---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think ingenuity is part of our DNA…"
description: "\"I think ingenuity is part of our DNA. That plus curiosity, plus the willingness to commit.\" — Gail Zappa"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/gail-zappa-26739_commit_i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-tha_882472.jpg"
---

#  I think ingenuity is part of our DNA. That plus curiosity…

![“I think ingenuity is part of our DNA. That plus curiosity, plus the willingness to commit.” quote by Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/gail-zappa-26739_commit_i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-tha_882472.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/gail-zappa-26739_commit_i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-tha_882472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/gail-zappa-26739_commit_i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-tha_882472.jpg)

> “I think ingenuity is part of our DNA. That plus curiosity, plus the willingness to commit.”

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creativity, curiosity, and commitment are innate traits that drive technological progress.

**In simple terms:** DNA includes ingenuity, curiosity, commitment.

Key Takeaway

Foster curiosity and commitment.

Themes

innovation creativity DNA

Mood

optimistic inspirational

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- R&amp;D strategy
- education reform
- team building
- personal development

Key Concepts

Curiosity commitment genetics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can companies nurture innate curiosity?
- What role does commitment play in innovation?

A Different Perspective

Not all environments nurture these traits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Dna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna/) [Ingenuity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingenuity/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/)

## Related quotes

> [It's still possible to savor the remarkable foods that millennia of human ingenuity have teased from milk. A sip of milk itself or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-mcgee/it-s-still-possible-to-savor-the-remarkable-foods-that-millennia-of/)

Harold McGee

> […it cannot be called ingenuity to kill one's fellow citizens, to betray friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; by these means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-cannot-be-called-ingenuity-to-kill-one-s-fellow-citizens-to-betray/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [The peril of every fine faculty is the delight of playing with it for pride. Talent is commonly developed at the expense of character,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-peril-of-every-fine-faculty-is-the-delight-of-playing-with-it-for/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Lacking its own ingenuity, the parasite fears the visionary. What it cannot plagiarize, it seeks to censor. What it cannot regulate, it seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ryan/lacking-its-own-ingenuity-the-parasite-fears-the-visionary-what-it/)

[Andrew Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ryan/)

> [Man is an animal with primary instincts of survival. Consequently his ingenuity has developed first and his soul afterwards. The progress of science is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/man-is-an-animal-with-primary-instincts-of-survival-consequently-his/)

[Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/)

> [If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/if-you-are-going-to-have-to-play-defense-all-the-time-you-cannot-have/)

[Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/)

> [Lots of ingenuity gets you through times with no money better than money gets you through times of no ingenuity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/lots-of-ingenuity-gets-you-through-times-with-no-money-better-than/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [We must make the building of a free society once more an intellectual adventure, a deed of courage… Unless we can make the philosophic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/we-must-make-the-building-of-a-free-society-once-more-an-intellectual/)

[Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/)

> [With electricity we were wired into a new world, for electricity brought the radio, a "crystal set" and with enough ingenuity, one could tickle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-electricity-we-were-wired-into-a-new-world-for-electricity/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [By making college more affordable for all and more accessible for minority students, the first new higher education authorizing legislation in a decade will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/by-making-college-more-affordable-for-all-and-more-accessible-for/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

> [The founder of any branch must be more ingenious than the common man. However, if his achievement is not carried on by disciples of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-founder-of-any-branch-must-be-more-ingenious-than-the-common-man/)

[Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/)

> [Ultimately, of course, you must decide for yourself whether the subjective psychological effects created by your evolved cognitive biases reflect an objective reality, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/ultimately-of-course-you-must-decide-for-yourself-whether-the/)

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

> [Human ingenuity has given centuries to the goal of ensuring that the human body might move around at an even 68 degrees all year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-morrow/human-ingenuity-has-given-centuries-to-the-goal-of-ensuring-that-the/)

[Lance Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-morrow/)

> [Perhaps a creature of so much ingenuity and deep memory is almost bound to grow alienated from his world, his fellows, and the objects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/perhaps-a-creature-of-so-much-ingenuity-and-deep-memory-is-almost/)

[Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/)

> [It may well be doubted whether human ingenuity can construct an enigma... which human ingenuity may not, by proper application, resolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/it-may-well-be-doubted-whether-human-ingenuity-can-construct-an/)

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

## More by Gail Zappa

> [ Frank \[Zappa\] said he probably would have been a major criminal, given his brain power and his attention to detail, had he not been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/frank-zappa-said-he-probably-would-have-been-a-major-criminal-given/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [ Frank \[Zappa\]'s music was never for the mass audience. His music contains specific kinds of information that you won't find elsewhere in rock and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/frank-zappa-s-music-was-never-for-the-mass-audience-his-music/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [It's nice to hear when someone gets something and the sincerity is enough to tickle you. They can have the wrong notes but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/it-s-nice-to-hear-when-someone-gets-something-and-the-sincerity-is/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [The problem with composers is that they are the most unrequired job in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/the-problem-with-composers-is-that-they-are-the-most-unrequired-job/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [I don't think there's a problem with people discovering the music unless there's no way to get to them. That's the problem that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-problem-with-people-discovering-the-music/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [Live concerts were to train the ears and to introduce, constantly, new musical ideas to the audience so the next time they showed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/live-concerts-were-to-train-the-ears-and-to-introduce-constantly-new/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [I never dreamed that my future would be my husband's past. But it's such a huge past in terms of the recorded content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/i-never-dreamed-that-my-future-would-be-my-husband-s-past-but-it-s/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [Musicians more than most people are in the moment. That's the dual nature of that job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/musicians-more-than-most-people-are-in-the-moment-that-s-the-dual/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [Certainly Apple has improved enormously. At the beginning, the sampling rate was an issue for me, but a bigger argument was over digital rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/certainly-apple-has-improved-enormously-at-the-beginning-the-sampling/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [It's one thing to write the music, it's another thing to write it down, it's another thing to play it, and something else altogether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/it-s-one-thing-to-write-the-music-it-s-another-thing-to-write-it-down/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [ Frank \[Zappa\] always wanted to do a sound library - he sampled so many great musicians. For piano, for example, he sampled every octave,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/frank-zappa-always-wanted-to-do-a-sound-library-he-sampled-so-many/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [It's the ultimate identity theft when you start messing with somebody's work. Thinking that you could edit the work, or mix it differently, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/it-s-the-ultimate-identity-theft-when-you-start-messing-with-somebody/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [ Frank \[Zappa\] was not a big fan of having lyrics, but sometimes he had things to say that lent themselves to lyrics. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/frank-zappa-was-not-a-big-fan-of-having-lyrics-but-sometimes-he-had/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [When you have a single composer writing his work, it shouldn't be doled out in singles based on the length of a piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/when-you-have-a-single-composer-writing-his-work-it-shouldn-t-be/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

> [You can't get a guitar player like Dweezil without his commitment to the work that it takes A) to be the musician that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/you-can-t-get-a-guitar-player-like-dweezil-without-his-commitment-to/)

[Gail Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

[Explore all 21 Gail Zappa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/)

## More Commit quotes

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/)

[Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/)

> [Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless-you-re-willing-to-do-it/)

[Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/)

> [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [I like to always wash the slate clean, and reinvigorate my spirit to be connected to the characters that I am doing. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-like-to-always-wash-the-slate-clean-and-reinvigorate-my-spirit-to/)

[Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/)

> [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/)

[James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/)

> [Ok, look. I'm honest. Girl I can't lie I miss you. You and the music were the only things that I'd commit to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/ok-look-i-m-honest-girl-i-can-t-lie-i-miss-you-you-and-the-music-were/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/)

[Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/)

> [A man must commit a crime at least once in his life-time. Only then will his virtue be recognized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girish-karnad/a-man-must-commit-a-crime-at-least-once-in-his-life-time-only-then/)

Girish Karnad

> [“A man, who does not commit an evil act either, has no opportunity or the stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/a-man-who-does-not-commit-an-evil-act-either-has-no-opportunity-or/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

> [One day I may commit to a city and settle down and do the restaurant thing - when I'm ready and however and whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-kish/one-day-i-may-commit-to-a-city-and-settle-down-and-do-the-restaurant/)

Kristen Kish

> [Love and commit. Not hit and quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhecky/love-and-commit-not-hit-and-quit/)

[Jhecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhecky/)

Browse all 1,824 Commit quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think ingenuity is part of our DNA. That plus curiosity, plus the willingness to commit.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gail Zappa"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-that-plus-curiosity-plus-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Commit"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-that-plus-curiosity-plus-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/gail-zappa-26739_commit_i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-tha_882472.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/gail-zappa-26739_commit_i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-tha_882472.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/gail-zappa-26739_commit_i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-tha_882472.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think ingenuity is part of our DNA. That plus curiosity, plus the willingness to commit.” — Gail Zappa",
                "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": "Gail Zappa",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-zappa/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think ingenuity is part of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-that-plus-curiosity-plus-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-zappa/i-think-ingenuity-is-part-of-our-dna-that-plus-curiosity-plus-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
