Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.

The aphorism reframes “diversity” less as a demographic tally than as a collaborative intellectual practice. “Thinking independently” stresses genuine difference—people bringing their own judgments rather than conforming to a dominant view—while “together” insists that independence is not isolation but a shared enterprise aimed at collective problem-solving. The phrase “the art of” implies this balance is difficult and cultivated: organizations and societies must create conditions where dissent is safe, listening is active, and decisions integrate multiple perspectives. In that sense, the line functions as both a definition and a managerial ideal, aligning diversity with creativity, resilience, and better decision-making.