--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to use my hands and make things…" description: "\"I like to use my hands and make things... It might seem pretty stupid or pointless but that doesn't matter... some of the most interesting work is the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/bruce-nauman-16839_activity_i-like-to-use-my-hands-and-make-things-i_1638088.png" --- # I like to use my hands and make things... It might seem… ![“I like to use my hands and make things... It might seem pretty stupid or pointless but that doesn't matter... some of the most interesting work is the stuff that starts like that - out of a raw need for activity.” quote by Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/bruce-nauman-16839_activity_i-like-to-use-my-hands-and-make-things-i_1638088.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/bruce-nauman-16839_activity_i-like-to-use-my-hands-and-make-things-i_1638088.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/bruce-nauman-16839_activity_i-like-to-use-my-hands-and-make-things-i_1638088.png) > “I like to use my hands and make things... It might seem pretty stupid or pointless but that doesn't matter... some of the most interesting work is the stuff that starts like that - out of a raw need for activity.” [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating through physical activity can spark unexpected, valuable ideas despite seeming trivial. **In simple terms:** Hands‑on work can lead to surprising insights. Key Takeaway Embrace tactile experimentation. Themes creativity process play Mood curious energetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - artistic practice - product design - education - personal hobbies Key Concepts embodied cognition serendipity Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a simple activity into a meaningful outcome? - When does play become productive? A Different Perspective Not all hands‑on work yields useful results; effort may be wasted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hands Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-make-543157/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Make Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-things/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Pointless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pointless/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Stuff Starts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff-starts-543159/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-hands/) [Work Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-stuff-543158/) ## Related quotes > [“One by one, with my own hands, I had to make this thing I called 'I'-- or, rather, make the things that constituted me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/one-by-one-with-my-own-hands-i-had-to-make-this-thing-i-called-i-or/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [It is cool to make a pilot because you get to do all the fun stuff, and then you get to leave when all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-arden-oplev/it-is-cool-to-make-a-pilot-because-you-get-to-do-all-the-fun-stuff/) [Niels Arden Oplev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-arden-oplev/) > [I think my TV show is gonna be my big thing, so I'm pretty focused on that, and I think doing that will lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-dicky/i-think-my-tv-show-is-gonna-be-my-big-thing-so-i-m-pretty-focused-on/) [Lil Dicky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-dicky/) > [I'm always willing to work stuff out, because I'm that type of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-m-always-willing-to-work-stuff-out-because-i-m-that-type-of-guy/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I love the people I work with and the stuff I've found and that's found me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/i-love-the-people-i-work-with-and-the-stuff-i-ve-found-and-that-s/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [I don't know which is more nutty. All this stuff I do outside of work, or the stuff I do all week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-which-is-more-nutty-all-this-stuff-i-do-outside-of-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I do have time to work on music, I'm kind of selfish, and would rather work on my own stuff than someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-i-do-have-time-to-work-on-music-i-m-kind-of-selfish-and-would/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Just kind of finding it, that's what Spring Training is for, to work on stuff and get ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-martinez/just-kind-of-finding-it-that-s-what-spring-training-is-for-to-work-on/) [J. D. Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-martinez/) > [I like to see how other people work and be part of their stuff and see what I can do to be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-like-to-see-how-other-people-work-and-be-part-of-their-stuff-and/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [I don't want to work on stuff I don't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigesato-itoi/i-don-t-want-to-work-on-stuff-i-don-t-like/) [Shigesato Itoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigesato-itoi/) > [But what's so great about being a perfectionist?... You do all this work, and then the stuff you've made just pisses you off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/but-what-s-so-great-about-being-a-perfectionist-you-do-all-this-work/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [It's not about the fame and the money because if you do good work all that stuff comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cassidy/it-s-not-about-the-fame-and-the-money-because-if-you-do-good-work-all/) [David Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cassidy/) > [It's interesting when you make things or do things that open up the possibilities for making more things, or different kinds of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/it-s-interesting-when-you-make-things-or-do-things-that-open-up-the/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [Many hands make light work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/many-hands-make-light-work/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [Hands make the world each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/hands-make-the-world-each-day/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) ## More by Bruce Nauman > [My work is basically an outgrowth of the anger I feel about the human condition. The aspects of it that make me angry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/my-work-is-basically-an-outgrowth-of-the-anger-i-feel-about-the-human/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [Did you stop because it was good enough, or could have done more - but then maybe ruined it too? Sometimes you finish because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/did-you-stop-because-it-was-good-enough-or-could-have-done-more-but/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [In art, the only one who really knows whether what you've done is honest is the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whether-what-you-ve-done-is/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [I like to combine different aspects in my work, to cover different areas, but I do see them as being separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/i-like-to-combine-different-aspects-in-my-work-to-cover-different/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [If I was an artist, and I was in the studio, then whatever I was doing in the studio must be art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/if-i-was-an-artist-and-i-was-in-the-studio-then-whatever-i-was-doing/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [A good teacher is like a good artist. They go right to the most difficult part of whatever's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/a-good-teacher-is-like-a-good-artist-they-go-right-to-the-most/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [And so I put down some of the things that he said, about keeping your tools sharpened and not letting them lie on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/and-so-i-put-down-some-of-the-things-that-he-said-about-keeping-your/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [Pete and Repeat were sitting on a wall. Pete fell off. Who was left? Repeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/pete-and-repeat-were-sitting-on-a-wall-pete-fell-off-who-was-left/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [I've always been interested in what happens in the studio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-what-happens-in-the-studio/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [One of the factors that still keeps me in the studio is that every so often I have to more or less start all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/one-of-the-factors-that-still-keeps-me-in-the-studio-is-that-every-so/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [In this case we're building a corner to stretch a fence and hang a gate. It had a real purpose in the ranch here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/in-this-case-we-re-building-a-corner-to-stretch-a-fence-and-hang-a/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [But if you can find that spot - I suppose it's like running - I used to be a swimmer and swim laps, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/but-if-you-can-find-that-spot-i-suppose-it-s-like-running-i-used-to/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [If you choose the wrong questions and you proceed, you still get a result, but it's not interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/if-you-choose-the-wrong-questions-and-you-proceed-you-still-get-a/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [It's interesting when you make things or do things that open up the possibilities for making more things, or different kinds of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/it-s-interesting-when-you-make-things-or-do-things-that-open-up-the/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [I thought I might have to give up art, but I couldn't think of anything else to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/i-thought-i-might-have-to-give-up-art-but-i-couldn-t-think-of/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) [Explore all 38 Bruce Nauman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like to use my hands and make things... 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