---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Spontaneity is not enough - or, to be…"
description: "\"Spontaneity is not enough - or, to be more exact, spontaneity is not possible until there is an unconscious coordination of form, space and vision.\" — ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/herbert-read-7906_coordination_spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more_1432787.jpg"
---

#  Spontaneity is not enough - or, to be more exact…

![“Spontaneity is not enough - or, to be more exact, spontaneity is not possible until there is an unconscious coordination of form, space and vision.” quote by Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/herbert-read-7906_coordination_spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more_1432787.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/herbert-read-7906_coordination_spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more_1432787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/herbert-read-7906_coordination_spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more_1432787.jpg)

> “Spontaneity is not enough - or, to be more exact, spontaneity is not possible until there is an unconscious coordination of form, space and vision.”

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

## About This Quote

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

Spontaneity requires unconscious coordination of form, space, and vision; true creativity emerges from integrated perception.

**In simple terms:** Creativity needs hidden coordination.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate integrated perception for genuine creativity.

Themes

creativity perception artistic process philosophy

Mood

inspirational introspective

Type

philosophical artistic

When to use this quote

- artistic practice
- design thinking
- performance
- education

Key Concepts

embodiment mind‑body unity visual thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we train unconscious coordination?
- What role does practice play in spontaneous creation?

A Different Perspective

Spontaneity alone may be insufficient without skill.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Coordination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coordination/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Exact Spontaneity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exact-spontaneity-5105923/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Spontaneity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneity/) [Spontaneity Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneity-possible-4806879/) [Unconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconscious/) [Unconscious Coordination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconscious-coordination-5105922/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/)

## Related quotes

> [Basketball is an intricate, high-speed game filled with split-second, spontaneous decisions. But that spontaneity is possible only when everyone first engages in hours of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/basketball-is-an-intricate-high-speed-game-filled-with-split-second/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [He has many things I haven’t got,” said Jace. “Like nearsightedness, bad posture, and an appalling lack of coordination.” -Jace about Simon, pg. 331-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-has-many-things-i-haven-t-got-said-jace-like-nearsightedness-bad-2/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [The press heralded this as a major accomplishment. The rush from the press as soon as it was announced suggested a high level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erick-erickson/the-press-heralded-this-as-a-major-accomplishment-the-rush-from-the/)

[Erick Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erick-erickson/)

> [The true Vedantic spirit does not start out with a system of preconceived ideas. It possesses absolute liberty and unrivalled courage among religions with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/the-true-vedantic-spirit-does-not-start-out-with-a-system-of/)

[Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/)

> [I have zero hand-eye coordination - zero - so I've never been good at softball, basketball, golf, things like that, but I'm really strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-decker/i-have-zero-hand-eye-coordination-zero-so-i-ve-never-been-good-at/)

[Brooklyn Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-decker/)

> [The capitalist system of coordination by trade seems to be largely populated by indigestible lumps of socialism called corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-carson/the-capitalist-system-of-coordination-by-trade-seems-to-be-largely/)

[Kevin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-carson/)

> [“He has many things I haven’t got,” said Jace. “Like nearsightedness, bad posture, and an appalling lack of coordination.” - Jace about Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-has-many-things-i-haven-t-got-said-jace-like-nearsightedness-bad/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [The serve, I think, is the most difficult, you know, in terms of coordination, because you got the two arms going, and you got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/the-serve-i-think-is-the-most-difficult-you-know-in-terms-of/)

[Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/)

> [I'm a visual learner, so with hand-eye coordination, I was a natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-adams/i-m-a-visual-learner-so-with-hand-eye-coordination-i-was-a-natural/)

[Katrina Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-adams/)

> [The emergence of a unified cognitive moment relies on the coordination of scattered mosaics of functionally specialized brain regions. Here we review the mechanisms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-varela/the-emergence-of-a-unified-cognitive-moment-relies-on-the/)

[Francisco Varela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-varela/)

> [First you must find your trajectory, and then comes the social coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/first-you-must-find-your-trajectory-and-then-comes-the-social/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [The formation of the News America Publishing Group will lead to greater editorial excitement, new business opportunities and greater efficiencies and coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chernin/the-formation-of-the-news-america-publishing-group-will-lead-to/)

[Peter Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-chernin/)

> [It's interesting. I've known quite a few good athletes that can't begin to play a beat on the drum set. Most team sport is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/it-s-interesting-i-ve-known-quite-a-few-good-athletes-that-can-t/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [I can feel how an audience is reacting when I'm on a stage, but when you are on stage, your perception is distorted. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-can-feel-how-an-audience-is-reacting-when-i-m-on-a-stage-but-when/)

[Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/)

## More by Herbert Read

> [Perhaps it is this theory of all work and no play that has made the Marxist such a very dull boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/perhaps-it-is-this-theory-of-all-work-and-no-play-that-has-made-the/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [There are a few people, but a diminishing number, who still believe that Marxism, as an economic system, off era a coherent alternative to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/there-are-a-few-people-but-a-diminishing-number-who-still-believe/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [The sensitive artist knows that a bitter wind is blowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/the-sensitive-artist-knows-that-a-bitter-wind-is-blowing/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [The slave may be happy, but happiness is not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/the-slave-may-be-happy-but-happiness-is-not-enough/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [The classicist, and the naturalist who has much in common with him, refuse to see in the highest works of art anything but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/the-classicist-and-the-naturalist-who-has-much-in-common-with-him/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [Man is everywhere still in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/man-is-everywhere-still-in-chains/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [It does not seem that the contradiction which exists between the aristocratic function of art and the democratic structure of modern society can ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/it-does-not-seem-that-the-contradiction-which-exists-between-the/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [I can imagine no society which does not embody some method of arbitration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/i-can-imagine-no-society-which-does-not-embody-some-method-of/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [Sensibility... is a direct and particular reaction to the separate and individual nature of things. It begins and ends with the sensuous apprehension of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/sensibility-is-a-direct-and-particular-reaction-to-the-separate-and/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [In the evolution of mankind there has always been a certain degree of social coherence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/in-the-evolution-of-mankind-there-has-always-been-a-certain-degree-of/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [Modern man has been in search of a new language of form to satisfy new longings and aspirations - longings for mental appeasement, aspirations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/modern-man-has-been-in-search-of-a-new-language-of-form-to-satisfy/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [I am not going to claim that modern anarchism has any direct relation to Roman jurisprudence; but I do claim that it has its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/i-am-not-going-to-claim-that-modern-anarchism-has-any-direct-relation/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [To realize that new world we must prefer the values of freedom and equality above all other values - above personal wealth, technical power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/to-realize-that-new-world-we-must-prefer-the-values-of-freedom-and/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [Intellect begins with the observation of nature, proceeds to memorize and classify the facts thus observed, and by logical deduction builds up that edifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/intellect-begins-with-the-observation-of-nature-proceeds-to-memorize/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

> [In a sense, every tool is a machine--the hammer, the ax, and the chisel. And every machine is a tool. The real distinction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/in-a-sense-every-tool-is-a-machine-the-hammer-the-ax-and-the-chisel/)

[Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

[Explore all 86 Herbert Read quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/)

## More Coordination quotes

> [I can feel how an audience is reacting when I'm on a stage, but when you are on stage, your perception is distorted. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-can-feel-how-an-audience-is-reacting-when-i-m-on-a-stage-but-when/)

[Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/)

> [It's interesting. I've known quite a few good athletes that can't begin to play a beat on the drum set. Most team sport is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/it-s-interesting-i-ve-known-quite-a-few-good-athletes-that-can-t/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [The formation of the News America Publishing Group will lead to greater editorial excitement, new business opportunities and greater efficiencies and coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chernin/the-formation-of-the-news-america-publishing-group-will-lead-to/)

[Peter Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-chernin/)

> [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [First you must find your trajectory, and then comes the social coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/first-you-must-find-your-trajectory-and-then-comes-the-social/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [The emergence of a unified cognitive moment relies on the coordination of scattered mosaics of functionally specialized brain regions. Here we review the mechanisms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-varela/the-emergence-of-a-unified-cognitive-moment-relies-on-the/)

[Francisco Varela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-varela/)

> [I'm a visual learner, so with hand-eye coordination, I was a natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-adams/i-m-a-visual-learner-so-with-hand-eye-coordination-i-was-a-natural/)

[Katrina Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-adams/)

> [The serve, I think, is the most difficult, you know, in terms of coordination, because you got the two arms going, and you got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/the-serve-i-think-is-the-most-difficult-you-know-in-terms-of/)

[Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/)

> [“He has many things I haven’t got,” said Jace. “Like nearsightedness, bad posture, and an appalling lack of coordination.” - Jace about Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-has-many-things-i-haven-t-got-said-jace-like-nearsightedness-bad/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [The capitalist system of coordination by trade seems to be largely populated by indigestible lumps of socialism called corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-carson/the-capitalist-system-of-coordination-by-trade-seems-to-be-largely/)

[Kevin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-carson/)

> [I have zero hand-eye coordination - zero - so I've never been good at softball, basketball, golf, things like that, but I'm really strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-decker/i-have-zero-hand-eye-coordination-zero-so-i-ve-never-been-good-at/)

[Brooklyn Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-decker/)

> [The true Vedantic spirit does not start out with a system of preconceived ideas. It possesses absolute liberty and unrivalled courage among religions with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/the-true-vedantic-spirit-does-not-start-out-with-a-system-of/)

[Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/)

> [The press heralded this as a major accomplishment. The rush from the press as soon as it was announced suggested a high level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erick-erickson/the-press-heralded-this-as-a-major-accomplishment-the-rush-from-the/)

[Erick Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erick-erickson/)

> [He has many things I haven’t got,” said Jace. “Like nearsightedness, bad posture, and an appalling lack of coordination.” -Jace about Simon, pg. 331-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-has-many-things-i-haven-t-got-said-jace-like-nearsightedness-bad-2/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Doing a route at the absolute limit of the possible demands and encourages a coordination of all peripheral factors. It is, at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-gullich/doing-a-route-at-the-absolute-limit-of-the-possible-demands-and/)

[Wolfgang Gullich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-gullich/)

[Browse all 136 Coordination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coordination/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Spontaneity is not enough - or, to be more exact, spontaneity is not possible until there is an unconscious coordination of form, space and vision.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Herbert Read"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more-exact-spontaneity-is-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Coordination"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more-exact-spontaneity-is-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/herbert-read-7906_coordination_spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more_1432787.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/herbert-read-7906_coordination_spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more_1432787.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/herbert-read-7906_coordination_spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more_1432787.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Spontaneity is not enough - or, to be more exact, spontaneity is not possible until there is an unconscious…” — Herbert Read",
                "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": "Herbert Read",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Spontaneity is not enough - or,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more-exact-spontaneity-is-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/spontaneity-is-not-enough-or-to-be-more-exact-spontaneity-is-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```