--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration…" description: "\"Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.\" — H. Jackson Brown, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_begin_don-t-waste-time-waiting-for-inspiration_2242575.png" --- # Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and… ![“Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.” quote by H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_begin_don-t-waste-time-waiting-for-inspiration_2242575.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_begin_don-t-waste-time-waiting-for-inspiration_2242575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_begin_don-t-waste-time-waiting-for-inspiration_2242575.png) > “Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.” [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Action precedes inspiration; starting work creates momentum that attracts ideas. **In simple terms:** Start work, inspiration follows. Key Takeaway Begin now, let ideas come. Themes productivity creativity motivation initiative Mood determined optimistic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing a novel - starting a project - learning a skill - solving a problem Key Concepts psychology of flow habit formation creative process Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How do you handle creative blocks? A Different Perspective Waiting for perfect conditions can cause endless delay. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) [Writer 's block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-s-block/) ## Related quotes > [The great-at-anything do not set to work because they are inspired, but rather become inspired because they are working. They don't waste time waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-newman/the-great-at-anything-do-not-set-to-work-because-they-are-inspired/) [Ernest Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-newman/) > [In fact, my methodology is based on the idea of waiting for when inspiration arrives for the actors. And that means that the light,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-serra/in-fact-my-methodology-is-based-on-the-idea-of-waiting-for-when/) [Albert Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-serra/) > [“Everybody dies. Some die still waiting for inspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-escamilla/everybody-dies-some-die-still-waiting-for-inspiration/) [Christina Escamilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-escamilla/) > [“Often, we may feel a wave of inspiration come over us, but then it passes, sometimes too quickly for us to act on it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-m-bulik/often-we-may-feel-a-wave-of-inspiration-come-over-us-but-then-it/) Cynthia M. Bulik > [So, the combination of looking at lots of different people and how they react to each other and how they relate to each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/so-the-combination-of-looking-at-lots-of-different-people-and-how/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [I sit around for ages waiting for inspiration. Then when I get an idea, I want to go with it and get something as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-cullum/i-sit-around-for-ages-waiting-for-inspiration-then-when-i-get-an-idea/) [Jamie Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-cullum/) > [If you're waiting for inspiration, you'll wait until you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-braunohler/if-you-re-waiting-for-inspiration-you-ll-wait-until-you-re-dead/) [Kurt Braunohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-braunohler/) > [“One of the greatest dangers for us creators is that we are impatiently waiting for inspiration to strike before we begin our work. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/one-of-the-greatest-dangers-for-us-creators-is-that-we-are/) [Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/) > [Every idea occurs while you are working. If you are sitting around waiting for inspiration, you could sit there forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/every-idea-occurs-while-you-are-working-if-you-are-sitting-around/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [I sat day after day in my little room, waiting for inspiration to visit me, trying to invent a pseudonym that would express, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-gary/i-sat-day-after-day-in-my-little-room-waiting-for-inspiration-to/) [Romain Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-gary/) > [Waiting for inspiration is for amateurs; professionals get to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/waiting-for-inspiration-is-for-amateurs-professionals-get-to-work/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Waiting for inspiration is like standing at the airport waiting for a train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-michaels/waiting-for-inspiration-is-like-standing-at-the-airport-waiting-for-a/) [Leigh Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-michaels/) > [Reaching a 'creative' state of mind thru positive action is considered preferable to waiting for 'inspiration'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/reaching-a-creative-state-of-mind-thru-positive-action-is-considered/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [If I get ideas independently of the act of writing, they never really fit. So for me, there's no hanging out, waiting for inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/if-i-get-ideas-independently-of-the-act-of-writing-they-never-really/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“Waiting for a late friend. Waiting in line at the movies. Waiting for the phone to ring. Waiting for the mail. Waiting at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyo-maclear/waiting-for-a-late-friend-waiting-in-line-at-the-movies-waiting-for/) [Kyo Maclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyo-maclear/) ## More by H. Jackson Brown, Jr > [Hire people more for their judgment than for their talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/hire-people-more-for-their-judgment-than-for-their-talents/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [We're constantly striving for success, fame and comfort when all we really need to be happy is someone or some thing to be enthusiastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/we-re-constantly-striving-for-success-fame-and-comfort-when-all-we/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Develop a sense of urgency in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/develop-a-sense-of-urgency-in-your-life/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Give children toys that are powered by their imagination, not by batteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/give-children-toys-that-are-powered-by-their-imagination-not-by/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Dont say you dont have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/dont-say-you-dont-have-enough-time-you-have-exactly-the-same-number/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Put a love note in his shaving kit before he leaves on a business trip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/put-a-love-note-in-his-shaving-kit-before-he-leaves-on-a-business-trip/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Always have something beautiful in sight, even if it's just a daisy in a jelly glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/always-have-something-beautiful-in-sight-even-if-it-s-just-a-daisy-in/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [You can get by on charm for about 15 minutes. After that, you better know something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/you-can-get-by-on-charm-for-about-15-minutes-after-that-you-better/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Spend your time and energy creating, not criticizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/spend-your-time-and-energy-creating-not-criticizing/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Oh, the difference between nearly right and exactly right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/oh-the-difference-between-nearly-right-and-exactly-right/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Become the world's most thoughtful friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/become-the-world-s-most-thoughtful-friend/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Remember that almost everything looks better after a good night's sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/remember-that-almost-everything-looks-better-after-a-good-night-s/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Mature love is composed and sustaining; a celebration of commitment, companionship, and trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/mature-love-is-composed-and-sustaining-a-celebration-of-commitment/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Remember that creating a successful marriage is like farming: you have to start over again every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/remember-that-creating-a-successful-marriage-is-like-farming-you-have/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/be-modest-a-lot-was-accomplished-before-you-were-born/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) [Explore all 239 H. Jackson Brown, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) ## More Begin quotes > [If you wanted to put the world to rights, who should you begin with: yourself or others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-you-wanted-to-put-the-world-to-rights-who-should-you-begin-with/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“Let the motherfucking games begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/let-the-motherfucking-games-begin/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [“Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/begin-as-you-mean-to-go-on-and-go-on-as-you-began-and-let-the-lord-be/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [The world will only begin to have faith in you when you do too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-world-will-only-begin-to-have-faith-in-you-when-you-do-too/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The idea with a collection is sort of to begin with a kind of bang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/the-idea-with-a-collection-is-sort-of-to-begin-with-a-kind-of-bang/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [“Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you high. People who are gentle, humble and able always have a great ending no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/humble-yourself-before-the-lord-and-he-will-lift-you-high-people-who/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Quitters don’t gain what they have started working on; waiters don’t start what they could have gained. What is common there is failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/quitters-don-t-gain-what-they-have-started-working-on-waiters-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-akin/i-don-t-know-the-future-i-didn-t-come-here-to-tell-you-how-this-is/) [Todd Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-akin/) > [The public should begin to understand that there's nothing that comes out of this campaign, or this Obama White House, that they can believe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/the-public-should-begin-to-understand-that-there-s-nothing-that-comes/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [“A mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/a-mother-is-always-the-beginning-she-is-how-things-begin/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [I look forward to the day that a lot of the folks that you all talk about and cover on this network will begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-look-forward-to-the-day-that-a-lot-of-the-folks-that-you-all-talk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...I'd be interested in any tips you have for somebody starting out.” “Uh-huh,” I said, looking out the window. I decided, as we drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/i-d-be-interested-in-any-tips-you-have-for-somebody-starting-out-uh/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [Begin where you are. Read every word, every phrase, every paragraph of the mind, as it operates through thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/begin-where-you-are-read-every-word-every-phrase-every-paragraph-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) Browse all 1,199 Begin quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don’t waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "H. 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