The Quotable Contrarian

From Socrates to Steve Jobs, this collection of quotations will enlighten, empower and entertain.

These daily bites of wit and wisdom will inspire you to think critically, to think differently, and to think for yourself. Open the book anywhere and jump-start your day.

Stuck on a gift? Give a friend the joy of thinking outside the box.

Contrarian thinking is useful because:

• The crowd is often wrong.
• It can help you find a new perspective or discover the truth.
• Creativity and innovation come from thinking differently.
• It engages your critical thinking skills.
• You can think freely and be yourself.

Contemplate unconventional thoughts on: truth, knowledge, ignorance, myths, beliefs, doubt, curiosity, crowds, conformity, groupthink, staying true to yourself, facts, misinformation, fake news, propaganda, brainwashing, and authority. Ponder the musings of some of the great mavericks, skeptics, outliers, and iconoclasts.

Is your brain blocked? Do you wish you could do your own thing in life? Sure, some conformity is necessary to lead an unencumbered life. But too much conformity will extinguish the spark inside of you. Let's face it: If you think like everybody else, you'll get average results. It's time to blow the dust off the habitual ways of seeing things.

Listen to your inner voice. Ask questions, of yourself and to the group. Speak up. Find your true path in life.

So long as men praise you, you can only be sure that you are not yet on your own true path but on someone else's.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), philosopher

JAMES JOSEPH has been a student of contrarian thinking since 1978, when he put together his first stock portfolio. His inclinations to overthink, ask way too many questions, and flout conventional wisdom have kept him on a contrarian path. Ever cautious of following the herd, he now lives and writes in the mountains of Wyoming.