--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can be cautious or you can be…" description: "\"You can be cautious or you can be creative (but there's no such thing as a cautious creative).\" — George Lois" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/george-lois-21482_be-cautious_you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creati_2035962.png" --- # You can be cautious or you can be creative (but there's no… ![“You can be cautious or you can be creative (but there's no such thing as a cautious creative).” quote by George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/george-lois-21482_be-cautious_you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creati_2035962.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/george-lois-21482_be-cautious_you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creati_2035962.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/george-lois-21482_be-cautious_you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creati_2035962.png) > “You can be cautious or you can be creative (but there's no such thing as a cautious creative).” [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Caution and creativity are mutually exclusive; one must choose. **In simple terms:** Can't be both cautious and creative. Key Takeaway Embrace risk. Themes creativity risk caution Mood energetic inspirational Type motivational pragmatic When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - artistic projects - marketing campaigns Key Concepts innovation psychology Questions to Reflect On - When is caution appropriate? - How do you manage risk? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-cautious/) [Be creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-creative/) [Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Cautious Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious-creative-3764386/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-thing-658590/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Thing Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-cautious-3764387/) ## Related quotes > [A cautious creative is an oxymoron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/a-cautious-creative-is-an-oxymoron/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [ FDR, JFK, LBJ \[all Democratic presidents \] we have a pretty long list of presidents who maybe were not entirely forthcoming with intelligence information… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/fdr-jfk-lbj-all-democratic-presidents-we-have-a-pretty-long-list-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [To be cautious, one should not take high confidence as any absolute guarantee of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/to-be-cautious-one-should-not-take-high-confidence-as-any-absolute/) [Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/) > [Mothers have the huge influence, and I feel like they're always teaching us from the day we're born what to be afraid of, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/mothers-have-the-huge-influence-and-i-feel-like-they-re-always/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [One has to be cautious and respectful of the power of the "substance" guides. I don't advocate imbibing the "little saint children," as Maria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/one-has-to-be-cautious-and-respectful-of-the-power-of-the-substance/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) > [Be cautious, but not too cautious; do not be too much afraid of making a mistake; a man who never makes a mistake will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/be-cautious-but-not-too-cautious-do-not-be-too-much-afraid-of-making/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Let us be cautious in making assertions and critical in examining them, but tolerant in permitting linguistic forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/let-us-be-cautious-in-making-assertions-and-critical-in-examining/) [Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/) > [Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/cautious-careful-people-always-casting-about-to-preserve-their/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [As a scientist I cannot say we don't want to hear anything about GMOs, because these are advances in science. But I think its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/as-a-scientist-i-cannot-say-we-don-t-want-to-hear-anything-about-gmos/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [If you care about your personal liberty, you'll be cautious when you feel comfortable, blame all the illegal immigrants for everything. What you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-care-about-your-personal-liberty-you-ll-be-cautious-when-you/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Be cautious and bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-rothschild-3rd-baron-rothschild/be-cautious-and-bold/) [Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-rothschild-3rd-baron-rothschild/) > [While business advertises, charity is taught to beg. While business motivates with a dollar, charity is told to motivate with guilt. While business takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/while-business-advertises-charity-is-taught-to-beg-while-business/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) > [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) ## More by George Lois > [The more creative you are the more trouble you're in. You have to be courageous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/the-more-creative-you-are-the-more-trouble-you-re-in-you-have-to-be/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Follow your bliss. That which you love you must spend your life doing, as passionately and as perfectly as your heart, mind and instincts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/follow-your-bliss-that-which-you-love-you-must-spend-your-life-doing/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [In any creative industry, the fact that others are moving in a certain direction is always proof positive, at least to me, that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/in-any-creative-industry-the-fact-that-others-are-moving-in-a-certain/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Onwards and upwards, and never give your failures a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/onwards-and-upwards-and-never-give-your-failures-a-second-thought/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Most people work at keeping their job, rather than doing a good job. If you're the former, you're leading a meaningless life. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/most-people-work-at-keeping-their-job-rather-than-doing-a-good-job-if/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Creativity can solve almost any problem,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/creativity-can-solve-almost-any-problem/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Nothing comes from nothing. You must continuously feed the inner beast that sparks and inspires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/nothing-comes-from-nothing-you-must-continuously-feed-the-inner-beast/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Only with absolute fearlessness can we slay the dragons of mediocrity that invade our gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/only-with-absolute-fearlessness-can-we-slay-the-dragons-of-mediocrity/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Advertising, an art, is constantly besieged and compromised by logicians and technocrats, the scientists of our profession who wildly miss the main point about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/advertising-an-art-is-constantly-besieged-and-compromised-by/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [The accurate measure of a human being is what he or she actually gets done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/the-accurate-measure-of-a-human-being-is-what-he-or-she-actually-gets/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [To create great work, here's how you must spend your time: 1% Inspiration 9% Perspiration 90% Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/to-create-great-work-here-s-how-you-must-spend-your-time-1/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [If you don't burn out at the end of each day, you're a bum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/if-you-don-t-burn-out-at-the-end-of-each-day-you-re-a-bum/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Museums are custodians of epiphanies, and these epiphanies enter the central nervous system and deep recesses of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/museums-are-custodians-of-epiphanies-and-these-epiphanies-enter-the/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Never listen to music when you're trying go come up with a Big Idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/never-listen-to-music-when-you-re-trying-go-come-up-with-a-big-idea/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/creativity-can-solve-almost-any-problem-the-creative-act-the-defeat/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) [Explore all 29 George Lois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) ## More Be cautious quotes > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [While business advertises, charity is taught to beg. While business motivates with a dollar, charity is told to motivate with guilt. While business takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/while-business-advertises-charity-is-taught-to-beg-while-business/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) > [Be cautious and bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-rothschild-3rd-baron-rothschild/be-cautious-and-bold/) [Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-rothschild-3rd-baron-rothschild/) > [If you care about your personal liberty, you'll be cautious when you feel comfortable, blame all the illegal immigrants for everything. What you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-care-about-your-personal-liberty-you-ll-be-cautious-when-you/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [As a scientist I cannot say we don't want to hear anything about GMOs, because these are advances in science. But I think its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/as-a-scientist-i-cannot-say-we-don-t-want-to-hear-anything-about-gmos/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/cautious-careful-people-always-casting-about-to-preserve-their/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Let us be cautious in making assertions and critical in examining them, but tolerant in permitting linguistic forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/let-us-be-cautious-in-making-assertions-and-critical-in-examining/) [Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/) > [Be cautious, but not too cautious; do not be too much afraid of making a mistake; a man who never makes a mistake will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/be-cautious-but-not-too-cautious-do-not-be-too-much-afraid-of-making/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [One has to be cautious and respectful of the power of the "substance" guides. I don't advocate imbibing the "little saint children," as Maria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/one-has-to-be-cautious-and-respectful-of-the-power-of-the-substance/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) > [Mothers have the huge influence, and I feel like they're always teaching us from the day we're born what to be afraid of, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/mothers-have-the-huge-influence-and-i-feel-like-they-re-always/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [To be cautious, one should not take high confidence as any absolute guarantee of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/to-be-cautious-one-should-not-take-high-confidence-as-any-absolute/) [Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/) > [Some people swear you intentionally to get a reaction from you that would serve their cause. Be cautious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/some-people-swear-you-intentionally-to-get-a-reaction-from-you-that/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [ FDR, JFK, LBJ \[all Democratic presidents \] we have a pretty long list of presidents who maybe were not entirely forthcoming with intelligence information… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/fdr-jfk-lbj-all-democratic-presidents-we-have-a-pretty-long-list-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 67 Be cautious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-cautious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can be cautious or you can be creative (but there's no such thing as a cautious creative).", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Lois" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creative-but-there-s-no-such-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be cautious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creative-but-there-s-no-such-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/george-lois-21482_be-cautious_you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creati_2035962.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/george-lois-21482_be-cautious_you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creati_2035962.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/george-lois-21482_be-cautious_you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creati_2035962.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can be cautious or you can be creative (but there's no such thing as a cautious creative).” — George Lois", "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": "George Lois", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can be cautious or you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creative-but-there-s-no-such-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/you-can-be-cautious-or-you-can-be-creative-but-there-s-no-such-thing/#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 } } ] } ```