--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I prefer to shoot the arrow, then paint…" description: "\"I prefer to shoot the arrow, then paint the target around it. You make the niches in which you finally reside.\" — Brian Eno" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/brian-eno-776_arrow_i-prefer-to-shoot-the-arrow-then-paint-t_2477967.jpg" --- # I prefer to shoot the arrow, then paint the target around… ![“I prefer to shoot the arrow, then paint the target around it. You make the niches in which you finally reside.” quote by Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/brian-eno-776_arrow_i-prefer-to-shoot-the-arrow-then-paint-t_2477967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/brian-eno-776_arrow_i-prefer-to-shoot-the-arrow-then-paint-t_2477967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/brian-eno-776_arrow_i-prefer-to-shoot-the-arrow-then-paint-t_2477967.jpg) > “I prefer to shoot the arrow, then paint the target around it. You make the niches in which you finally reside.” [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work involves shaping reality, not just reacting to it. **In simple terms:** Create before judging. Key Takeaway Act first, define later. Themes creativity agency definition art innovation Mood experimental provocative Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - product development - artistic practice - entrepreneurship Key Concepts design thinking intentionality self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if you acted without a preset goal? - How does redefining context affect outcomes? A Different Perspective Pre‑defining targets can limit possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Niche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niche/) ## Related quotes > [People in the arts often want to aim for the biggest, most obvious target, and hit it smack in the bull’s eye. Of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/people-in-the-arts-often-want-to-aim-for-the-biggest-most-obvious/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [You shoot your arrow and then you paint your bulls eye around it, and therefore you have hit the target dead centre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/you-shoot-your-arrow-and-then-you-paint-your-bulls-eye-around-it-and/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Instead of shooting arrows at someone elses target, which Ive never been very good at, I make my own target around wherever my arrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/instead-of-shooting-arrows-at-someone-elses-target-which-ive-never/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake of hitting the goal, the less you will succeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/the-more-obstinately-you-try-to-learn-how-to-shoot-the-arrow-for-the-2/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [I shoot an arrow into the air, where it lands I do not care: I get my arrows wholesale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curly-howard/i-shoot-an-arrow-into-the-air-where-it-lands-i-do-not-care-i-get-my/) [Curly Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curly-howard/) > [The right art is purposeless, aimless! The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake of hitting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/the-right-art-is-purposeless-aimless-the-more-obstinately-you-try-to/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [Planning is like "pointing yourself" in the direction of a target...no more than that. Let your power then redefine the target, and re-point you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-carroll/planning-is-like-pointing-yourself-in-the-direction-of-a-target-no/) [Lee Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-carroll/) > [“The right art," cried the Master, "is purposeless, aimless! The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/the-right-art-cried-the-master-is-purposeless-aimless-the-more/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake of hitting the goal, the less you will succeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/the-more-obstinately-you-try-to-learn-how-to-shoot-the-arrow-for-the/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [“If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high...hurray for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-corey/if-you-shoot-an-arrow-and-it-goes-real-high-hurray-for-you/) [Dorian Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-corey/) > [It's basic research: shoot an arrow in the air. Where it lands, paint a bullseye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-streb/it-s-basic-research-shoot-an-arrow-in-the-air-where-it-lands-paint-a/) [Elizabeth Streb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-streb/) > [If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high... Hooray for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-corey/if-you-shoot-an-arrow-and-it-goes-real-high-hooray-for-you/) [Dorian Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-corey/) > [There’s nothing wrong with ordinary. I just prefer to shoot for extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-ordinary-i-just-prefer-to-shoot-for/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [I think that I prefer to shoot characters even if they are not good people. I don't think that cinema is a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-gomes/i-think-that-i-prefer-to-shoot-characters-even-if-they-are-not-good/) [Miguel Gomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-gomes/) > [“Sophronia felt bound to object. "I, for one, should prefer not to shoot at someone I like." "Admirable scruples, Miss Temminnick. Get over them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/sophronia-felt-bound-to-object-i-for-one-should-prefer-not-to-shoot/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) ## More by Brian Eno > [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [The lyrics are constructed as empirically as the music. I don't set out to say anything very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/the-lyrics-are-constructed-as-empirically-as-the-music-i-don-t-set/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Admirers can be a tremendous force for conservatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/admirers-can-be-a-tremendous-force-for-conservatism/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [The whole history of pop music had rested on the first person singular, with occasional intrusions of the second person singular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/the-whole-history-of-pop-music-had-rested-on-the-first-person/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [You can't really imagine music without technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/you-can-t-really-imagine-music-without-technology/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Robert Fripp and I will be recording another LP very soon. It should be even more monotonous than the first one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/robert-fripp-and-i-will-be-recording-another-lp-very-soon-it-should/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I despise computers in many ways. I think they’re hopelessly underevolved and overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-despise-computers-in-many-ways-i-think-they-re-hopelessly/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I think very often producers are really trying to repeat things. When they hear something in the new songs that they recognize as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-think-very-often-producers-are-really-trying-to-repeat-things-when/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I think that's very significant that we're so attached to the idea now of - it was something I advocated for years, that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-think-that-s-very-significant-that-we-re-so-attached-to-the-idea/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [If you watch any good player, they're using different parts of their body and working with instruments that respond to those movements. They're moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/if-you-watch-any-good-player-they-re-using-different-parts-of-their/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Songs that don't depend on composition depend instead on performance - so the fire has to be there in the playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/songs-that-don-t-depend-on-composition-depend-instead-on-performance/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I can see the use and value of religion, just as I can see the use of mud wrestling, yoga, astronomy and sadomasochism. but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-can-see-the-use-and-value-of-religion-just-as-i-can-see-the-use-of/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I wanted to get rid of the element that had been considered essential in pop music: the voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-wanted-to-get-rid-of-the-element-that-had-been-considered-essential/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [At the beginning of the 20th century, the ambition of the great painters was to make paintings that were like music, which was then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/at-the-beginning-of-the-20th-century-the-ambition-of-the-great/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I had an interesting day. I was in the studio with a group of musicians, who shall remain nameless, and I said to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-had-an-interesting-day-i-was-in-the-studio-with-a-group-of/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) [Explore all 373 Brian Eno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) ## More Arrow quotes > [I'll get that arrow, pretty boy, and I'll do it with my shirt \*on\*. -Yao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mulan/i-ll-get-that-arrow-pretty-boy-and-i-ll-do-it-with-my-shirt-on-yao/) [Mulan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mulan/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [The main thing is to have strings to your bow. You get your badges, you see where life is, and then you see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/the-main-thing-is-to-have-strings-to-your-bow-you-get-your-badges-you/) [Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Game of Thrones. I'm all about it. I watch Arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-r-mcqueen/game-of-thrones-i-m-all-about-it-i-watch-arrow/) [Steven R. McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-r-mcqueen/) > [“Took an arrow in the knee on my way through the Eld three summers ago. It gives out every now and then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/took-an-arrow-in-the-knee-on-my-way-through-the-eld-three-summers-ago/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [My Band, Pierce the Arrow, is my other passion along with acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sandoval/my-band-pierce-the-arrow-is-my-other-passion-along-with-acting/) [Tom Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sandoval/) > [If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high... Hooray for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-corey/if-you-shoot-an-arrow-and-it-goes-real-high-hooray-for-you/) [Dorian Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-corey/) > [You can learn from an ordinary bamboo leaf what ought to happen. It bends lower and lower under the weight of snow. Suddenly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/you-can-learn-from-an-ordinary-bamboo-leaf-what-ought-to-happen-it/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [“It was chosen by the archer and though it is a long way off, we cannot blame it when we fail to hit it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-was-chosen-by-the-archer-and-though-it-is-a-long-way-off-we-cannot/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Follow your arrow / Wherever it points,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/follow-your-arrow-wherever-it-points/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [If the work is high and far, You must not only aim aright, But draw the bow with all your might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-the-work-is-high-and-far-you-must-not-only-aim-aright-but-draw-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“How did you kill the Ashman in the forest last year?” “I shot him with an arrow.” “What kind of arrow?” “A sharp one.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/how-did-you-kill-the-ashman-in-the-forest-last-year-i-shot-him-with/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/i-must-only-warn-you-of-one-thing-you-have-become-a-different-person/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) Browse all 232 Arrow quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I prefer to shoot the arrow, then paint the target around it. 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