Provocation

(p. 145) "...many important new ideas came about through chance,
accident, mistake, or 'madness.'  All these provided a sort of
discontinuity, which forced us outside the usual boundaries of
'reasonableness' that had been established by our experience.  With
deliberate provocation we have a systematic method that can produce the
same effects. ... We use the symbolic word 'po' to indicate that this is
intended as a provocation..."

(p. 146) "The definition of a provocation is simple:

    With a provocation there may not be a reason for saying something
until after it has been said."

(p. 148) "The purpose of the provocation is precisely to get us out of
the usual maintrack of thinking.  From the provocation we move on to
find a new point which in hindsight seems to offer value.  It is the
escape from the established main track that is so important.  The brain
has to work to establish the main tracks.  That is the very essence of
the excellence of the brain.  At the same time we need ways of getting
out of those main tracks in order to be creative.  That is why
provocation plays so central a role in lateral thinking."