Nothing defines humans better than their willingness to do irrational things in the pursuit of phenomenally unlikely payoffs. This is the principle behind lotteries, dating, and religion.
Scott AdamsRead
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Creativity involves freedom to make mistakes, while art is the skill of discerning valuable ones.
This quote by Scott Adams emphasizes the dual aspects of creativity and art. It suggests that true creativity comes from the willingness to explore and make mistakes without fear, but to be an artist requires the ability to recognize which of those mistakes hold value, ultimately shaping the final piece of work. This reflects the nuanced process of creation where both experimentation and critical judgment play essential roles.
Themes
CreativityArtMistakesExpressionInnovation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could inspire young artists in a workshop about the creative process.
More from Scott Adams
All quotes →If you want to kill an idea without being identified as the assassin, suggest that the legal department take a look at it.
Scott AdamsRead
My failed corporate career became the fodder for the 'Dilbert' comic. Once it became clear I would not be climbing any higher on the corporate ladder, it freed me to mock managers without worrying that it would stall my career. Most failures create some sort of unplanned freedom. I took full advantage of mine.
Scott AdamsRead
What does it mean to be yourself?” he asked. “If it means to do what you think you ought to do, then you’re doing that already. If it means to act like you’re exempt from society’s influence, that’s the worst advice in the world; you would probably stop bathing and wearing clothes. The advice to ‘be yourself’ is obviously nonsense. But our brains accept this tripe as wisdom because it is more comfortable to believe we have a strategy for life than to believe we have no idea how to behave.
Scott AdamsRead
Similar quotes
I try to give people a different way of looking at their surroundings. That's art to me.
Maya LinRead
The band is a living, breathing thing. It grows in the same way we do as human beings and if it doesn't, it dies. It's important to feed the organism, and one way of doing that is to set musical challenges that keep it alive.
Nick CaveRead
Style is very personal. It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever.
Ralph LaurenRead
I want a painting to be difficult to do. The more obstacles, obstructions, problems - if they don't overwhelm - the better. I would like to feel that I am involved at any stage of the painting with all its moments, not just this 'now' moment where a superficial grace is so available.
Richard DiebenkornRead
At the time I started in ballet they were dancing 'The Spirit of Champagne' on pointe, in Paris. I thought, 'I don't want to dance the spirit of champagne, I want to drink it!
Martha GrahamRead
I love hanging and drawing and quartering_x000D_ Every bit as well as war and slaughtering.
William BlakeRead