--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as creativity enables us to envision…" description: "\"“Just as creativity enables us to envision novel solutions to tough problems, it can also enable us to develop original paths around rules, all the whi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_corruption_just-as-creativity-enables-us-to-envisio_631000.png" --- # Just as creativity enables us to envision novel solutions… ![“Just as creativity enables us to envision novel solutions to tough problems, it can also enable us to develop original paths around rules, all the while allowing us to reinterpret information in a self-serving way. Putting our creative minds to work can help us come up with a narrative that lets…” quote by Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_corruption_just-as-creativity-enables-us-to-envisio_631000.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_corruption_just-as-creativity-enables-us-to-envisio_631000.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0b/dan-ariely-1899_corruption_just-as-creativity-enables-us-to-envisio_631000.png) > ““Just as creativity enables us to envision novel solutions to tough problems, it can also enable us to develop original paths around rules, all the while allowing us to reinterpret information in a self-serving way. Putting our creative minds to work can help us come up with a narrative that lets us have our cake and eat it too, and create stories in which we’re always the hero, never the villain. If the key to our dishonesty is our ability to think of ourselves as honest and moral people while at the same time benefitting from cheating, creativity can help us tell better stories—stories that allow us to be even more dishonest but still think of ourselves as wonderfully honest people.”” [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creativity can be used to rationalize dishonest behavior, letting people view themselves as moral while cheating. **In simple terms:** Creativity lets people justify cheating as being honest. Key Takeaway Beware of self‑justifying narratives. Themes ethics self‑deception creativity honesty rationalization Mood reflective critical cautious Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal relationships - political rhetoric - marketing - academic integrity Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑serving bias moral licensing Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when creativity is masking dishonesty? - What safeguards can prevent self‑deception? A Different Perspective Creativity can also foster genuine innovation and integrity if directed positively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Honest people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-people/) ## Related quotes > [You hope that the ideas will come together. You just don't know. 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Our creativity can help us reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukant-ratnakar/at-times-we-fail-to-find-solution-for-our-challenges-but-those/) [Sukant Ratnakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukant-ratnakar/) > [One percent of people will always be honest and never steal," the locksmith said. "Another one percent will always be dishonest and always try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/one-percent-of-people-will-always-be-honest-and-never-steal-the/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [that when given the opportunity, many honest people will cheat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/that-when-given-the-opportunity-many-honest-people-will-cheat/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“Locks won’t protect you from the thieves, who can get in your house if they really want to. 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Would you be happy, is the marginal $10, the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-i-gave-you-now-10-as-a-gift-how-happy-would-you-be-would-you-be/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Imagine you have six loans, small to huge. People want to close loans and because of that, they try to pay off the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/imagine-you-have-six-loans-small-to-huge-people-want-to-close-loans/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“he started by selling his Porsche Boxster and buying a Toyota Prius in its place.4 “I don’t want to live the life of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/he-started-by-selling-his-porsche-boxster-and-buying-a-toyota-prius/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) [Explore all 198 Dan Ariely quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) ## More Corruption quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. 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