Quotes About Inspiration

In one of his lectures on creativity, the comedian John Cleese talked about the need to find one's own "tortoise enclosure"—that19 sheltered, quiet place where you can go for extended periods to escape from the distractions of the outside world so that you can think without interruption.

One good question can give rise to several layers of answers, can inspire decades-long searches for solutions, can generate whole new fields of inquiry, and can prompt changes in entrenched thinking," Firestein writes. "Answers, on the other hand, often end the process.

That, right there, is a beautiful question for the ages: What do you want to say? Why does it need to be said? What if you could say it in a way that has never before been done? How might you do that?

one of the most important things a leader can do is project a clear and distinctive point of view that others can follow. But that clear vision is arrived at, and constantly modified and sharpened, through deep reflection and questioning.

Often the worst thing you can do with a difficult question is to try to answer it too quickly. When the mind is coming up with What If possibilities, these fresh, new ideas can take time to percolate and form. They often result from connecting existing ideas in unusual and interesting ways.

Keith Yamashita says companies can try to find their cause by asking, What does the world hunger for?

David Kord Murray, a former rocket scientist42 who worked on projects for NASA and later became the head of innovation at Intuit, made a study of connective creativity in his book Borrowing Brilliance. According to Murray, "The nature of innovation [is that] we build new ideas out of existing ideas." Murray cites Einstein, Walt Disney, George Lucas, and Steve Jobs as prime examples of innovators who "defined problems, borrowed ideas, and then made new combinations.

After observing about a hundred Q-storm sessions around the world, Gregersen has noted some patterns. "At around twenty-five questions, the group may stall briefly and say, 'That's enough questions.' But if you push on beyond that point, some of the best questions come as you get to fifty or even seventy-five.

We arrive at originality because the dendrites have reached out and made contact with the branches of faraway "trees," thereby enabling us to combine thoughts, bits of knowledge, and influences that normally do not mix.

You do things when the opportunities come along. I've had periods in my life when I've had a bundle of ideas come along, and I've had long dry spells. If I get an idea next week, I'll do something. If not, I won't do a damn thing.

It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.

I want a tattoo over my heart that reads TRY HARDER YOU LAZY PARAMEDIC SHITBAG OR I WILL HAUNT YOUR BEDROOM FOREVER

Writer's block? I've heard of this. This is when a writer cannot write, yes? Then that person isn't a writer anymore. I'm sorry, but the job is getting up in the fucking morning and writing for a living.

Writing comics? Still the best job in the world. I sit around all day making shit up and see it illustrated, in 99% of cases, exactly as I imagined it -- if not better. I've been doing this a long time now, and I'm going to do it until I die. Which probably won't be long, given the constant insane deadline pressure.

Seeing my dad forfeit promotions so he could have more time with my sister, brother, mom, and me gave me a role model in my dad that was more than a financial womb—more than a success object.

Helping your son develop his sense of purpose requires beginning at a very different place than his dad-or granddad. His dad or granddad was told his sense of purpose. Your job is to help your son find his sense of purpose.

The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it

Tom Petty," Jim Lenahan insists, "is really good at getting people to quit school and join his band. He got Benmont to do it. He got me to do it. He got Mike to do it. He got a lot of people to quit college so they could be in his band.

My sons weren't sure what I was getting at. It doesn't matter anyway, because it won't be an option for them. They don't have a Tom Petty. They're borrowing mine.

After Petty's therapist heard the song "Wildflowers," he asked who the singer was addressing. "I told him I wasn't sure," Petty says. "And then he said, 'I know. That song is about you. That's you singing to yourself what you needed to hear.' It kind of knocked me back. But I realized he was right. It was me singing to me.

The feeling that universities were supposed to give, that feeling of possibility and promise, these kids got from playing in bands. By

My dad instilled in me a great sense of humor. I wasn't bullied at school because my outward attitude was confident, and that helps.

The Painter who seeks popularity in Art closes the door upon his own genius.

The love of gain never made a Painter; but it has marred many.