Whatever creativity is, it is in part a solution to a problem.

Whatever creativity is, it is in part a solution to a problem.

The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient read more

The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient history, nineteenth -century mathematics, current manufacturing techniques, flower arranging, and hog futures. Because he never knows when these ideas might come together to form a new idea. It may happen six minutes later or six months, or six years down the road. But he has faith that it will happen.

We try not to have ideas, preferring accidents. To create, you must empty yourself of every artistic thought.

We try not to have ideas, preferring accidents. To create, you must empty yourself of every artistic thought.

First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my read more

First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand.

Don't play what's there, play what's not there.

Don't play what's there, play what's not there.

Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and read more

Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.

The world embarrasses me, and I cannot dream That this watch exists and has no watchmaker.

The world embarrasses me, and I cannot dream That this watch exists and has no watchmaker.

Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.

Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.

You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.

You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.