--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always attracted to taking a novel…" description: "\"I was always attracted to taking a novel position, but one grounded in the materials I'd been given, not made up out of whole cloth.\" — Jed S. Rakoff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/jed-s-rakoff-24994_always_i-was-always-attracted-to-taking-a-novel_641548.jpg" --- # I was always attracted to taking a novel position, but one… ![“I was always attracted to taking a novel position, but one grounded in the materials I'd been given, not made up out of whole cloth.” quote by Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/jed-s-rakoff-24994_always_i-was-always-attracted-to-taking-a-novel_641548.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/jed-s-rakoff-24994_always_i-was-always-attracted-to-taking-a-novel_641548.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/jed-s-rakoff-24994_always_i-was-always-attracted-to-taking-a-novel_641548.jpg) > “I was always attracted to taking a novel position, but one grounded in the materials I'd been given, not made up out of whole cloth.” [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innovative ideas should be grounded in real data, not imagined without basis. **In simple terms:** Base novelty on solid facts. Key Takeaway Build ideas on evidence. Themes creativity data innovation Mood analytical curious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - academic research - product development Key Concepts evidence‑based thinking grounded imagination Questions to Reflect On - When is speculation valuable? - How do you balance data with creativity? A Different Perspective Pure imagination can inspire breakthroughs despite data limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) ## Related quotes > [It has been well said that an author who expects results from a first novel is in a position similar to that of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-has-been-well-said-that-an-author-who-expects-results-from-a-first/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fo lo, the gentil kind of the lioun! For when a flye offendeth him or byteth, He with his tayl awey the flye smyteth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/fo-lo-the-gentil-kind-of-the-lioun-for-when-a-flye-offendeth-him-or/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [If I have makeup, I use a cleanser, but otherwise, I just use a hot cloth at the end of the day to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kaczmarek/if-i-have-makeup-i-use-a-cleanser-but-otherwise-i-just-use-a-hot/) [Jane Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kaczmarek/) > [Every well-dressed gentleman must have an all-cotton oxford cloth button-down shirt from Brooks Brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/every-well-dressed-gentleman-must-have-an-all-cotton-oxford-cloth/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [Dez Bryant isn't Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Russell Wilson. Dez Bryant is a typical, me-first NFL receiver diva, cut from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/dez-bryant-isn-t-peyton-manning-tom-brady-drew-brees-or-russell/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [In a pinch, when my leather shoes need a quick shine, I take the inside of a banana peel and rub it on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-diamantopoulos/in-a-pinch-when-my-leather-shoes-need-a-quick-shine-i-take-the-inside/) [Chris Diamantopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-diamantopoulos/) > [A glass pitcher, a wicker basket, a tunic of coarse cloth. Their beauty is inseparable from their function. Handicrafts belong to a world existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/a-glass-pitcher-a-wicker-basket-a-tunic-of-coarse-cloth-their-beauty/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [“Is a one foot by one foot piece of cloth a blanket? What about if you rotate it all over your body throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/is-a-one-foot-by-one-foot-piece-of-cloth-a-blanket-what-about-if-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [A book is not necessarily made of paper. A book is not necessarily made to be read on a Kindle. A book is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/a-book-is-not-necessarily-made-of-paper-a-book-is-not-necessarily/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [You weave the threads and there is the cloth. If the threads are removed, there is no longer cloth. When there are Godly thoughts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/you-weave-the-threads-and-there-is-the-cloth-if-the-threads-are/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Harris Tweed as been around since before the Industrial Revolution when it was a handmade cloth from the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-farr/harris-tweed-as-been-around-since-before-the-industrial-revolution/) [Hilary Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-farr/) > [“When you wear a cloth of the highest quality, let it fit you properly." - Anyaele Sam Chiyson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/when-you-wear-a-cloth-of-the-highest-quality-let-it-fit-you-properly/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [In Britain, where the social safety net is more like a social swaddling cloth, crime rates other than murder are significantly higher than in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/in-britain-where-the-social-safety-net-is-more-like-a-social/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Grey cloth coaxes the lime trees of friends shadowing berries dropped by the grateful earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-chicho/grey-cloth-coaxes-the-lime-trees-of-friends-shadowing-berries-dropped/) [Bradley Chicho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-chicho/) > [I remember being shocked when I came out from under the focusing cloth after a minute or two being submerged within that, at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sexton/i-remember-being-shocked-when-i-came-out-from-under-the-focusing/) [John Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sexton/) ## More by Jed S. Rakoff > [When I was a kid, and for many years after, I was your classic afraid-to-dance-type person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/when-i-was-a-kid-and-for-many-years-after-i-was-your-classic-afraid/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [It's very hard to uphold individual liberty when the person you're representing is often a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/it-s-very-hard-to-uphold-individual-liberty-when-the-person-you-re/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [The price of being a nice guy is too high - much too high - in terms of the system of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/the-price-of-being-a-nice-guy-is-too-high-much-too-high-in-terms-of/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [In baseball you have individual responsibility, and if you fail it, you get an error. But at the same time, your focus is on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/in-baseball-you-have-individual-responsibility-and-if-you-fail-it-you/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [Companies do not commit crimes; only their agents do. And while a company might get the benefit of some such crimes, prosecuting the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/companies-do-not-commit-crimes-only-their-agents-do-and-while-a/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [I admired Truman, among many other things, because he integrated the Army. I admired JFK because the very first civil rights legislation was passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/i-admired-truman-among-many-other-things-because-he-integrated-the/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [If crimes are committed, they are committed by people; they are not committed by some free-floating entity. These companies and other entities don't operate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/if-crimes-are-committed-they-are-committed-by-people-they-are-not/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [I've never been impressed with bureaucratic tradition. I don't like it when the parties come to me and say, 'This is the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/i-ve-never-been-impressed-with-bureaucratic-tradition-i-don-t-like-it/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [One of the many things I like about baseball is how it combines individual talent and teamsmanship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/one-of-the-many-things-i-like-about-baseball-is-how-it-combines/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [I think it's common sense to say that the longer away from a crime it gets prosecuted, the less deterrent effect there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/i-think-it-s-common-sense-to-say-that-the-longer-away-from-a-crime-it/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [Everything needs to be public. The legitimacy of the courts comes from the fact that they reason openly, on the record, based on facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/everything-needs-to-be-public-the-legitimacy-of-the-courts-comes-from/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [In my experience, most federal prosecutors, at every level, are seeking to make a name for themselves, and the best way to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/in-my-experience-most-federal-prosecutors-at-every-level-are-seeking/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [Why should the court impose a judgment in a case in which the SEC alleges a serious securities fraud, but the defendant neither admits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/why-should-the-court-impose-a-judgment-in-a-case-in-which-the-sec/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [If, in the name of combating terrorism, we so restrict our own freedom, have we not thereby lost part of the very battle we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/if-in-the-name-of-combating-terrorism-we-so-restrict-our-own-freedom/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) > [Judges have to be neutral, but they don't have to be eunuchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/judges-have-to-be-neutral-but-they-don-t-have-to-be-eunuchs/) [Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) [Explore all 23 Jed S. Rakoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was always attracted to taking a novel position, but one grounded in the materials I'd been given, not made up out of whole cloth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jed S. 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