--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Limits are possibilities. ... Formal…" description: "\"Limits are possibilities. ... Formal restrictions, contrary to what you might think, free you up by allowing you to concentrate on purer ideas. ... You..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/chip-kidd-15285_allowing_limits-are-possibilities-formal-restrict_2199233.jpg" --- # Limits are possibilities. ... Formal restrictions… ![“Limits are possibilities. ... Formal restrictions, contrary to what you might think, free you up by allowing you to concentrate on purer ideas. ... You can be crippled by too many choices, especially if you don't know what your goals are.” quote by Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/chip-kidd-15285_allowing_limits-are-possibilities-formal-restrict_2199233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/chip-kidd-15285_allowing_limits-are-possibilities-formal-restrict_2199233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/chip-kidd-15285_allowing_limits-are-possibilities-formal-restrict_2199233.jpg) > “Limits are possibilities. ... Formal restrictions, contrary to what you might think, free you up by allowing you to concentrate on purer ideas. ... You can be crippled by too many choices, especially if you don't know what your goals are.” [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Constraints can sharpen creativity, while too many options overwhelm without clear goals. **In simple terms:** Limits boost focus; excess choices hinder. Key Takeaway Set clear goals and embrace useful constraints. Themes creativity decision making focus Mood inspired practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - project planning - artistic work - product development Key Concepts design thinking cognitive load goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What constraints have helped you? - How do you simplify choices? A Different Perspective Rigid limits may stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Doing any job for too long limits your possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/doing-any-job-for-too-long-limits-your-possibilities/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the buts you use today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/the-only-limits-to-the-possibilities-in-your-life-tomorrow-are-the/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [Our thoughts and imagination are the only real limits to our possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/our-thoughts-and-imagination-are-the-only-real-limits-to-our/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Our thoughts and imaginations are the only real limits to our possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/our-thoughts-and-imaginations-are-the-only-real-limits-to-our/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [You can't live your life to suit other people. The harder you try, the more restrictions they'll put on you just for the fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-can-t-live-your-life-to-suit-other-people-the-harder-you-try-the/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [For me, restrictions are not always negative. Restrictions can push creativity. I like restrictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-van-noten/for-me-restrictions-are-not-always-negative-restrictions-can-push/) [Dries van Noten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-van-noten/) > [restrictions create frustrations!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/restrictions-create-frustrations/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [I don't believe there should be any restrictions when it comes to firearms. None.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-don-t-believe-there-should-be-any-restrictions-when-it-comes-to/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Restrictions will set you free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-a-mathieu/restrictions-will-set-you-free/) [W.A. Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-a-mathieu/) > [If I'm serious about patients and their GPs being able to have more control of their health care, I can't have a top-down system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lansley/if-i-m-serious-about-patients-and-their-gps-being-able-to-have-more/) [Andrew Lansley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lansley/) > [Restrictions are difficult to enforce in a world where anybody can make anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hod-lipson/restrictions-are-difficult-to-enforce-in-a-world-where-anybody-can/) [Hod Lipson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hod-lipson/) > [I always put a little bit of restrictions on myself, and I only do it for my creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sune-rose-wagner/i-always-put-a-little-bit-of-restrictions-on-myself-and-i-only-do-it/) [Sune Rose Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sune-rose-wagner/) > [A lot of great creativity comes from restrictions,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/a-lot-of-great-creativity-comes-from-restrictions/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [Young writers need to be encouraged to write - just write - with no restrictions on form, style or content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/young-writers-need-to-be-encouraged-to-write-just-write-with-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Limitations are something that I latch onto - like working in genre, or if you're writing TV, there are act breaks, there's a length…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/limitations-are-something-that-i-latch-onto-like-working-in-genre-or/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## More by Chip Kidd > [Yes, Garnett Grey was an Architect. Were a psychoanalyst to approach him from behind, tap his shoulder, and say 'Humanity,' Garrett'd spin and respond,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/yes-garnett-grey-was-an-architect-were-a-psychoanalyst-to-approach/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [I often get asked, 'Is the book dead?' It hasn't happened yet. It's different than music. Music was always meant to be pure sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/i-often-get-asked-is-the-book-dead-it-hasn-t-happened-yet-it-s/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [Much is to be gained by eBooks: ease, convenience, portability. But something is definitely lost: tradition, a sensual experience, the comfort of thingy-ness -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/much-is-to-be-gained-by-ebooks-ease-convenience-portability-but/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“On the first day of class, the Visual Arts building reclined before me like an old brick whore, egging me to show her one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/on-the-first-day-of-class-the-visual-arts-building-reclined-before-me/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [Hey, have you heard that one about the difference between me, Wit, and my loutish cousin, Hilarity? No? Okay, so I walk into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/hey-have-you-heard-that-one-about-the-difference-between-me-wit-and/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“(...) photography opened up quite a little Pandora's box, kiddies. (...) 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Graphic Design gives you ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/commercial-art-tries-to-make-you-buy-things-graphic-design-gives-you/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [What people really want, no matter who they are, is someone to listen to them. ... people have a lot on their minds, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/what-people-really-want-no-matter-who-they-are-is-someone-to-listen/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [If you intend to die, you can do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/if-you-intend-to-die-you-can-do-anything/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“We are the Western World. We read, see, think. Left. To. Right. We can't help it. ..The problem with Top to Bottom is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/we-are-the-western-world-we-read-see-think-left-to-right-we-can-t/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“Never let your mouth write a check that your ass can't cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/never-let-your-mouth-write-a-check-that-your-ass-can-t-cash/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“Graphic Design for its own sake will never happen, because the concept cancels itself out — a poster about nothing other than itself is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/graphic-design-for-its-own-sake-will-never-happen-because-the-concept/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“He was the most astonishing contradiction of components I’d ever encountered. Shy yet fiercely communicative when putting an idea into your head. Vocally astringent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/he-was-the-most-astonishing-contradiction-of-components-i-d-ever/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [I had no idea what I was doing, I had no idea where I was going, but at some point I stopped — when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/i-had-no-idea-what-i-was-doing-i-had-no-idea-where-i-was-going-but-at/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“But at the end of the day, you can't major in Making Stuff, so it was Art by default.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/but-at-the-end-of-the-day-you-can-t-major-in-making-stuff-so-it-was/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) [Explore all 43 Chip Kidd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) ## More Allowing quotes > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. 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But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Meditation is actually a very simple exercise in resting in the natural state of your present mind, and allowing yourself to be simply and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/meditation-is-actually-a-very-simple-exercise-in-resting-in-the/) [Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/) > [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) > [The only reason I would write a break-up song is because my own problem of allowing myself to relate to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zola-jesus/the-only-reason-i-would-write-a-break-up-song-is-because-my-own/) [Zola Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zola-jesus/) > [I just think fashion is about enjoying yourself and being comfortable in your skin and allowing you to be you - all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-just-think-fashion-is-about-enjoying-yourself-and-being-comfortable/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. 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