Quotes About Creativity

It is a theory of mine," I said, warming to my theme, "that we owe most of our great inventions and most of the achievements of genius to idleness?either enforced or voluntary. The human mind prefers to be spoon-fed with the thoughts of others, but deprived of such nourishment it will, reluctantly, begin to think for itself?and such thinking, remember, is original thinking and may have valuable results.

First, you have to think and think and think and think; then you have to force yourself to write it down.

But, mind you, very few people would understand that point of view. Most people, you see, haven't got any imagination

When people ask "Do you put real people in your books?" the answer is that, for me, it is quite impossible to write about anyone I know, or have ever spoken to, or indeed have even heard about! For some reason, it kills them for me stone dead.

There you are, Ariadne," said Robin. "The whole plot of your next novel presented to you. All you'll have to do is work in a few false clues, and—of course—do the actual writing.

One could write a play about such an idea." "It has been done," said Poirot. "But console yourself, Hastings," he added kindly. "Because a theme has been used once, there is no reason why it should not be used again. Compose your drama.

Do you know what you sound like?' said Mrs. Oliver. 'A computer. You know. You're programming yourself. That's what they call it, isn't it? I mean you're feeding all these things into yourself all day and then you're going to see what comes out.

She was a lucky woman who had established a happy knack of writing what quite a lot of people wanted to read. Wonderful luck that was, Mrs. Oliver thought to herself.

You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master.

All you need is a chair and a table and a typewriter and a bit of peace

Seni yang benar-benar seni, tentu saja berbeda, dan anak-anak muda itu memakai alasan seni untuk membenarkan sikap mereka yang malas-malasan

We owe most of our great inventions and most of the achievements of genius to idleness.

You have a great advantage as a writer, Monsieur,' said Poirot. 'You can relieve your feelings by expedient of the printed word. You have the power of the pen over your enemies.

Imagination is a good servant and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely.

should learn from another. Each individual should develop his own powers to the uttermost, not try to imitate those of someone else. I do not wish you to be a second and inferior Poirot. I wish you to be the supreme Hastings. And you are the supreme Hastings. In you, Hastings, I find the normal mind almost perfectly illustrated.

The fact that you can sit down and write something, and that then it passes direct from you to someone else, is a much happier and more natural feeling than handing out cheques or things of that kind.

Kathrine had seldom had that useful thing, a 'day off'. 'But in a way, being tied physically gives you lots of scope mentally. You're always free to think.

the perfection of a filing system beside which all other filing systems should sink into oblivion. She dreamed of such a system at night.

Hate isn't creative." - Stillingfleet

By the way, I should like to make it clear here and now that the story will not be a story of South Africa. I guarantee no genuine local colour -- you know the sort of thing -- half a dozen words in italic on every page. I admire it very much, but I can't do it.

do not waste time taking photographs of interiors they are underexposed and not in the least artistic.

People with nothing better to do and a bit weak in the top storey sit down and write 'em. They don't mean any harm! Just a kind of excitement.

The true work, it is done from within. The little grey cells—remember always the little grey cells, mon ami." -- Hercule Poirot

I can always think of things," said Mrs. Oliver happily. "What is so tiring is writing them down. I always think I've finished, and then when I count up I find I've only written thirty thousand words instead of sixty thousand, and so then I have to throw in another murder and get the heroine kidnapped again. It's all very boring.