--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not believe that we can put into…" description: "\"I do not believe that we can put into anyone ideas which are not in him already. As a rule there are in everyone all sorts of good ideas, ready like ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/albert-schweitzer-701_believe_i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-an_2222613.jpg" --- # I do not believe that we can put into anyone ideas which… ![“I do not believe that we can put into anyone ideas which are not in him already. As a rule there are in everyone all sorts of good ideas, ready like tinder. But much of this tinder catches fire, or catches it successfully, only when it meets some flame or spark from outside, i.e., from some other…” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/albert-schweitzer-701_believe_i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-an_2222613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/albert-schweitzer-701_believe_i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-an_2222613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/albert-schweitzer-701_believe_i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-an_2222613.jpg) > “I do not believe that we can put into anyone ideas which are not in him already. As a rule there are in everyone all sorts of good ideas, ready like tinder. But much of this tinder catches fire, or catches it successfully, only when it meets some flame or spark from outside, i.e., from some other person.” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People possess innate good ideas that ignite only when sparked by external influence, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and collaboration. **In simple terms:** Ideas need external sparks to ignite. Key Takeaway Seek mentors and share ideas. Themes education collaboration innate potential mentorship Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - team building - creative workshops - innovation labs Key Concepts cognitive activation social learning idea incubation Questions to Reflect On - Who has sparked your best ideas? - How can you be a positive spark for others? A Different Perspective Not all ideas are positive; external influence can mislead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ## Related quotes > [“I do not believe that we can put into anyone ideas which are not in him already. As a rule there is in everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-anyone-ideas-which-are-not-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I think there should be an app that's like Tinder, but it's to connect people at the same bars/restaurants who are both waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-adefope/i-think-there-should-be-an-app-that-s-like-tinder-but-it-s-to-connect/) [Lolly Adefope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-adefope/) > [With all the things like Tinder and these different online sites that people use, 'Love Island' actually goes back to the traditional side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-flack/with-all-the-things-like-tinder-and-these-different-online-sites-that/) [Caroline Flack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-flack/) > [“But our wishes are like tinder: the flint and steel of circumstances are continually striking out sparks, which vanish immediately, unless they chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/but-our-wishes-are-like-tinder-the-flint-and-steel-of-circumstances/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [Same reason why young women on juries are not a good idea, they don't get it. They're not in that same life experience of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/same-reason-why-young-women-on-juries-are-not-a-good-idea-they-don-t/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Ever since our first fathers by infection took this morbum sathanicum, this devilish disease, pride, of the devil, such tinder is our nature, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lancelot-andrewes/ever-since-our-first-fathers-by-infection-took-this-morbum-sathanicum/) [Lancelot Andrewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lancelot-andrewes/) > [After the one extravagant gesture of creation in the first place, the universe has continued to deal exclusively in extravagances, flinging intricacies and colossi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/after-the-one-extravagant-gesture-of-creation-in-the-first-place-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [You want people who choose to follow because they genuinely believe in ideas, not because they're afraid to be punished if they don't. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/you-want-people-who-choose-to-follow-because-they-genuinely-believe/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [I believe that ideas such as absolute certitude, absolute exactness, final truth, etc. are figments of the imagination which should not be admissible in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-born/i-believe-that-ideas-such-as-absolute-certitude-absolute-exactness/) [Max Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-born/) > [If you can't fully believe in your ideas, it very quickly communicates to a group of actors who need something to hold onto. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-nunn/if-you-can-t-fully-believe-in-your-ideas-it-very-quickly-communicates/) [Trevor Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-nunn/) > [Great ideas are based on what we make others believe is their ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-travis/great-ideas-are-based-on-what-we-make-others-believe-is-their-ideas/) [Michael Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-travis/) > [“Because there is no such thing as people who just believe in ideas. Once people get ideas, they want to act on them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-there-is-no-such-thing-as-people-who-just-believe-in-ideas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“An imagined order must be made to make thousands of people believe in the same ideas for them to understand one another and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/read-trepreneur/an-imagined-order-must-be-made-to-make-thousands-of-people-believe-in/) [Read trepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/read-trepreneur/) > [Don't buy this 'believe in yourself' rubbish. Why do they keep telling youngsters that? There's no point believing in yourself if you don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/don-t-buy-this-believe-in-yourself-rubbish-why-do-they-keep-telling/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [I myself used to believe ideas didn't matter that much, but I'm very sure that's wrong now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-myself-used-to-believe-ideas-didn-t-matter-that-much-but-i-m-very/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/when-we-observe-contemporary-society-one-thing-strikes-us-we-debate/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [For those who sincerely seek the truth should not fear the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-those-who-sincerely-seek-the-truth-should-not-fear-the-outcome/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I still remain convinced that truth, love, peaceableness, meekness, and kindness are the violence which can master all other violence. The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do not believe that we can put into anyone ideas which are not in him already. As a rule there are in everyone all sorts of good ideas, ready like tinder. But much of this tinder catches fire, or catches it successfully, only when it meets some flame or spark from outside, i.e., from some other person.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Schweitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-anyone-ideas-which-are-not-in-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-anyone-ideas-which-are-not-in-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/albert-schweitzer-701_believe_i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-an_2222613.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/albert-schweitzer-701_believe_i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-an_2222613.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/albert-schweitzer-701_believe_i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-an_2222613.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do not believe that we can put into anyone ideas which are not in him already. As a rule there are in…” — Albert Schweitzer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Schweitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do not believe that we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-anyone-ideas-which-are-not-in-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-do-not-believe-that-we-can-put-into-anyone-ideas-which-are-not-in-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```