--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy…" description: "\"An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy to be called an idea at all.\" — Elbert Hubbard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/elbert-hubbard-510_dangerous_an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworth_1584267.png" --- # An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy to be called an… ![“An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy to be called an idea at all.” quote by Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/elbert-hubbard-510_dangerous_an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworth_1584267.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/elbert-hubbard-510_dangerous_an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworth_1584267.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/elbert-hubbard-510_dangerous_an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworth_1584267.png) > “An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy to be called an idea at all.” [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas that lack risk or challenge are trivial and not worthy of being called ideas at all. **In simple terms:** Only bold, risky ideas matter. Key Takeaway Pursue daring, meaningful concepts. Themes creativity risk innovation philosophy Mood provocative motivational thought‑provoking Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - entrepreneurial ventures - artistic projects Key Concepts idea value courage intellectual rigor Questions to Reflect On - What ideas have you dismissed as too safe? - How can you foster a culture of bold thinking? A Different Perspective Risk‑averse environments may suppress ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expert/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) ## Related quotes > [An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworthy-of-being-called-an-idea-at/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.’ Oscar Wilde.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandt-legg/an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworthy-of-being-called-an-idea-at-2/) [Brandt Legg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandt-legg/) > [The idea that is not dangerous is not worthy of being called an idea at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-not-worthy-of-being-called-an-idea/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [An idea that is not dangerous is not worthy of being called an idea at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-not-worthy-of-being-called-an-idea/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [If NATURE has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-nature-has-made-any-one-thing-less-susceptible-than-all-others-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“An idea so dangerous it can’t be discussed. I thought we buried all that nonsense back in the Dark Ages.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/an-idea-so-dangerous-it-can-t-be-discussed-i-thought-we-buried-all/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [“The idea for the Guild first came up at a party. Your father and I met there and, well, I suppose that's a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-and-ais/the-idea-for-the-guild-first-came-up-at-a-party-your-father-and-i-met/) Sonny and Ais > [The woman who cannot tell a lie in defense of her husband, is unworthy of the name of wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-woman-who-cannot-tell-a-lie-in-defense-of-her-husband-is-unworthy/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Being reproached for giving to an unworthy person, Aristotle said, I did not give it to the man, but to humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/being-reproached-for-giving-to-an-unworthy-person-aristotle-said-i/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Man and woman and speech and deed and city and object should be honored with praise if praiseworthy and incur blame if unworthy, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gorgias/man-and-woman-and-speech-and-deed-and-city-and-object-should-be/) [Gorgias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gorgias/) > [For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Everyone is leaving me... nobody wants me around... am I worse than a dog then... why everything is this way? Perhaps I don't deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dari-a-malaunt/everyone-is-leaving-me-nobody-wants-me-around-am-i-worse-than-a-dog/) [Dari A. Malaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dari-a-malaunt/) ## More by Elbert Hubbard > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The highest reward that God gives us for good work is the ability to do better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-highest-reward-that-god-gives-us-for-good-work-is-the-ability-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Art is nothing; it's a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/art-is-nothing-it-s-a-way/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The poor and ignorant will continue to lie and steal as long as the rich and educated show them how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-poor-and-ignorant-will-continue-to-lie-and-steal-as-long-as-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/so-long-as-governments-set-the-example-of-killing-their-enemies/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-i-supply-you-with-a-thought-you-may-remember-it-and-you-may-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/1-2-3-4-5-a-conservative-is-a-man-who-is-too-cowardly-to-fight-and/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The great man is not so great as folks think, and the dull man is not quite so stupid as he seems. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-great-man-is-not-so-great-as-folks-think-and-the-dull-man-is-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Every knock is a boost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/every-knock-is-a-boost/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What boy well raised can compare with your street gamin who has the knowledge and the shrewdness of a grown-up broker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-boy-well-raised-can-compare-with-your-street-gamin-who-has-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Don't make excuses, make good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/don-t-make-excuses-make-good/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What people need and what they want may be very different… Teachers are those who educate the people to appreciate the things they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-people-need-and-what-they-want-may-be-very-different-teachers/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Men who sit back and pride themselves on their culture haven't any to speak of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/men-who-sit-back-and-pride-themselves-on-their-culture-haven-t-any-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) [Explore all 506 Elbert Hubbard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More Dangerous quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [“It is dangerous to lock oneself away and lose track of what is happening outside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/it-is-dangerous-to-lock-oneself-away-and-lose-track-of-what-is/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Its extremely dangerous to compare anyone else to Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/its-extremely-dangerous-to-compare-anyone-else-to-shakespeare/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [In my youth-team days, I was always a left-winger who would stay close to the byline and put crosses in the box, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/in-my-youth-team-days-i-was-always-a-left-winger-who-would-stay-close/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [The temptations of God were always more dangerous for mankind than those of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-temptations-of-god-were-always-more-dangerous-for-mankind-than/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance. And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Die gefährlichste Weltanschauung ist die Weltanschauung derer, die die Welt nie angeschaut haben. (The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/die-gef-hrlichste-weltanschauung-ist-die-weltanschauung-derer-die-die/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [The most dangerous creature here would have to be me. So maybe I'm just scared of my own shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-most-dangerous-creature-here-would-have-to-be-me-so-maybe-i-m/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The more people that learn about you, even if you're an underdog, then you can come under fire a lot and the more attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/the-more-people-that-learn-about-you-even-if-you-re-an-underdog-then/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) Browse all 6,450 Dangerous quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy to be called an idea at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elbert Hubbard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworthy-to-be-called-an-idea-at-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dangerous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworthy-to-be-called-an-idea-at-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/elbert-hubbard-510_dangerous_an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworth_1584267.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/elbert-hubbard-510_dangerous_an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworth_1584267.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/elbert-hubbard-510_dangerous_an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworth_1584267.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy to be called an idea at all.” — Elbert Hubbard", "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": "Elbert Hubbard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An idea that is not dangerous...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworthy-to-be-called-an-idea-at-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/an-idea-that-is-not-dangerous-is-unworthy-to-be-called-an-idea-at-all/#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 } } ] } ```