WHO’S THE AUTHOR
The quote “Great minds think alike” first appeared at the beginning of the 17th century. It is thought to date back to 1618 where it started as “good wits doe jumpe” with “jumpe” meaning ‘agree with’. It is believed that the earliest example of this phrase in print may have appeared in Carl Theodor von Unlanski’s 1816 biography, ‘The Woful History of the Unfortunate Eudoxia’.
HOW TO APPLY IT IN YOUR EVERY DAY LIFE
Create an open debate culture within your team or organisation. You can do this by being curious, listening and asking questions, allow different views in a debate and talk to each other until the best solution is found.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
It is a humorous expression that is used when two people think alike at the same time and thus suggests that both people must be very intelligent. Less well known is the second half of the quote, “Great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ”. The second part painfully reminds us that people who come to the same conclusion are not so smart after all.
NICE TO KNOW...
Aircraft crashes are often a result of groupthinking where the pilots due to peer pressure don't dare to dissent.
