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30 Deep, Thought-Provoking Questions that’ll Leave You Curious & Wondering

The art of conversation seems to be lost these days. So, if you want to resurrect it in your life, here are thought-provoking questions to get you talking.

Thought-Provoking Questions

When was the last time you had a really good conversation with thought-provoking questions? One you could walk away from and still think about for hours afterward? 

You’re probably struggling to come up with a time when that happened. Many of our conversations today are filled with a lot more junk than they are thought-provoking questions.

We jabber about the weather and other nonsense but don’t actually have real conversations. Problems in the world aren’t addressed in our discussions and we end up walking away not having made good use of our time conversing.

Why having good conversation matters

We need to be having discussions that are challenging to us. People need to challenge their thoughts and ideas in order for us to grow as people. [Read: 108 casual-yet-deep questions to ask a guy to get to know him in minutes]

When we only ever have one viewpoint – our own – we never really consider other possibilities and perspectives.

But when you are forced to see something from a different point of view, it can change your thoughts as a whole. 

Having someone ask thought-provoking questions can even help you understand your own mind better. You’ll be able to know who you are on a deeper level. [Read: Meaningful topics that ignite a great conversation]

Thought-provoking questions that’ll leave you thinking about the important things

Sure, it’s hard to conjure up some great questions while you’re in the middle of a conversation. That’s why we’re here. We have some of the best thought-provoking questions you can ask to get the conversation moving along in a beneficial direction.

The next time you’re deep in conversation, ask one of these to take it to the next level.

1. What do you think the world would look like if we lost all electricity forever?

This is a great question for a lot of reasons. It’ll help you see just how much the person thinks about the way society works. [Read: Interesting things to talk about with your girlfriend]

Would the world find a new government or would it just be chaos always?

2. Do you believe there could ever be 100% world peace? 

The topic of world peace seems to be discussed a lot, but it’s really not at all. Ask them how they feel about it. Do they think it could ever exist or not? This question can lead to many other important topics, too.

3. If there was one thing you could do forever to make you happy, what would it be? 

This is definitely one of the thought-provoking questions that’ll tell you more about them as a person than anything else. [Read: Steps to find your happiness]

It’ll give you insight into their deepest desires. However, it can also help build a new conversation on happiness in general.

4. What would your version of heaven look like? 

Whether or not they think heaven exists is irrelevant here. This is more about what they’d want their afterlife to be like for eternity. Is it much like your life now or would it be a completely different place?

5. Do you believe there’s such a thing as an afterlife? 

Speaking of afterlives, find out if they think it exists. This will help you see how deeply they think about these types of things and can also give you some insight into new theories of the afterlife.

6. Do you believe each person has a soul? 

The idea of people having souls is something that’s been debated for a very long time. It can lead to really deep discussions about the inner workings of a person’s spirit. [Read: What are twin souls? 16 signs you’ve found yours]

7. What’s the one thing you wish all of humanity had the ability to know or feel? 

We as people feel and know different things depending on our cultures and religions. But if there was one thing all of humanity should know, what would that be? 

Asking this will be sure to open up a whole new world of thought-provoking questions and conversations.

8. Do you ever think there could be a world leader that has power over all countries? 

The idea of a world ruler has always been put down. [Read: 55 personal questions to ask someone to make them open up and talk to you]

They’ve been made to be villains, but does that mean a world leader would be bad? Find out just what they think about a world under the rule of one person.

9. If aliens really are out there, do you think they’d ever make themselves known even if they knew about us? 

Aliens are a tough topic to talk about sometimes. We may never if there are some out there or not. 

Discussing their existence and interaction on Earth can be an intriguing, thought-provoking conversation. [Read: 35 brilliant conversation starters for a meaningful discussion]

10. What are some things you regret that could’ve changed the path of your life? 

This may be a more personal question, but it can evoke many deep thoughts and discussions. When you discuss regrets, you can learn more about a person and they can give you a lot of perspective from their experiences.

11. What’s something you think every person should experience in their lifetime? 

Whether it’s a specific job or a certain feeling, this is one of the thought-provoking questions that can lead to a much bigger discussion. You can even argue about what thing is more important to experience and why.

12. What’s something deep that you think about a lot but rarely talk about? 

People probably think a lot more deeply than they care to admit. They just don’t voice those thoughts hardly at all. [Read: 30 deep questions to ask someone to reveal who they really are]

Find out what they muse about in their own time and what’s important to think about them. They might have a theory that can get the gears turning in your head.

13. What’s the one thing you wish to accomplish before you die? 

Sure, this is a very personal question to many people, but it’s also very thought-provoking. It may help you put your own goals into perspective. 

You may end up realizing that there are more important things to focus on. The depth of the question is nearly endless and you will be thinking about it long after the discussion is over. [Read: Free spirit – what it means and 40 signs and ways to enjoy the flow of life]

14. If you had the opportunity to travel to another planet with no chance of ever coming back to Earth, would you go? 

Say there is an Earth-like planet discovered and we have the technology to get there, but you would never be able to return to Earth. 

What would someone else do? What would you do? Do you think you could go forward with it or would you miss the promise of life on Earth?

15. What’s one thing you would change about the world if you could? 

There’s no denying that this world has quite a few issues. But if there was one thing you could change about it, what would that be? [Read: How to build self-esteem and love life with simple life changes]

This will not only reveal a lot about yourself as a person but also how you see the world. It’ll show you what problems you focus on and even what you may need help with yourself.

16. Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?

No one has perfect self-esteem. So, that means most of us have compared ourselves and our lives to other people -whether it’s for better or for worse.

Asking this question will give you an insight into how they feel about themselves and their life overall. Do they spend a lot of time comparing themselves to others? Or are they content being themselves? [Read: The toxic dangers of social media and 19 signs and ways it makes you insecure]

17. What’s the most sensible thing you’ve ever heard someone say?

Our parents and elders usually give us wisdom and guidance when we’re young – and even throughout our lives. And even if a person they know didn’t tell them something sensible, maybe they read it somewhere.

This thought-provoking question will give you insight into what they think is profound and important in life. 

18. What gets you excited about life?                                                 

We all have our passions, and it’s interesting to see what other people’s passions are too. It might be something you’ve never heard of or thought about. [Read: 30 secrets to start over a new life and leave your past for a new adventure]

This is a great way to maybe even pick up a new passion yourself.

19. What life lesson did you learn the hard way?

Some people have to learn the hard way instead of the easy way. This usually happens when we’re young. So, don’t just ask them what lesson they learned, also inquire as to whether or not they actually implemented the lesson in their life.

20. What do you wish you spent more time doing five years ago?

As we get older, we change. Things we liked and disliked when we were younger may not be the same today. [Read: 32 flirty and deep Would You Rather questions for couples to connect better]

So, it is interesting to ask what has changed for them. What do they wish they would have done more than five years ago?

21. What’s a belief that you hold with which many people disagree?

Many people are “followers” because they don’t want people to disagree with them. But many of us hold some unpopular opinions or beliefs. Whether it’s a particular conspiracy theory or a religious belief, what do they believe that others probably don’t? 

22. What can you do today that you were not capable of a year ago?

Maybe the person lost a lot of weight and started running to train for a marathon. What has changed in the last year that they weren’t able to do last year? Why did they make that change? [Read: 21 questions for new couples to learn more about each other]

23. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

A lot of people have their little secrets that they don’t want anyone to know about. And they have the desire to act differently if they wouldn’t be judged. 

What would they do? Rob a bank? Try drugs? The possibilities are endless, and it says a lot about the person.

24. Is it possible to lie without saying a word?

Lying is an interesting topic to talk about because everyone does it to some extent.

Whether it’s just a little white lie or a big pathological lie, it’s important to see where someone stands on this behavior. [Read: 20 BIG-but-subtle signs and gestures to tell if someone is lying to your face]

So, why not ask them if they think it’s possible to lie just with just a person’s actions? This is another thought-provoking question.

25. Would you break the law to save a loved one?

Many people would run into a burning building to try to save their loved ones – especially their children. But how far would someone go with breaking the law? Would you be willing to spend time in prison for your crime? If so, how long? 

26. If you could choose one book as a mandatory read for all high school students, which book would you choose? 

There are so many famous books that have impacted society. So, ask not only what their favorite book is, but why they think it should be mandatory. [Read: 40 very deep questions to ask someone before you get close to them]

Would it be something like 1984 or Brave New World? Or something more positive and uplifting?

27. What has life taught you recently?

Sometimes we all get caught up in our daily, mundane lives that we forget to look around at all the lessons around us. Life teaches us all the time. So, what has this person learned recently from life? Have them tell you the story about it.

28. What impact do you want to leave on the world? 

Most people don’t want to be a “nobody.” They want their lives to matter. [Read: What is my purpose in life? 33 secrets to find meaning when you feel lost]

So, this is an age-old question of what mark someone wants to leave on the world when they’re gone. How do they want to make the world a better place? 

29. Has your greatest fear ever come true?

We all have fears. Some people have a lot, and some have very few. But we all have some. So, talk about their fears and where they came from. Are they rational? Have any of them come true? If not, what’s the likelihood that it would?

30. What do you love most about yourself?

Not everyone has good self-esteem, but there is usually something that most people like about themselves. And don’t let the person get away with saying “nothing.” Push them to talk about their good qualities and why they feel that way.

 [Read: Things happy couples talk about to feel closer]

Having meaningful conversations is more important now than ever before. Ask these thought-provoking questions in order to open someone’s mind and get to know them better.

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Vinod Srinivas Serai
Vin Serai
Vin Serai is the founder of LovePanky.com, and has delved deep into the working of love and relationships for almost two decades. Having dipped his feet in almo...