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Ideas are like wandering sons. They show up when you least expect them.
Bernard Williams
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Ideas can appear unexpectedly, often surprising us when we least anticipate them.

This quote by Bernard Williams signifies the unpredictable nature of inspiration and creativity. It suggests that ideas, much like wandering sons, arrive unexpectedly and often require us to be open and receptive to embrace their potential, reminding us that creativity can strike at any moment.

Themes

IdeasCreativityInspirationUnexpectedImagination

In practice

Example use cases

During a brainstorming session, when an unexpected idea pops up, referencing this quote can illustrate the spontaneous nature of creativity.

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Virtually the only subject in which one could ever get a scholarship to Oxford or Cambridge was classics. So I went to Oxford to study classics and, unlike Cambridge, it had a philosophy component, and I became completely transported by it.
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