--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A single idea, if it is right, saves us…" description: "\"A single idea, if it is right, saves us the labor of an infinity of experiences.\" — Jacques Maritain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/jacques-maritain-8918_idea_a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-th_600026.jpg" --- # A single idea, if it is right, saves us the labor of an… ![“A single idea, if it is right, saves us the labor of an infinity of experiences.” quote by Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/jacques-maritain-8918_idea_a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-th_600026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/jacques-maritain-8918_idea_a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-th_600026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/jacques-maritain-8918_idea_a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-th_600026.jpg) > “A single idea, if it is right, saves us the labor of an infinity of experiences.” [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A correct idea prevents the need to learn through countless trial‑and‑error experiences. **In simple terms:** A good idea saves many attempts. Key Takeaway Seek solid ideas early. Themes wisdom efficiency learning Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education design - product development - policy making - personal decision making Key Concepts philosophy epistemology cognitive economy Questions to Reflect On - What core idea could simplify your current challenge? - How do you test an idea’s validity before acting? A Different Perspective Ideas can be wrong or misapplied, leading to false confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinity/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) ## Related quotes > [I try to push a single idea to its absolute limit. So for all of those ideas that existed in the story, you attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mcburney/i-try-to-push-a-single-idea-to-its-absolute-limit-so-for-all-of-those/) [Simon McBurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mcburney/) > [I wish there were some cure, like the lover's leap, for all heads of which some single idea has obtained an unreasonable and irregular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-wish-there-were-some-cure-like-the-lover-s-leap-for-all-heads-of/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [One single idea may have greater weight than all the men, animals, and machines for a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight-than-all-the-men-animals-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I have far more respect for the person with a single idea who gets there than for the person with a thousand ideas who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-have-far-more-respect-for-the-person-with-a-single-idea-who-gets/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I would trade all my experimental works for the single idea of the benzene theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilhelm-von-hofmann/i-would-trade-all-my-experimental-works-for-the-single-idea-of-the/) August Wilhelm von Hofmann > [A single idea - the sudden flash of a thought - may be worth a million dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/a-single-idea-the-sudden-flash-of-a-thought-may-be-worth-a-million/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [A single idea from the human mind can build cities. An idea can transform the world and rewrite all the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/a-single-idea-from-the-human-mind-can-build-cities-an-idea-can/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [I'm not at all sure that the concept of the readymade isn't the most important single idea to come out of my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/i-m-not-at-all-sure-that-the-concept-of-the-readymade-isn-t-the-most/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [“I have yet to hear a single idea that was worth considering for longer than it took us to listen to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-have-yet-to-hear-a-single-idea-that-was-worth-considering-for/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [For me, a novel relying too heavily on a single idea might be a dry, deadly thing unless it possesses an animating force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/for-me-a-novel-relying-too-heavily-on-a-single-idea-might-be-a-dry/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I regard the people as a great being, inspired by a single idea. This is my problem. I strove to solve it in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/modest-petrovich-mussorgsky/i-regard-the-people-as-a-great-being-inspired-by-a-single-idea-this/) Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky > [It's the right idea, but not the right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dalton/it-s-the-right-idea-but-not-the-right-time/) [John Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dalton/) > [Sometimes I have the idea right away, like, "Oh, this is what this song's about. This is how I'm feeling."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avey-tare/sometimes-i-have-the-idea-right-away-like-oh-this-is-what-this-song-s/) [Avey Tare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avey-tare/) > [Solitude is only a good idea if you have the right people along to share it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/solitude-is-only-a-good-idea-if-you-have-the-right-people-along-to/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [You have to take away the idea that something you do is right or wrong. I don't think there's a right or a wrong;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/you-have-to-take-away-the-idea-that-something-you-do-is-right-or/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) ## More by Jacques Maritain > [It has never been recommended to confuse "loving" with "seeking to please"... ...Salome pleased Herod's guests; I can hardly believe she was burning with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/it-has-never-been-recommended-to-confuse-loving-with-seeking-to/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [A great philosopher in the wrong is like a beacon on the reefs which says to seamen: steer clear of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/a-great-philosopher-in-the-wrong-is-like-a-beacon-on-the-reefs-which/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [I don't see America as a mainland, but as a sea, a big ocean. Sometimes a storm arises, a formidable current develops, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/i-don-t-see-america-as-a-mainland-but-as-a-sea-a-big-ocean-sometimes/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [It is impossible for a Christian to be a relativist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/it-is-impossible-for-a-christian-to-be-a-relativist/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [The light of common sense is fundamentally the same light as that of science, that is to say, the natural light of the intellect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-light-of-common-sense-is-fundamentally-the-same-light-as-that-of/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Absolute atheism starts in an act of faith in reverse gear and is a full-blown religious commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/absolute-atheism-starts-in-an-act-of-faith-in-reverse-gear-and-is-a/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Poetry proceeds from the totality of man, sense, imagination, intellect, love, desire, instinct, blood and spirit together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/poetry-proceeds-from-the-totality-of-man-sense-imagination-intellect/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [The great and admirable strength of America consists in this, that America is truly the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-great-and-admirable-strength-of-america-consists-in-this-that/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [That is why I think, in defiance of Plato, that there is at once error and vulgarity in saying that poetry is a lie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/that-is-why-i-think-in-defiance-of-plato-that-there-is-at-once-error/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [The first step to be taken by everyone who wishes to act morally is to decide not to act according to the general customs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-first-step-to-be-taken-by-everyone-who-wishes-to-act-morally-is/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [The only artist who does not deserve respect is the one who works to please the public, for commercial success or for official success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-only-artist-who-does-not-deserve-respect-is-the-one-who-works-to/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Things are opaque to us, and we are opaque to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/things-are-opaque-to-us-and-we-are-opaque-to-ourselves/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Thus society is born, as something required by nature, and (because this nature is human nature) as something accomplished through a work of reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/thus-society-is-born-as-something-required-by-nature-and-because-this/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Poetic experience is distinct in nature from mystical experience. Because poetry emanates from the free creativity of the spirit,it is from the very start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/poetic-experience-is-distinct-in-nature-from-mystical-experience/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [We do not need a truth to serve us, we need a truth that we can serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/we-do-not-need-a-truth-to-serve-us-we-need-a-truth-that-we-can-serve/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) [Explore all 76 Jacques Maritain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) ## More Idea quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [Everybody has a good idea, but nothing goes as planned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-winklevoss/everybody-has-a-good-idea-but-nothing-goes-as-planned/) [Tyler Winklevoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-winklevoss/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [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/) > [When there's a firestorm going on around you, you have very little idea of what's next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/when-there-s-a-firestorm-going-on-around-you-you-have-very-little/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [The idea is not to copy nature, but to give a feeling of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-oudolf/the-idea-is-not-to-copy-nature-but-to-give-a-feeling-of-nature/) Piet Oudolf > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [My mom had no idea she was having twins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-bella/my-mom-had-no-idea-she-was-having-twins/) [Brie Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-bella/) > [When I was 12 years old, I went to Natchitoches, La.; it was summer vacation with my family. We visited a plantation, Melrose. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/when-i-was-12-years-old-i-went-to-natchitoches-la-it-was-summer/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [I get worked up over an 'idea' or the ethos of an idea. I follow dreams, take notes on travels, and engage in research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/i-get-worked-up-over-an-idea-or-the-ethos-of-an-idea-i-follow-dreams/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) [Browse all 4,953 Idea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A single idea, if it is right, saves us the labor of an infinity of experiences.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jacques Maritain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-the-labor-of-an-infinity-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Idea" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-the-labor-of-an-infinity-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/jacques-maritain-8918_idea_a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-th_600026.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/jacques-maritain-8918_idea_a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-th_600026.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/jacques-maritain-8918_idea_a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-th_600026.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A single idea, if it is right, saves us the labor of an infinity of experiences.” — Jacques Maritain", "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": "Jacques Maritain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A single idea, if it is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-the-labor-of-an-infinity-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-the-labor-of-an-infinity-of/#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 } } ] } ```