The Things to do are: the things that need doing,…

The Things to do are: the things that need doing, that you see need to be done, and that no one else seems to see need to be done. Then you will conceive your own way of doing that which needs to be done — that no one else has told you to do or how to do it. This will bring out the real you that often gets buried inside a character that has acquired a superficial array of behaviors induced or imposed by others on the individual.

Sourced

Letter to “Micheal” (16 February 1970) Micheal was a 10 year old boy who had inquired in a letter as to whether Fuller was a “doer” or a “thinker”.

Other Buckminster Fuller Quotes

Thinking is a momentary dismissal of irrelevancies. - View Quote Details on Thinking is a momentary dismissal of irrelevancies.
I seek through comprehensive anticipatory design science and its reductions to physical practices to reform the environment instead of trying to reform humans, being intent thereby to accomplish prototyped capabilities of doing more with less… (1947 ) - View Quote Details on I seek through comprehensive anticipatory design science and its reductions…
Love is omni-inclusive, progressively exquisite, understanding and compassionately attuned to other than self. - View Quote Details on Love is omni-inclusive, progressively exquisite, understanding and compassionately attuned to…
I set about fifty-five years ago (1927) to see what a penniless, unknown human individual with a dependent wife and newborn child might be able to do effectively on behalf of all humanity… - View Quote Details on I set about fifty-five years ago (1927) to see what…
Man is going to be displaced altogether as a specialist by the computer. Man himself is being forced to reestablish, employ, and enjoy his innate “comprehensivity.” Coping with the totality of Spaceship Earth and universe is ahead for all of us. - View Quote Details on Man is going to be displaced altogether as a specialist…
I find the audiences very excited. But then they come and say to me, “Your optimism has brushed off on me. I didn’t know we had an option. I feel so much better.” They say, “Your optimism.” And I am not optimistic or pessimistic. I feel that optimism and pessimism are very unbalanced. I am a very hard engineer. I am a mechanic. I am a sailor. I am an air pilot. I don’t tell people I can get you across the ocean with my ship unless I know what I’m talking about. - View Quote Details on I find the audiences very excited. But then they come…
Whether it is to be Utopia or Oblivion will be a touch-and-go relay race right up to the final moment…. Humanity is in ‘final exam’ as to whether or not it qualifies for continuance in Universe - View Quote Details on Whether it is to be Utopia or Oblivion will be…
“Those whom God hath joined together let no one put asunder.” To Anne Hewlett Fuller on this, our 63rd Wedding Anniversary and my 85 Birthday—July 12, 1980 - View Quote Details on “Those whom God hath joined together let no one put…
Dare to be naïve. - View Quote Details on Dare to be naïve.
Every child has an enormous drive to demonstrate competence. If humans are not required to earn a living to be provided survival needs, many are going to want very much to be productive, but not at those tasks they did not choose to do but were forced to accept in order to earn money. Instead, humans will spontaneously take upon themselves those tasks that world society really needs to have done. - View Quote Details on Every child has an enormous drive to demonstrate competence. If…