Parents are usually more careful to bestow knowledge on their children rather than virtue, the art of speaking well rather than doing well; but their manners should be of the greatest concern.
Only the free-wheeling artist-explorer, non-academic, scientist-philosopher, mechanic, economist-poet who has never waited for patron-starting and accrediting of his co-ordinate capabilities holds the prime initiative today.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True innovators do not wait for approval or validation to pursue their creative visions.
This quote by R. Buckminster Fuller emphasizes the importance of self-initiative and the ability to explore, create, and innovate without seeking external validation or traditional credentials. It speaks to the essence of creativity and the value of a multidisciplinary approach, suggesting that true progress comes from those who bravely navigate their own paths in various fields rather than conforming to established norms.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing careers in the arts, one might use this quote to inspire students to follow their passions without waiting for approval.
More from R. Buckminster Fuller
All quotes βThere is no such thing as genius, some children are just less damaged than others.
The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun.
I have spent most of my life unlearning things that were proved not to be true
The earth is like a spaceship that didn't come with an operating manual.
Nature is trying very hard to make us succeed, but nature does not depend on us. We are not the only experiment.
Similar quotes
The greatest films ever made in our history were cut on film, and I'm tenaciously hanging on to the process. I just love going into an editing room and smelling the photochemistry and seeing my editor wearing mini-strands of film around his neck.
I always saw hurdles as a form of art, because it's very individual. One technique that may produce a world record for one guy could be useless for another guy.
I'm a Method actor. I spent years training for the drinking and carousing I had to do in this film.
The poet does not know - often he will never know - whom he really writes for.
Drawing is the root of everything, and the time spent on that is actually all profit.
Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to play music that I liked, and even when I was in cover bands when I was a teenager we only played cover tunes that we liked. That was the simple morality that I grew up with.