--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oddly, though, lists are reassuring. We…" description: "\"Oddly, though, lists are reassuring. We become aware of this if we scrupulously follow a recipe, which is essentially a list of ingredients and actions..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/jean-claude-ellena-48686_action_oddly-though-lists-are-reassuring-we-bec_787599.jpg" --- # Oddly, though, lists are reassuring. We become aware of… ![“Oddly, though, lists are reassuring. We become aware of this if we scrupulously follow a recipe, which is essentially a list of ingredients and actions; but if we give this 'list' too much importance, we leave no room for the imagination.” quote by Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/jean-claude-ellena-48686_action_oddly-though-lists-are-reassuring-we-bec_787599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/jean-claude-ellena-48686_action_oddly-though-lists-are-reassuring-we-bec_787599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/jean-claude-ellena-48686_action_oddly-though-lists-are-reassuring-we-bec_787599.jpg) > “Oddly, though, lists are reassuring. We become aware of this if we scrupulously follow a recipe, which is essentially a list of ingredients and actions; but if we give this 'list' too much importance, we leave no room for the imagination.” [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lists provide structure and confidence, but over‑reliance can stifle imagination and flexibility. **In simple terms:** Lists are helpful but can limit creativity if over‑valued. Key Takeaway Balance structure with freedom to improvise. Themes creativity structure imagination Mood reflective balanced Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - cooking - writing - project planning - daily routines Key Concepts cognitive psychology design thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you use a list without feeling constrained? - When does a list become a hindrance? A Different Perspective Excessive focus on lists may cause rigidity and missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Reassuring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reassuring/) ## Related quotes > [“There are seven primary types of things that you’ll want to keep track of and manage from an organizational perspective: • A “Projects” list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/there-are-seven-primary-types-of-things-that-you-ll-want-to-keep/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [If you listed all the reasons for your faith, and all the things that make you cry, it would be essentially the same list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/if-you-listed-all-the-reasons-for-your-faith-and-all-the-things-that/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [When I look out at the audience at some of our shows, I think we are reaching a younger audience... I see lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/when-i-look-out-at-the-audience-at-some-of-our-shows-i-think-we-are/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [To me having a party is something like having a baby. The fact that you got through the last one alive is not somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/to-me-having-a-party-is-something-like-having-a-baby-the-fact-that/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [As soon as I started writing Julia, by which I mean while writing its first sentence, I felt a sudden, reassuring charge of excitement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-straub/as-soon-as-i-started-writing-julia-by-which-i-mean-while-writing-its/) [Peter Straub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-straub/) > [Theres nothing more reassuring than a world thats crazier than you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/theres-nothing-more-reassuring-than-a-world-thats-crazier-than-you-are/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [“How reassuring." - Queen Elizabeth, when told during a walking tour of Scotland that she looks like the Queen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-petrella/how-reassuring-queen-elizabeth-when-told-during-a-walking-tour-of/) Kate Petrella > [Talking too much about the future is a little crazy but JUST the right amount is reassuring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/talking-too-much-about-the-future-is-a-little-crazy-but-just-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like getting informed about being played , so reassuring...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-getting-informed-about-being-played-so-reassuring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The growing influence of women is the one reassuring thing in our political life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-growing-influence-of-women-is-the-one-reassuring-thing-in-our/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [While testimonies can come as dramatic manifestations, they usually do not. Sometimes people think they need to have an experience like Joseph Smith's vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-f-packer/while-testimonies-can-come-as-dramatic-manifestations-they-usually-do/) [Allan F. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-f-packer/) > [I've been sent down to the minor leagues six or seven times in my career. You've just got to have that stability. It's huge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-diaz/i-ve-been-sent-down-to-the-minor-leagues-six-or-seven-times-in-my/) [Matt Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-diaz/) > [“We never figured out whether I need to be more reassuring or if he just needs reassurance too much. We both try to readjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-never-figured-out-whether-i-need-to-be-more-reassuring-or-if-he/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is reassuring for people to feel they have a boss, someone who knows the answers and has charted the course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/it-is-reassuring-for-people-to-feel-they-have-a-boss-someone-who/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [Not reassuring when weathermen say 'Today will be terrible but don't worry it won't be as terrible as tomorrow or Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/not-reassuring-when-weathermen-say-today-will-be-terrible-but-don-t/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) ## More by Jean-Claude Ellena > [Beautiful and minimalist, the traditional Japanese art of ikebana - arranging bouquets of cut flowers and leaves using very few elements - ideally corresponded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/beautiful-and-minimalist-the-traditional-japanese-art-of-ikebana/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) > [Smell is a word, perfume is literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/smell-is-a-word-perfume-is-literature/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) > [The future does not really lie in discovering new fragrant raw materials… In order to endure, haute perfumery is therefore condemned to inventing new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/the-future-does-not-really-lie-in-discovering-new-fragrant-raw/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) > [As a person, I take pleasure in receiving and sharing. As a perfumer, I like showing and convincing… I'm quite simply following the trajectory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/as-a-person-i-take-pleasure-in-receiving-and-sharing-as-a-perfumer-i/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) > [Perfume is a story in odors, sometimes a poetry of memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/perfume-is-a-story-in-odors-sometimes-a-poetry-of-memory/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) > [My visitors say they noticed perfumes from different companies in my fridge, and ask what I need these for. I explain that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/my-visitors-say-they-noticed-perfumes-from-different-companies-in-my/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) > [“Art is a lie that tells the truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/art-is-a-lie-that-tells-the-truth/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) [Explore all 8 Jean-Claude Ellena quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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