--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good ideas are a dime a dozen, bad ones…" description: "\"Good ideas are a dime a dozen, bad ones are free.\" — Douglas Horton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/douglas-horton-11608_creativity_good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-a_2013937.png" --- # Good ideas are a dime a dozen, bad ones are free. ![“Good ideas are a dime a dozen, bad ones are free.” quote by Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/douglas-horton-11608_creativity_good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-a_2013937.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/douglas-horton-11608_creativity_good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-a_2013937.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/douglas-horton-11608_creativity_good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-a_2013937.png) > “Good ideas are a dime a dozen, bad ones are free.” [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts the abundance of mediocre ideas with the rarity of valuable ones, implying that quantity does not equal quality. **In simple terms:** Good ideas are cheap, bad ideas are free. Key Takeaway Focus on quality over quantity. Themes business ideas innovation Mood pragmatic motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - product development - marketing - team brainstorming Key Concepts idea generation value assessment creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you filter ideas effectively? - What metrics define a “good” idea? A Different Perspective Free ideas may still lack substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Dime Dozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dime-dozen-300995/) [Dozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dozen/) [Dozen Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dozen-bad-3612071/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Dime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-dime-1278377/) ## Related quotes > [I don't invest in ideas because ideas are a dime a dozen. I could steal the idea pretty quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/i-don-t-invest-in-ideas-because-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-i-could/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Ideas are a dime a dozen. It's execution that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-it-s-execution-that-counts/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Ideas are a dime a dozen. People who execute them are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-people-who-execute-them-are-not/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Good ideas are a dime a dozen. It's what you do with them that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-hakuta/good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-it-s-what-you-do-with-them-that-counts/) [Ken Hakuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-hakuta/) > [Ideas are a dime a dozen. People who implement them are priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-people-who-implement-them-are-priceless/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [Ideas are a dime a dozen, but people who put them into effect are extremely rare. Be the minority and make it happen!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-but-people-who-put-them-into-effect-are/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Many feel that writers are a dime a dozen, so the goal is to break through and make it to the value of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wil-zeus/many-feel-that-writers-are-a-dime-a-dozen-so-the-goal-is-to-break/) [Wil Zeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wil-zeus/) > [Heartthrobs are a dime a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/heartthrobs-are-a-dime-a-dozen/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [Pennies are, like, a dime a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pennies-are-like-a-dime-a-dozen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I am not a dime a dozen! I am Willy Loman, and you are Biff Loman!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-am-not-a-dime-a-dozen-i-am-willy-loman-and-you-are-biff-loman/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [But actors with political views are a dime a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/but-actors-with-political-views-are-a-dime-a-dozen/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [Million dollar ideas are a dime a dozen. The determination to see the idea through is what's priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dieffenbach/million-dollar-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-the-determination-to-see-the/) [Robert Dieffenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dieffenbach/) > [Great ideas are a dime a dozen.Its the few who make their ideas real who move the world forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/great-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-its-the-few-who-make-their-ideas-real/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's the power of great insights. Insights, not ideas. There's a difference. Ideas, valuable though they may be, are a dime a dozen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/that-s-the-power-of-great-insights-insights-not-ideas-there-s-a/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [“Good is a-dime-a-dozen. I mean perfect, quintessentially unique, unforgettable; a moment you would gladly stay in for the rest of your life, only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reilly/good-is-a-dime-a-dozen-i-mean-perfect-quintessentially-unique/) [Michael Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reilly/) ## More by Douglas Horton > [Why ask why? If it's raining it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/why-ask-why-if-it-s-raining-it-just-is/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Being sorry is the highest act of selfishness, seeing value only after discarding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/being-sorry-is-the-highest-act-of-selfishness-seeing-value-only-after/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [The more we are filled with thoughts of lust the less we find true romantic love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/the-more-we-are-filled-with-thoughts-of-lust-the-less-we-find-true/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If wishes were fishes we'd all be throwing nets. If wishes were horses we'd all ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/if-wishes-were-fishes-we-d-all-be-throwing-nets-if-wishes-were-horses/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Materialism is the only form of distraction from true bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/materialism-is-the-only-form-of-distraction-from-true-bliss/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/while-seeking-revenge-dig-two-graves-one-for-yourself/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If food were free, why work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/if-food-were-free-why-work/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Thought precedes action, action does not always precede thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/thought-precedes-action-action-does-not-always-precede-thought/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Man worships because God lays His hand to the dust of our experience, and man miraculously becomes a living soul - and knows it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/man-worships-because-god-lays-his-hand-to-the-dust-of-our-experience/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Seeing the light is a choice, not seeing the light is no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/seeing-the-light-is-a-choice-not-seeing-the-light-is-no-choice/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [First rule of Economics 101: our desires are insatiable. Second rule: we can stomach only three Big Macs at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/first-rule-of-economics-101-our-desires-are-insatiable-second-rule-we/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [We may not always get what we want, but surely we will get what we deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/we-may-not-always-get-what-we-want-but-surely-we-will-get-what-we/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Sherrill On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/sherrill-on-easter-day-the-veil-between-time-and-eternity-thins-to/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [As the fly bangs against the window attempting freedom while the door stands open, so we bang against death ignoring heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/as-the-fly-bangs-against-the-window-attempting-freedom-while-the-door/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Beauty is variable, ugliness is constant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/beauty-is-variable-ugliness-is-constant/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) [Explore all 59 Douglas Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) ## More Creativity quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“The Soviet “creative intelligentsia” - that is, people accustomed to thinking one thing, saying another and doing a third - is as a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-amalrik/the-soviet-creative-intelligentsia-that-is-people-accustomed-to/) [Andrei Amalrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-amalrik/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“You are the end of beauty and creativity one must have created so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-the-end-of-beauty-and-creativity-one-must-have-created-so-far/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/) [Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/) > [“I believe in magic. As a writer, I create them on blank paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonnia-kemmer/i-believe-in-magic-as-a-writer-i-create-them-on-blank-paper/) [Sonnia Kemmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonnia-kemmer/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) [Christoph Niemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-niemann/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 13,625 Creativity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good ideas are a dime a dozen, bad ones are free.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Horton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-are-free/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creativity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-are-free/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/douglas-horton-11608_creativity_good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-a_2013937.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/douglas-horton-11608_creativity_good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-a_2013937.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/douglas-horton-11608_creativity_good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-a_2013937.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Good ideas are a dime a dozen, bad ones are free.” — Douglas Horton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Douglas Horton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Good ideas are a dime a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-are-free/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/good-ideas-are-a-dime-a-dozen-bad-ones-are-free/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```