What does this mean in English?
Les problèmes importants auxquels nous sommes confrontés ne peuvent pas être résolus avec les habitudes de pensée qui ont été à l’origine de leur apparition.
I tried a few translations and got this - The important problems to which ones confronted us cannot be determined with the thought habits that were to the origin of their apparition.
But I’m not quite sure I understand what that means. Maybe it’s a bad translation I don’t know. Anyone??
The important problems with which we are confronted cannot be resolved with the the [modes of thought?] which were at the root [or the cause] of their appearance.
I’d say you’ve got it right up until the word “habitudes” - from there my French is rusty enough not to know.
But the first part of the sentence I’d say is correct. I’m sure that helps immensely. :rolleyes:
Yes, habitudes does mean habits, but that doesn’t translate too well. I’m not sure if the translation I gave is great either, but hopefully it makes the meaning clear.
Basically, what the piece is trying to say is that you can’t solve problems by thinking in the same manner as that which created the problems in the first place. In other words, “think outside the box”!
An “important” thing to note might be that the word “important” doesn’t necessarily mean “important” in English but can also just mean "big"or “large”.
The important problems we are facing can’t be resolved using the method of thinking that generated them.
IOW:
You can’t solve a problem by dealing with the consequences while nurturing the cause.
This is a quote attributed to Albert Einstein (originally in English, I believe). I have not seen an authoritative source for the exact quote, nor have I seen it quoted consistently. But it is something like Attrayant’s rendition.
or… Stupidity got us into this mess… why can’t it get us out?
Thank You all. Yes, CookingWithGas, it is a quote from Albert Einstein. It was part of a signature in an email I got. Anyway I think I get it ;).
I would translate it as:
“The important problems that we confront can’t be resolved with the thinking habits that had caused their appearance.”
All I can remember from my high school French class is that Kanigget is the translation Knight.
All I can remember from my high school French class is that Kanigget is the translation Knight.
Huh? Fleetwood - Knight is “chevalier” in French… I have never heard of Kanigget, nor do I believe it is French, just by looking at the spelling…it might be old, so I may be wrong, but it is certainly not commin French (at least not among Quebeckers!)
-mnemosyne - mostly bon and raised in Quebec 
mnemosyne: whooshed. We demand a shrubbery! Ni!