--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having a good idea is one thing, but…" description: "\"Having a good idea is one thing, but persuading other people to buy it is quite another. Good inventors are polymaths: they think with their hands and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/james-dyson-3842_brain_having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-pers_1078496.png" --- # Having a good idea is one thing, but persuading other… ![“Having a good idea is one thing, but persuading other people to buy it is quite another. Good inventors are polymaths: they think with their hands and their brains. They're experts in design, engineering and business.” quote by James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/james-dyson-3842_brain_having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-pers_1078496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/james-dyson-3842_brain_having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-pers_1078496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/james-dyson-3842_brain_having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-pers_1078496.png) > “Having a good idea is one thing, but persuading other people to buy it is quite another. Good inventors are polymaths: they think with their hands and their brains. They're experts in design, engineering and business.” [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great ideas need persuasion; inventors must blend hands‑on skill with business acumen. **In simple terms:** Ideas need selling; inventors must be hands‑on and business‑savvy. Key Takeaway Combine creativity with practical persuasion. Themes innovation persuasion design business multidisciplinary Mood inspirational pragmatic Type business creative When to use this quote - product launch - pitch meetings - cross‑functional teams - R&D Key Concepts design thinking marketing entrepreneurship polymathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance design and market needs? - What strategies improve idea adoption? A Different Perspective Persuasion alone may not guarantee market fit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventor/) [Inventors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventors/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Polymaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polymaths/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We should make the poor uncomfortable and kick them out of poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/we-should-make-the-poor-uncomfortable-and-kick-them-out-of-poverty/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Cruelty to animals is one of the most significant vices of a low and ignoble people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/cruelty-to-animals-is-one-of-the-most-significant-vices-of-a-low-and/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Reprove your friend in secret and praise him openly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/reprove-your-friend-in-secret-and-praise-him-openly/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [The 'polymath' had already died out by the close of the eighteenth century, and in the following century intensive education replaced extensive, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-polymath-had-already-died-out-by-the-close-of-the-eighteenth/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Clouds come floating into my life from other days no longer to shed rain or usher storm but to give colour to my sunset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/clouds-come-floating-into-my-life-from-other-days-no-longer-to-shed/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [When you compare yourself with others in matters of wealth, position, and health, you should look at people less favoured than yourself. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-hazm/when-you-compare-yourself-with-others-in-matters-of-wealth-position/) [Ibn Hazm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-hazm/) > [The true laboratory is the mind, where behind illusions we uncover the laws of truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagadish-chandra-bose/the-true-laboratory-is-the-mind-where-behind-illusions-we-uncover-the/) Jagadish Chandra Bose > [We ought not to be embarrassed of appreciating the truth and of obtaining it wherever it comes from, even if it comes from races…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kindi/we-ought-not-to-be-embarrassed-of-appreciating-the-truth-and-of/) Al-Kindi > [Love shows itself more in adversity than in prosperity; as light does, which shines most where the place is darkest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/love-shows-itself-more-in-adversity-than-in-prosperity-as-light-does/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Women are not allowed to be polymaths; we're only allowed to do single maths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/women-are-not-allowed-to-be-polymaths-we-re-only-allowed-to-do-single/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [The amount of knowledge which we can justify from evidence directly available to us can never be large. The overwhelming proportion of our factual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-polanyi/the-amount-of-knowledge-which-we-can-justify-from-evidence-directly/) [Michael Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-polanyi/) > [To present a whole world that doesn’t exist and make it seem real, we have to more or less pretend we’re polymaths. That’s just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/to-present-a-whole-world-that-doesn-t-exist-and-make-it-seem-real-we/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [Dark clouds become heaven's flowers when kissed by light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/dark-clouds-become-heaven-s-flowers-when-kissed-by-light/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Russell commented that the development of such gifted individuals (referring to polymaths) required a childhood period in which there was little or no pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/russell-commented-that-the-development-of-such-gifted-individuals/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“I spent most of my life trying to specialize myself. I went to theater school, film school, music school, mime school ... Finally, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-roque/i-spent-most-of-my-life-trying-to-specialize-myself-i-went-to-theater/) Nuno Roque ## More by James Dyson > [When you can't compete on cost, compete on quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/when-you-can-t-compete-on-cost-compete-on-quality/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [So I think the winners in recession are the people who produce new technology that does things better, which people really want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/so-i-think-the-winners-in-recession-are-the-people-who-produce-new/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [As an engineer I'm constantly spotting problems and plotting how to solve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/as-an-engineer-i-m-constantly-spotting-problems-and-plotting-how-to/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [What I've learned from running is that the time to push hard is when you're hurting like crazy and you want to give up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/what-i-ve-learned-from-running-is-that-the-time-to-push-hard-is-when/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [It is an extreme perversion of capitalism if you can trade in something before you have even paid for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/it-is-an-extreme-perversion-of-capitalism-if-you-can-trade-in/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [Engineering is treated with disdain, on the whole. It's considered to be rather boring and irrelevant, yet neither of those is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/engineering-is-treated-with-disdain-on-the-whole-it-s-considered-to/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [I grew up running miles of the Norfolk coastline. I'd think nothing of a six-mile run before breakfast. I still run, though not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/i-grew-up-running-miles-of-the-norfolk-coastline-i-d-think-nothing-of/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [Beauty can come in strange forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/beauty-can-come-in-strange-forms/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [Design and technology should be the subject where mathematical brainboxes and science whizzkids turn their bright ideas into useful products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/design-and-technology-should-be-the-subject-where-mathematical/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [Stumbling upon the next great invention in an 'ah-ha!' moment is a myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/stumbling-upon-the-next-great-invention-in-an-ah-ha-moment-is-a-myth/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [I hate science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/i-hate-science-fiction/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [Cordless vacuums are designed for quick jobs, but you need enough power to do the job; you don't want the power waning over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/cordless-vacuums-are-designed-for-quick-jobs-but-you-need-enough/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [I just want things to work properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/i-just-want-things-to-work-properly/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [We should have A-levels in vocational subjects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/we-should-have-a-levels-in-vocational-subjects/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) > [Far too few designers put any thought into usability, ending up with a great product that's completely inaccessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/far-too-few-designers-put-any-thought-into-usability-ending-up-with-a/) [James Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) [Explore all 121 James Dyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Having a good idea is one thing, but persuading other people to buy it is quite another. Good inventors are polymaths: they think with their hands and their brains. They're experts in design, engineering and business.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Dyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-persuading-other-people-to-buy-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-persuading-other-people-to-buy-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/james-dyson-3842_brain_having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-pers_1078496.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/james-dyson-3842_brain_having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-pers_1078496.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/141/james-dyson-3842_brain_having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-pers_1078496.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Having a good idea is one thing, but persuading other people to buy it is quite another. Good inventors are…” — James Dyson", "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": "James Dyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Having a good idea is one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-persuading-other-people-to-buy-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dyson/having-a-good-idea-is-one-thing-but-persuading-other-people-to-buy-it/#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 } } ] } ```