p. 20
“
If solutions could be offered within the existing system, there would be no need to design. Thus designers have to transcend the existing system. Their task is to create a different system or devise a new one. That is why designers say they can truly define the problem only in light of the solution. The solution informs them as to what the real problem is.
— Béla H. Bánáthy
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "If solutions could be offered within the existing system, there would be no need to design. Thus designers have to transcend the existing system. Their task is to create a different system or devise a new one. That is why designers say they can truly define the problem only in light of the solution. The solution informs them as to what the real problem is." in the context of "p. 20" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Béla H. Bánáthy" (Quotes, Systems Design of Education (1991): Béla H. Bánáthy Systems Design of Education: A Journey to Create the Future (1991))
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Tags
About Béla H. Bánáthy
Béla Heinrich Bánáthy (December 1, 1919 – September 4, 2003) was a Hungarian-American linguist, and Professor at San Jose State University and UC Berkeley. He is known as founder of the White Stag Leadership Development Program, and was co-founder of the General Evolutionary Research Group in 1984.
About Béla H. Bánáthy
Béla Heinrich Bánáthy (December 1, 1919 – September 4, 2003) was a Hungarian-American linguist, and Professor at San Jose State University and UC Berkeley. He is known as founder of the White Stag Leadership Development Program, and was co-founder of the General Evolutionary Research Group in 1984.
View all quotes →