Albert O. Hirschman quotes

Albert O. Hirschman was a renowned economist and social scientist known for his groundbreaking work in developmental economics and political theory. Born in Berlin in 1915, Hirschman fled Nazi Germany and eventually settled in the United States where he became a leading voice in the field of economics. He is best known for his theories on the dynamics of development and social change, as well as his concept of "exit, voice, and loyalty" in understanding consumer behavior. Hirschman's work continues to influence scholars and policymakers around the world. Learn more about this influential thinker and his impact on economics and society.

Creativity always comes as a surprise to us; therefore we can never count on it and we dare not believe in it until it has happened. In other words, we would not consciously engage upon tasks whose success clearly requires that creativity be forthcoming. Hence, the only way in which we can bring our creative resources fully into play is by misjudging the nature of the task, by presenting it to ourselves as more routine, simple, undemanding of genuine creativity than it will turn out to be. Or, put differently: since we necessarily underestimate our creativity, it is desirable that we underestimate to a roughly similar extent the difficulties of the tasks we face so as to be tricked by these two offsetting underestimates into undertaking tasks that we can, but otherwise would not dare, tackle. The principle is important enough to deserve a name: since we are apparently on the trail here of some sort of invisible or hidden hand that beneficially hides difficulties from us, I propose the Hiding Hand.

- Albert O. Hirschman