--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think you can figure this stuff…" description: "\"I don't think you can figure this stuff out. If you could figure all this stuff out, then all the great filmmakers would come out of Yale and Harvard. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/dean-devlin-5090_come_i-don-t-think-you-can-figure-this-stuff_1999169.jpg" --- # I don't think you can figure this stuff out. If you could… ![“I don't think you can figure this stuff out. If you could figure all this stuff out, then all the great filmmakers would come out of Yale and Harvard. It's not an intellectual process.” quote by Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/dean-devlin-5090_come_i-don-t-think-you-can-figure-this-stuff_1999169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/dean-devlin-5090_come_i-don-t-think-you-can-figure-this-stuff_1999169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/dean-devlin-5090_come_i-don-t-think-you-can-figure-this-stuff_1999169.jpg) > “I don't think you can figure this stuff out. If you could figure all this stuff out, then all the great filmmakers would come out of Yale and Harvard. It's not an intellectual process.” [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative talent isn’t purely academic; intuition and experience matter more than formal education. **In simple terms:** Talent comes from practice, not just school. Key Takeaway Value experience over credentials. Themes creativity education talent Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - film direction - career decisions - skill development - team building Key Concepts intuition experience learning industry Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance learning with hands‑on practice? - What non‑academic skills are most vital in your field? A Different Perspective Formal training alone doesn’t guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Come Yale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-yale-3506929/) [Filmmakers Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmakers-come-470133/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Filmmakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-filmmakers-626667/) [Harvard Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard-intellectual-3506930/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Yale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yale/) [Yale Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yale-harvard-905848/) ## Related quotes > [Voters inclined to loathe and fear elite Ivy League schools rarely make fine distinctions between Yale and Harvard. All they know is that both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/voters-inclined-to-loathe-and-fear-elite-ivy-league-schools-rarely/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [“But as I realized that in this new world I was the culture alien, I began to think seriously about questions that had nagged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/but-as-i-realized-that-in-this-new-world-i-was-the-culture-alien-i/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [I don't find myself lobbying for projects. Filmmakers almost always come to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-burwell/i-don-t-find-myself-lobbying-for-projects-filmmakers-almost-always/) [Carter Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-burwell/) > [I try not to put pressure on filmmakers to come up with a big scare at the beginning. I think that helps let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/i-try-not-to-put-pressure-on-filmmakers-to-come-up-with-a-big-scare/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [I have an idea about building almost like a studio for some of the best Tropfest filmmakers, so they can come together and support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polson/i-have-an-idea-about-building-almost-like-a-studio-for-some-of-the/) [John Polson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polson/) > [I've always been told that because of 'Main Hoon Na,' a lot of female filmmakers have come up but I maintain that direction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-khan/i-ve-always-been-told-that-because-of-main-hoon-na-a-lot-of-female/) [Farah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-khan/) > [The most difficult thing about music videos is that a lot of young filmmakers come into the medium, and they have so many different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiro-murai/the-most-difficult-thing-about-music-videos-is-that-a-lot-of-young/) [Hiro Murai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiro-murai/) > [You know, I feel like my job is to write a book. Then filmmakers come and they make a movie. And they're two really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/you-know-i-feel-like-my-job-is-to-write-a-book-then-filmmakers-come/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) > [I dont find myself lobbying for projects. Filmmakers almost always come to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-burwell/i-dont-find-myself-lobbying-for-projects-filmmakers-almost-always/) [Carter Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-burwell/) > [Most filmmakers, if not all, come from a place of privilege, if only because of the expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/most-filmmakers-if-not-all-come-from-a-place-of-privilege-if-only/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [There will be new and exciting filmmakers to come and movies that will be great successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/there-will-be-new-and-exciting-filmmakers-to-come-and-movies-that/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [I want to work with great filmmakers and great actors and get better as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-cooper/i-want-to-work-with-great-filmmakers-and-great-actors-and-get-better/) [Bradley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-cooper/) > [I have always been saying that we are making a mockery of ourselves by sending such idiotic films to the Oscars. This is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyadarshan/i-have-always-been-saying-that-we-are-making-a-mockery-of-ourselves/) [Priyadarshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyadarshan/) > [Look, I'm going to take full advantage of this situation just because I love working with great filmmakers. But I've been around for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-brolin/look-i-m-going-to-take-full-advantage-of-this-situation-just-because/) [Josh Brolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-brolin/) > [I just want to keep doing things completely different from the other. I just want to keep working with great people, great filmmakers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-egan/i-just-want-to-keep-doing-things-completely-different-from-the-other/) [Christopher Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-egan/) ## More by Dean Devlin > [Television is like speed chess, as you have no time and no money. It is like trying to play Grandmaster chess with a 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/television-is-like-speed-chess-as-you-have-no-time-and-no-money-it-is/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [The truth is, we were sick of, every time we finished a movie, having to start all over again from nothing, going to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/the-truth-is-we-were-sick-of-every-time-we-finished-a-movie-having-to/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [We're often accused of trying to manipulate opinion or that we're trying to elevate society. I think that the greatest thing we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/we-re-often-accused-of-trying-to-manipulate-opinion-or-that-we-re/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [“And if we succeed... If we somehow accomplish this thing that seems so impossible, it will be the most glorious victory imaginable. The Fourth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/and-if-we-succeed-if-we-somehow-accomplish-this-thing-that-seems-so/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I think if we did 'Stargate' right, the fans would like it, and we could do something really good. But if we screw it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-think-if-we-did-stargate-right-the-fans-would-like-it-and-we-could/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [Portland has all the accoutrements of a big city, but the heart and soul of it is a small town, so that creates an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/portland-has-all-the-accoutrements-of-a-big-city-but-the-heart-and/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I've always said that I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I could make a great movie about him if I set my mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-ve-always-said-that-i-don-t-believe-in-santa-claus-but-i-could-make/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [As for 'Independence Day,' we never intended to do any films in that series beyond the first one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/as-for-independence-day-we-never-intended-to-do-any-films-in-that/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [There's a real difference now in what you can get out of film and the rise of digital platforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/there-s-a-real-difference-now-in-what-you-can-get-out-of-film-and-the/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I just make the movies I want to see. I've always been that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-just-make-the-movies-i-want-to-see-i-ve-always-been-that-way/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [Stories about travelers coming into town and doing good have been part of our storytelling since the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/stories-about-travelers-coming-into-town-and-doing-good-have-been/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [Just to be back in the world of 'The Librarian' again was such a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/just-to-be-back-in-the-world-of-the-librarian-again-was-such-a-joy/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I haven't had the egomaniac star yet in any of my films. It's always been a pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-haven-t-had-the-egomaniac-star-yet-in-any-of-my-films-it-s-always/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > ['Stargate' has always had this empty hole. When we made the first one, we always intended on doing part two and three, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/stargate-has-always-had-this-empty-hole-when-we-made-the-first-one-we/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I love what they do with 'Doctor Who,' where they have the series, and then they do a big Christmas movie special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-love-what-they-do-with-doctor-who-where-they-have-the-series-and/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) [Explore all 103 Dean Devlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) ## More Come quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Mihir is one of the most secure men that I have ever come across in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/mihir-is-one-of-the-most-secure-men-that-i-have-ever-come-across-in/) [Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [We'd always come into Syracuse for the Empire State Games and the stair fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-biden/we-d-always-come-into-syracuse-for-the-empire-state-games-and-the/) [Beau Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-biden/) > [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/) > [“More we know, more we come know that how less we know”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/souvik-khamrui/more-we-know-more-we-come-know-that-how-less-we-know/) [Souvik Khamrui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/souvik-khamrui/) > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My preference is for people who come to rehearsal and get into the ring. I like a muscular actor who's playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/my-preference-is-for-people-who-come-to-rehearsal-and-get-into-the/) [Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) [Browse all 13,032 Come quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think you can figure this stuff out. If you could figure all this stuff out, then all the great filmmakers would come out of Yale and Harvard. 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