--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People's creativity is very much alive…" description: "\"People's creativity is very much alive, but when they get paid for their creativity, they often experience that as rather meaningless. Money as the rew..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/chogyam-trungpa-1373_alive_people-s-creativity-is-very-much-alive-b_1517664.png" --- # People's creativity is very much alive, but when they get… ![“People's creativity is very much alive, but when they get paid for their creativity, they often experience that as rather meaningless. Money as the reward for their creative process is very one-dimensional, a tremendous comedown.” quote by Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/chogyam-trungpa-1373_alive_people-s-creativity-is-very-much-alive-b_1517664.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/chogyam-trungpa-1373_alive_people-s-creativity-is-very-much-alive-b_1517664.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/chogyam-trungpa-1373_alive_people-s-creativity-is-very-much-alive-b_1517664.png) > “People's creativity is very much alive, but when they get paid for their creativity, they often experience that as rather meaningless. Money as the reward for their creative process is very one-dimensional, a tremendous comedown.” [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Monetary reward can diminish intrinsic creative drive, making work feel hollow. **In simple terms:** Money can cheapen creativity. Key Takeaway Seek intrinsic motivation. Themes creativity motivation economics Mood thoughtful nuanced Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - freelance work - corporate projects - art commissions - startup culture Key Concepts intrinsic vs extrinsic rewards flow state artist burnout Questions to Reflect On - When does compensation enhance creativity? - How to preserve meaning while earning? A Different Perspective Some creators thrive with pay. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-process/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that artists should be paid for their creativity. There's no other industry where people can come in and take what you create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-believe-that-artists-should-be-paid-for-their-creativity-there-s-no/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [Rational thoughts never drive people's creativity the way emotions do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/rational-thoughts-never-drive-people-s-creativity-the-way-emotions-do/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I'm inspired by other people's creativity, just seeing things happen and wondering where they come from. That gets my mind going. Even if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-m-inspired-by-other-people-s-creativity-just-seeing-things-happen/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [Lie is a puzzle, solve it with innovation & creativity & experience adventure of life wonderfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/lie-is-a-puzzle-solve-it-with-innovation-creativity-experience/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [No matter how much people in fashion think we're so cool and avant-garde, for most fashion people, creativity is quite taboo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-tisci/no-matter-how-much-people-in-fashion-think-we-re-so-cool-and-avant/) [Riccardo Tisci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riccardo-tisci/) > [“When we tap into our creativity, we experience a sense of strength and well-being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliacameron/when-we-tap-into-our-creativity-we-experience-a-sense-of-strength-and/) JuliaCameron > [“I like to remind people that creativity also isn't a spark; it's a slog. Every artist, inventor, designer, writer, or other creative in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-burchard/i-like-to-remind-people-that-creativity-also-isn-t-a-spark-it-s-a/) [Brendon Burchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-burchard/) > [The heart of creativity is an experience of the mystical union; the heart of the mystical union is an experience of creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/the-heart-of-creativity-is-an-experience-of-the-mystical-union-the/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [I certainly believe that creativity must be an experience. If I'm to steal time away from people, we should give them something to react…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-certainly-believe-that-creativity-must-be-an-experience-if-i-m-to/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [We can only learn about creativity through our own experience of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-mcniff/we-can-only-learn-about-creativity-through-our-own-experience-of-it/) [Shaun McNiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-mcniff/) > [I think it would be great if more adults were able to maintain that joyful creativity that we all experience as children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rubin/i-think-it-would-be-great-if-more-adults-were-able-to-maintain-that/) [Adam Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rubin/) > [“Pete has a few methods he uses to help manage people through the fears brought on by pre-production chaos. “Sometimes in meetings, I sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/pete-has-a-few-methods-he-uses-to-help-manage-people-through-the/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [The mind uses its faculty for creativity only when experience forces it to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/the-mind-uses-its-faculty-for-creativity-only-when-experience-forces/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [Creativity has much to do with experience, observation and imagination, and if any one of those key elements is missing, it doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/creativity-has-much-to-do-with-experience-observation-and-imagination/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Usually, I create tunes that are fragmented. I think the biggest obstacle for people with their creativity is that they feel they have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/usually-i-create-tunes-that-are-fragmented-i-think-the-biggest/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) ## More by Chogyam Trungpa > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. We could almost say that being willing to be a fool is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/acknowledging-foolishness-is-a-very-powerful-and-important-experience/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [When you drop your unnecessary things, you finally can swoop and fly in vast space. It is so blue, so bright, and so nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/when-you-drop-your-unnecessary-things-you-finally-can-swoop-and-fly/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Anything that is created must sooner or later die. Enlightenment is permanent because we have not produced it; we have merely discovered it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/anything-that-is-created-must-sooner-or-later-die-enlightenment-is/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [“There is a saying in the Tibetan scriptures: “Knowledge must be burned, hammered, and beaten like pure gold. Then one can wear it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/there-is-a-saying-in-the-tibetan-scriptures-knowledge-must-be-burned/) [Chögyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [“Warriorship is a continual journey. To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/warriorship-is-a-continual-journey-to-be-a-warrior-is-to-learn-to-be/) [Chögyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [The courage to work with ourselves comes as basic trust in ourselves, as a sort of fundamental optimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/the-courage-to-work-with-ourselves-comes-as-basic-trust-in-ourselves/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Enlightenment is like witnessing the brilliant sun for the first time in the morning. It is like seeing the beautiful flowers that grow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/enlightenment-is-like-witnessing-the-brilliant-sun-for-the-first-time/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ If you look into the mirror, you see that \[every part of you\] belongs there and you belong there, as you are. You begin… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/if-you-look-into-the-mirror-you-see-that-every-part-of-you-belongs/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [This whole world is mind's world, the product of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/this-whole-world-is-mind-s-world-the-product-of-the-mind/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [When one is able to overcome the romantic and emotional attitude, one discovers truth even in the kitchen sink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/when-one-is-able-to-overcome-the-romantic-and-emotional-attitude-one/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [One day passes and another day comes along, and everything happens the same. But basically, we are so afraid of the brilliance coming at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/one-day-passes-and-another-day-comes-along-and-everything-happens-the/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Real fearlessness is the product of tenderness. It comes from letting the world tickle your heart, your raw and beautiful heart. You are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/real-fearlessness-is-the-product-of-tenderness-it-comes-from-letting/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [We can deceive ourselves into thinking we are developing spirituality when instead we are strengthening our egocentricity through spiritual techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-can-deceive-ourselves-into-thinking-we-are-developing-spirituality/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) [Explore all 248 Chogyam Trungpa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) ## More Alive quotes > [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 feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People's creativity is very much alive, but when they get paid for their creativity, they often experience that as rather meaningless. 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