--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The producer beating a new path for…" description: "\"The producer beating a new path for himself through the wilderness is going to do the thing 'differently,' of course. But after a while, he looks about..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/irving-thalberg-36817_courses_the-producer-beating-a-new-path-for-hims_177169.jpg" --- # The producer beating a new path for himself through the… ![“The producer beating a new path for himself through the wilderness is going to do the thing 'differently,' of course. But after a while, he looks about him. The territory is unfamiliar, the forest ahead forbidding. Just how 'different' dare he be? He looks at his resources, and then at the…” quote by Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/irving-thalberg-36817_courses_the-producer-beating-a-new-path-for-hims_177169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/irving-thalberg-36817_courses_the-producer-beating-a-new-path-for-hims_177169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/irving-thalberg-36817_courses_the-producer-beating-a-new-path-for-hims_177169.jpg) > “The producer beating a new path for himself through the wilderness is going to do the thing 'differently,' of course. But after a while, he looks about him. The territory is unfamiliar, the forest ahead forbidding. Just how 'different' dare he be? He looks at his resources, and then at the established successes of the past. He suddenly realizes he must play safe, be sure. The unknown is a gamble; the known isn't-at least comparatively. The safest plan, obviously, is to follow the trailblazers. So he produces an imitation of one of the current successes. Usually it is a mediocre imitation.” [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creatives often start by copying successful models, fearing the unknown, which can limit true innovation. **In simple terms:** Artists imitate before they innovate. Key Takeaway Balance learning from others with daring originality. Themes creativity risk imitation Mood reflective inspired cautious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - product design - film making - startup development - artistic writing Key Concepts innovation confidence learning Questions to Reflect On - When should you follow a proven path? - How can you safely experiment beyond the norm? A Different Perspective Imitation may produce mediocrity and stifle unique voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Currents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currents/) [Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Forests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forests/) [Gamble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gamble/) [Imitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitation/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [New paths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-paths/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-safe/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Producer Beating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producer-beating-1903957/) [Producers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producers/) [Produces Imitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produces-imitation-1903959/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Territory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/territory/) [Territory Unfamiliar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/territory-unfamiliar-1903961/) [Trailblazers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trailblazers/) [Unfamiliar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfamiliar/) [Unfamiliar Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfamiliar-forest-1903960/) [Wilderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilderness/) [Wilderness Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilderness-going-1903958/) ## Related quotes > [Always in the big woods when you leave familiar ground and step off alone into a new place there will be, along with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/always-in-the-big-woods-when-you-leave-familiar-ground-and-step-off/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [During our formative years, it was all about, 'What did Metallica do?' and 'How do we do that?' and then you try and find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/synyster-gates/during-our-formative-years-it-was-all-about-what-did-metallica-do-and/) [Synyster Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/synyster-gates/) > [Don't follow in my footsteps. 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One of the best in TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/robin-roberts-what-a-trailblazer-she-has-been-in-sports-tv-one-of-the/) [Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/) > [If you make great music, you can become a mold breaker or a trailblazer. It's a little scary to do that because you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-evans/if-you-make-great-music-you-can-become-a-mold-breaker-or-a/) [Anthony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-evans/) > [“Wishing you were here to see the trailblazers,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-k-hubalek/wishing-you-were-here-to-see-the-trailblazers/) [Linda K. Hubalek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-k-hubalek/) ## More by Irving Thalberg > [Credit you give yourself is not worth having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/credit-you-give-yourself-is-not-worth-having/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [Novelty is always welcome but talking pictures are just a fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/novelty-is-always-welcome-but-talking-pictures-are-just-a-fad/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [A story never looks as good as when the other fellow buys it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/a-story-never-looks-as-good-as-when-the-other-fellow-buys-it/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [Forget it, Louis, no Civil War picture ever made a nickel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/forget-it-louis-no-civil-war-picture-ever-made-a-nickel/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [The most important person in the motion picture process is the writer... and we must do everything in our power to prevent them from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/the-most-important-person-in-the-motion-picture-process-is-the-writer/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [The movie medium will eventually take its place as art because there is no other medium of interest to so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/the-movie-medium-will-eventually-take-its-place-as-art-because-there/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [Screen credit is valuable only when it's given you. If you're in a position to give yourself credit, you don't need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/screen-credit-is-valuable-only-when-it-s-given-you-if-you-re-in-a/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [Compliments you pay to yourself aren't worth having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/compliments-you-pay-to-yourself-aren-t-worth-having/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [If it isn’t for the writing, we’ve got nothing. Writers are the most important people in Hollywood. And we must never let them know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/if-it-isn-t-for-the-writing-we-ve-got-nothing-writers-are-the-most/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [No story ever looks as bad as the story you've just bought; no story ever looks as good as the story the other fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/no-story-ever-looks-as-bad-as-the-story-you-ve-just-bought-no-story/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [What's this business of being a writer. It's just putting one word after another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/what-s-this-business-of-being-a-writer-it-s-just-putting-one-word/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) [Explore all 12 Irving Thalberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) ## More Courses quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our critical day is not the very day of our death; but the whole course of our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/our-critical-day-is-not-the-very-day-of-our-death-but-the-whole/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/) [Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. 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