic Fatigue

“There exists a culture shared even by those who are dissatisfied with mass culture, and it is among the most dangerous precisely because it is dazzling—deceptive. It is a culture that belongs to those who are "dissatisfied with the world as it is." This manifests in the following ways: They still carry a certain belief and hope in humanity. If they suffer, they might dream that their suffering will one day “be heard by everyone.” Through their works, they may fantasize about becoming popular. They might romanticize the psychiatric term "trauma." They might aim to "fix and recover" things or people. They might set their minds on leaving a "meaningful impact" and become activists. They might frequently “discuss” on philosophy forums. They might be aiming at “dark vibes.” They might cling to mottos like “forever alone.” They might refer to themselves as "just a random book lover.” They might have interests in “just some random weird stuff.” They might still be screaming into the void. They might try to “prove their depth” publicly. They might refer to themselves as "lost souls" to the point of weariness, even internalizing this very term—coined by the system to reduce by classifying them—implying a form of domesticated rebellion. And so on. These supposed outsiders are actually on the inside, worshipping at the altar of visibility, validation, and vague worldly hope. Their beliefs—“art-as-cure,” “literature-as-refuge,” “activism-as-purpose”—are not radical to the point of exile but packaged and predictable. They don't reject the system; they only ask to be understood within its boundaries. They weep, but with an eye to applause. They write, but always with a publisher in mind. They compose, but just to make money. They mourn, but only to be noticed. They claim detachment, but still speak as if begging to be liked and heard. They imagine themselves as “wild,” but only within the categories that subcultures and language allow. After all, there are two ends to the ruins: on one end, these kinds of “loners” who are still tied to conventional wisdom; and on the other, the utterly unknown, mystic, cosmic, and free spirits who have transcended everything human.”
― Sov8840