---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that…"
description: "\"I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before saying no. Be open-minded.\" — Issa Rae"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/issa-rae-11768_ideas_i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t_404974.jpg"
---

#  I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I…

![“I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before saying no. Be open-minded.” quote by Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/issa-rae-11768_ideas_i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t_404974.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/issa-rae-11768_ideas_i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t_404974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/issa-rae-11768_ideas_i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t_404974.jpg)

> “I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before saying no. Be open-minded.”

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

## About This Quote

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

Encourage testing ideas before dismissing them, fostering openness and experimentation.

**In simple terms:** Try ideas before rejecting them.

Key Takeaway

Be open to testing.

Themes

open-mindedness creativity risk-taking

Mood

curious optimistic

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- team brainstorming
- product development
- personal decisions
- entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

innovation growth mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- What idea have you dismissed too quickly?
- How can you create safe spaces for trial?

A Different Perspective

Ideas may still fail despite testing, wasting resources.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [If you want to do this, you've got to last. You've got to be well enough to carry your ideas. I'm not saying I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/if-you-want-to-do-this-you-ve-got-to-last-you-ve-got-to-be-well/)

[Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/)

> [“if you can get the other side to drop their unbelief, you can slowly work them to your point of view on the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/if-you-can-get-the-other-side-to-drop-their-unbelief-you-can-slowly/)

[Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/)

> [When somebody promises to do something, you have to think about whether that's something that you would be willing to see happen because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/when-somebody-promises-to-do-something-you-have-to-think-about/)

[Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/)

> [You and I cannot be useful if we want to be sweet as honey in the mouths of men. God will never bless us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/you-and-i-cannot-be-useful-if-we-want-to-be-sweet-as-honey-in-the/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [“Senior pastors cannot be those who think they can do everything but are willing to let a few people help them. Rather, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-mallory/senior-pastors-cannot-be-those-who-think-they-can-do-everything-but/)

[Sue Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-mallory/)

> [Kids are capable of handling a lot more than you think if you are willing to commit some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hartman/kids-are-capable-of-handling-a-lot-more-than-you-think-if-you-are/)

David Hartman

> [I think that I am willing to risk my life in order to have more freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-think-that-i-am-willing-to-risk-my-life-in-order-to-have-more/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Very few people ever bother to find out what other people really think. They are willing to accept whatever they are told about anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/very-few-people-ever-bother-to-find-out-what-other-people-really/)

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

> [I think that I am willing to do anything. I like to collaborate. If my voice will be heard, than I will do some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-astin/i-think-that-i-am-willing-to-do-anything-i-like-to-collaborate-if-my/)

[Skylar Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-astin/)

> [People seem to think that you should be willing to speak to them whether they're jerks or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/people-seem-to-think-that-you-should-be-willing-to-speak-to-them/)

[Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/)

> [“Designing is best done first on paper. It's cheap and fast, making it easy to try many ideas well before anyone's ego is invested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berkun-scott/designing-is-best-done-first-on-paper-it-s-cheap-and-fast-making-it/)

[Berkun, Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berkun-scott/)

> [Music is the core of what we are trying to do, and we try to find many other ideas around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/music-is-the-core-of-what-we-are-trying-to-do-and-we-try-to-find-many/)

[Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/)

> [“Don't try to get ideas; create the situation for them instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-sippy/don-t-try-to-get-ideas-create-the-situation-for-them-instead/)

[Haresh Sippy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-sippy/)

> [There are always a bunch of ideas floating around and I do the best that I can to try to not do them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/there-are-always-a-bunch-of-ideas-floating-around-and-i-do-the-best/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I realized why I need to start a new company. Not for the money. Not because I'm 'bored'. But because a company is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/i-realized-why-i-need-to-start-a-new-company-not-for-the-money-not/)

[Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/)

## More by Issa Rae

> [It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong-by-writing-what-you-know/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [“I needed to see more from my movies than the extremely tragic black woman, or the magic helpless Negro, or the many black men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-needed-to-see-more-from-my-movies-than-the-extremely-tragic-black/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [I'm transitioning to television and film, but ultimately, I want to have a stronger presence on the web and be able to curate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-transitioning-to-television-and-film-but-ultimately-i-want-to/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [I really want to be the black Tina Fey, where I just am able to produce my own content and produce other content for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-really-want-to-be-the-black-tina-fey-where-i-just-am-able-to/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [The black characters on TV are the sidekicks, or they're insignificant. You could put all the black sidekicks on one show, and it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/the-black-characters-on-tv-are-the-sidekicks-or-they-re-insignificant/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [You know, you have a lot of people - I've met a lot of people in the past, I've gone to private schools, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/you-know-you-have-a-lot-of-people-i-ve-met-a-lot-of-people-in-the/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [I personally don't feel any pressure to make jokes about multiple baby-fathers and stereotypical black jokes, because one, that's just not my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-personally-don-t-feel-any-pressure-to-make-jokes-about-multiple/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [I'm a social media addict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-a-social-media-addict/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [Especially being a woman of color, sometimes it's hard for to put our foot down. You work with a lot of men, and they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/especially-being-a-woman-of-color-sometimes-it-s-hard-for-to-put-our/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [Every black film feels like it's Tyler Perry, and that just needs to stop. But people seem to slowly be looking for what else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/every-black-film-feels-like-it-s-tyler-perry-and-that-just-needs-to/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [“When I was a teenager, for example, others questioned my blackness because some of the life choices I made weren’t considered to be “black”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/when-i-was-a-teenager-for-example-others-questioned-my-blackness/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [Sometimes if I'm stuck on something, I'll have a drink, and it'll get me inspired and ready to keep going. But the trick to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/sometimes-if-i-m-stuck-on-something-i-ll-have-a-drink-and-it-ll-get/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [“In high school, I developed a new love: acting. I went to a predominantly black and Latino school in Compton and, outside of television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/in-high-school-i-developed-a-new-love-acting-i-went-to-a/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

> [I would love 'Awkward Black Girl' to be on television, with the right team of people who understand and get it. If 'Awkward Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-would-love-awkward-black-girl-to-be-on-television-with-the-right/)

[Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

[Explore all 58 Issa Rae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/)

## More Ideas quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/)

[Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/)

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/)

[Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/)

[Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/)

> [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/)

[Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/)

> [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/)

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

> [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/)

[M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/)

> [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/)

[Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/)

> [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/)

[Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/)

> [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/)

[Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/)

> [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/)

[Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/)

[Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before saying no. Be open-minded.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Issa Rae"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t-work-but-i-think-you-should/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ideas"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t-work-but-i-think-you-should/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/issa-rae-11768_ideas_i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t_404974.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/issa-rae-11768_ideas_i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t_404974.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/issa-rae-11768_ideas_i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t_404974.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before…” — Issa Rae",
                "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": "Issa Rae",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t-work-but-i-think-you-should/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t-work-but-i-think-you-should/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
