--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you wait for inspiration you'll be…" description: "\"If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.\" — Ben Nicholas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ben-nicholas-43303_after_if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-st_1976074.png" --- # If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the… ![“If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.” quote by Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ben-nicholas-43303_after_if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-st_1976074.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ben-nicholas-43303_after_if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-st_1976074.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ben-nicholas-43303_after_if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-st_1976074.png) > “If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.” [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Waiting for inspiration leads to inactivity; by the time it arrives, the opportunity has passed. **In simple terms:** Don't wait for inspiration; act now. Key Takeaway Take proactive steps toward your goals. Themes productivity creativity initiative timing Mood encouraging pragmatic Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - daily habit building - project planning - deadline setting Key Concepts behavioral economics motivation goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How can you create your own inspiration? - What small action can you start today? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on inspiration can cause procrastination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [After](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) [Corner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corner/) [Corner Parade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corner-parade-3345655/) [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Mile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mile/) [Parade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parade/) [Parade Mile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parade-mile-3345656/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing Corner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-corner-1493535/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) [Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait/) [Wait Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait-inspiration-310713/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby-but-routine-is-the-momentum/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [If you plan your work, you will not find yourself standing on the corner wondering where to go next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/if-you-plan-your-work-you-will-not-find-yourself-standing-on-the/) [John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) > [Television is more interesting than people. If it were not we should have people standing in the corner of our room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/television-is-more-interesting-than-people-if-it-were-not-we-should/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [A stand-up comedian will never be the life of a party. Instead, he will be the guy who is standing at a corner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/a-stand-up-comedian-will-never-be-the-life-of-a-party-instead-he-will/) [Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/) > [Am I in the picture? Am I getting in or out of it? I could be a ghost, an animal or a dead body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-woodman/am-i-in-the-picture-am-i-getting-in-or-out-of-it-i-could-be-a-ghost/) [Francesca Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-woodman/) > [...and I'm standing on the corner of Fifth and Vermouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/and-i-m-standing-on-the-corner-of-fifth-and-vermouth/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Standing in the corner, it's not my game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-dragic/standing-in-the-corner-it-s-not-my-game/) [Goran Dragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-dragic/) > [We still have prostitutes standing on our corner, and people crapping round the back of buildings. The charms are still there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/we-still-have-prostitutes-standing-on-our-corner-and-people-crapping/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [I don't wait for inspiration. I get up and write every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-marie-buchanan/i-don-t-wait-for-inspiration-i-get-up-and-write-every-day/) [Cathy Marie Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-marie-buchanan/) > [I don't wait for inspiration. I'm not, in fact, quite sure what inspiration is, but I'm sure that if it is going to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-don-t-wait-for-inspiration-i-m-not-in-fact-quite-sure-what/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/you-can-t-wait-for-inspiration-you-have-to-go-after-it-with-a-club-2/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [I don't write on demand - I wait for inspiration to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-don-t-write-on-demand-i-wait-for-inspiration-to-come/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [“Don’t wait for inspiration. She’s a fickle tart. Just write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bavetta/don-t-wait-for-inspiration-she-s-a-fickle-tart-just-write/) [Ruth Bavetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bavetta/) > [“Don’t wait for inspiration; create a framework for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/don-t-wait-for-inspiration-create-a-framework-for-it/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“You don't have to wait for an inspiration to fulfil your dream because a dream is an inspiration itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/you-don-t-have-to-wait-for-an-inspiration-to-fulfil-your-dream/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) ## More by Ben Nicholas > [My first scene was a streaking scene, I had to streak at a footy game, that's how I get introduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/my-first-scene-was-a-streaking-scene-i-had-to-streak-at-a-footy-game/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/most-of-life-is-routine-dull-and-grubby-but-routine-is-the-momentum/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [I've done a little bit of TV. I'm doing a little mini-series at the moment called 'Scooter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/i-ve-done-a-little-bit-of-tv-i-m-doing-a-little-mini-series-at-the/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [My first scene was a streaking scene, I had to streak at a footy game, thats how I get introduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/my-first-scene-was-a-streaking-scene-i-had-to-streak-at-a-footy-game-2/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [If I could work with any actor it would have to be Johnny Depp. He is cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/if-i-could-work-with-any-actor-it-would-have-to-be-johnny-depp-he-is/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [It's very hard to play a hyperactive character all the time, I try my best, but I end up collapsing at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/it-s-very-hard-to-play-a-hyperactive-character-all-the-time-i-try-my/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [I have mainly come from a theatre background, I did 'Oliver' here I played the Artful Dodger and I did 'The Sound of Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/i-have-mainly-come-from-a-theatre-background-i-did-oliver-here-i/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [Most people are nice and just want to have a chat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/most-people-are-nice-and-just-want-to-have-a-chat/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) [Explore all 9 Ben Nicholas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) [Deke Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-richards/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) [Bert Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-lahr/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I'd like an omelet named after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-d-like-an-omelet-named-after-me/) [Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/) [Browse all 3,411 After quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Nicholas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-standing-on-the-corner-after/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "After" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-standing-on-the-corner-after/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ben-nicholas-43303_after_if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-st_1976074.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ben-nicholas-43303_after_if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-st_1976074.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/ben-nicholas-43303_after_if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-st_1976074.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.” — Ben Nicholas", "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": "Ben Nicholas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you wait for inspiration you'll...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-standing-on-the-corner-after/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/if-you-wait-for-inspiration-you-ll-be-standing-on-the-corner-after/#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 } } ] } ```