--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Innovation happens because there are…" description: "\"Innovation happens because there are people out there doing and trying a lot of different things.\" — Edward Felten" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/edward-felten-31518_different_innovation-happens-because-there-are-peo_1315998.png" --- # Innovation happens because there are people out there… ![“Innovation happens because there are people out there doing and trying a lot of different things.” quote by Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/edward-felten-31518_different_innovation-happens-because-there-are-peo_1315998.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/edward-felten-31518_different_innovation-happens-because-there-are-peo_1315998.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/edward-felten-31518_different_innovation-happens-because-there-are-peo_1315998.png) > “Innovation happens because there are people out there doing and trying a lot of different things.” [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innovation thrives when many experiment and try diverse approaches, fostering progress. **In simple terms:** People trying many things drives innovation. Key Takeaway Encourage experimentation and diversity. Themes creativity collaboration progress Mood inspirational pragmatic Type thought‑leadership encouragement When to use this quote - research labs - startup incubators - product development - education curricula - policy making Key Concepts innovation ecosystems risk‑taking Questions to Reflect On - What experiments could you start today? - How to balance breadth and depth? A Different Perspective Too many unfocused attempts can dilute impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-things/) [Doing Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-trying-413408/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Happens People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-people-282993/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Innovation Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation-happens-1246604/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-doing-404125/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [“Operational innovation happens when a company discovers inefficiencies in a business operation and works to address those inefficiencies through creative solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ulwick/operational-innovation-happens-when-a-company-discovers/) [Anthony Ulwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ulwick/) > [“People seem to be doing different things, but in reality they do the same thing: They just rush about without having any outstanding universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/people-seem-to-be-doing-different-things-but-in-reality-they-do-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It is difficult to predict technology more than 10 years out with any certitude, but what I observe is that change and innovation happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cohen/it-is-difficult-to-predict-technology-more-than-10-years-out-with-any/) [Jared Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cohen/) > [If something seems possible, that's probably because someone is already doing it. When something seems that it can't possibly work, nobody tries it. Real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-spolsky/if-something-seems-possible-that-s-probably-because-someone-is/) [Joel Spolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-spolsky/) > [“I did think about a Ph.D. in computer science, but this is a time in industry where theory and practice are coming together in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/i-did-think-about-a-ph-d-in-computer-science-but-this-is-a-time-in/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Innovation happens best when people of different backgrounds come together to solve the world's toughest challenges and, in the process, can create new jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krieger/innovation-happens-best-when-people-of-different-backgrounds-come/) [Mike Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krieger/) > [I believe there are a lot of inefficiencies in the way technical innovation happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/i-believe-there-are-a-lot-of-inefficiencies-in-the-way-technical/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [Great innovation only happens when people aren't afraid to do things differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-cantor/great-innovation-only-happens-when-people-aren-t-afraid-to-do-things/) [Georg Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-cantor/) > [Innovation happens when people are given the freedom to ask questions and the resources and power to find the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/innovation-happens-when-people-are-given-the-freedom-to-ask-questions/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Innovation never happens as planned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gifford-pinchot/innovation-never-happens-as-planned/) [Gifford Pinchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gifford-pinchot/) > [Competition is one click away. Innovation happens everywhere... you better have a culture asking for a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/competition-is-one-click-away-innovation-happens-everywhere-you/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [Innovation happens everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/innovation-happens-everywhere/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [“Innovation happens at the intersection of people, process, technology, customers, and business ecosystem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/innovation-happens-at-the-intersection-of-people-process-technology/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [Leapfrog innovation - consistent, constant, ridiculous leapfrog innovation - only happens within a dictatorship. Any time you try to do something really innovative, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/leapfrog-innovation-consistent-constant-ridiculous-leapfrog/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [“It takes people from the outside to change things on the inside. Innovation happens from outsiders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/it-takes-people-from-the-outside-to-change-things-on-the-inside/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) ## More by Edward Felten > [And the user may have a higher comfort level deciding what information to provide rather than worrying about what inferences might be made from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/and-the-user-may-have-a-higher-comfort-level-deciding-what/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [The problem - when you cast your net that wide - is you inevitably catch something you don't want to catch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/the-problem-when-you-cast-your-net-that-wide-is-you-inevitably-catch/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [It's abundantly clear by now that no DRM system can stop serious pirates. A DRM system that stops serious pirates, and simultaneously gives broad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/it-s-abundantly-clear-by-now-that-no-drm-system-can-stop-serious/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [We're in a situation where the solutions that we have are not good enough. The way to improve anything is to have a discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/we-re-in-a-situation-where-the-solutions-that-we-have-are-not-good/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [The question is not whether we want to keep this open, neutral Internet - we do, or should - but whether government rulemaking can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/the-question-is-not-whether-we-want-to-keep-this-open-neutral/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [Network operators need reasonable leeway to manage their networks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/network-operators-need-reasonable-leeway-to-manage-their-networks/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [Even if there were no illegal copying, the advent of digital distribution will put a lot of stress on the movie and music industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/even-if-there-were-no-illegal-copying-the-advent-of-digital/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [Given a choice between dancing pigs and security, users will pick dancing pigs every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/given-a-choice-between-dancing-pigs-and-security-users-will-pick/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [Vigorous enforcement of copyrights themselves is an important part of the picture. But I don't think that expanding the legal definition of copyright outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/vigorous-enforcement-of-copyrights-themselves-is-an-important-part-of/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [In making policy designed with copyright in mind, you end up making decisions about whether other important technologies, such as privacy-enhancing or file-search technologies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/in-making-policy-designed-with-copyright-in-mind-you-end-up-making/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [The secret of the Internet's success has been its openness to new services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/the-secret-of-the-internet-s-success-has-been-its-openness-to-new/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [I think there are problems with compact disc copy protection that can't be resolved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/i-think-there-are-problems-with-compact-disc-copy-protection-that-can/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [Growth comes out of a healthy competitive atmosphere, not trying to choose a particular path forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/growth-comes-out-of-a-healthy-competitive-atmosphere-not-trying-to/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [The next generation of innovators, who need neutrality the most, are not at the bargaining table. They're hard at work in their labs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/the-next-generation-of-innovators-who-need-neutrality-the-most-are/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) > [Given that you'll never be able to prevent copying, the question is, what can you do to minimize it? What can you do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/given-that-you-ll-never-be-able-to-prevent-copying-the-question-is/) [Edward Felten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) [Explore all 16 Edward Felten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/) ## More Different quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. 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They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [One of the reasons that I do a lot of different kinds of pictures is because I learn a lot when I'm doing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-jason-leigh/one-of-the-reasons-that-i-do-a-lot-of-different-kinds-of-pictures-is/) [Jennifer Jason Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-jason-leigh/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Suffering did different things to different people...Some souls became tempered, unshakable in their faith, while others became twisted and mis-shapen, throwing off all connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ragen/suffering-did-different-things-to-different-people-some-souls-became/) [Naomi Ragen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ragen/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. 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Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) [Browse all 28,697 Different quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Innovation happens because there are people out there doing and trying a lot of different things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Felten" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/innovation-happens-because-there-are-people-out-there-doing-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Different" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/innovation-happens-because-there-are-people-out-there-doing-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/edward-felten-31518_different_innovation-happens-because-there-are-peo_1315998.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/edward-felten-31518_different_innovation-happens-because-there-are-peo_1315998.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/edward-felten-31518_different_innovation-happens-because-there-are-peo_1315998.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Innovation happens because there are people out there doing and trying a lot of different things.” — Edward Felten", "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": "Edward Felten", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-felten/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Innovation happens because there are people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/innovation-happens-because-there-are-people-out-there-doing-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-felten/innovation-happens-because-there-are-people-out-there-doing-and/#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 } } ] } ```