--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not enough to tell people to be…" description: "\"It's not enough to tell people to be creative; they need to know how, and what to create.\" — Jim Gilmore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/jim-gilmore-47096_creative_it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-cre_778267.jpg" --- # It's not enough to tell people to be creative; they need… ![“It's not enough to tell people to be creative; they need to know how, and what to create.” quote by Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/jim-gilmore-47096_creative_it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-cre_778267.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/jim-gilmore-47096_creative_it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-cre_778267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/jim-gilmore-47096_creative_it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-cre_778267.jpg) > “It's not enough to tell people to be creative; they need to know how, and what to create.” [Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creativity requires guidance and concrete ideas, not just encouragement. **In simple terms:** Teach how to create. Key Takeaway Provide clear methods and examples. Themes creativity education leadership Mood motivational reflective Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - team workshops - product development - educational curricula Key Concepts design thinking skill development Questions to Reflect On - What tools help spark creation? - How do we balance freedom with structure? A Different Perspective Without direction, creativity may stall. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [All the traditional models for doing things are collapsing; from music to publishing to film, and it's a wide open door for people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/all-the-traditional-models-for-doing-things-are-collapsing-from-music/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I, like a lot of people who are creative, need to step away. I can't have stuff to write about if I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/i-like-a-lot-of-people-who-are-creative-need-to-step-away-i-can-t/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [I think what holds people up in creative processes is the expectation of what it is they're doing. It's also the sense of judgement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-hegarty/i-think-what-holds-people-up-in-creative-processes-is-the-expectation/) [Antony Hegarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-hegarty/) > [I think people who are creative are the luckiest people on earth. I know that there are no shortcuts, but you must keep your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-collins/i-think-people-who-are-creative-are-the-luckiest-people-on-earth-i/) [Judy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-collins/) > [The art works of women, who are intelligent and creative, need to be showcased and understanding their thoughts through art can definitely urge us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shriya-saran/the-art-works-of-women-who-are-intelligent-and-creative-need-to-be/) [Shriya Saran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shriya-saran/) > [“Whether you know it or not, your desire to write comes from the urge to not just be “creative,” it’s a need (one every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-coyne/whether-you-know-it-or-not-your-desire-to-write-comes-from-the-urge/) [Shawn Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-coyne/) > [That's the most important thing for me, that when I use my qualities in this way and coming to the ball, it creates more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/that-s-the-most-important-thing-for-me-that-when-i-use-my-qualities/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [Dont hate if u dont know how to create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorcas/dont-hate-if-u-dont-know-how-to-create/) [Dorcas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorcas/) > [The more you know, the more you can create. There's no end to imagination in the kitchen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-know-the-more-you-can-create-there-s-no-end-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel like kids don't dream big enough. With art being taken out of school, it's important to know you can create as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/i-feel-like-kids-don-t-dream-big-enough-with-art-being-taken-out-of/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [He who does not know how to create should not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/he-who-does-not-know-how-to-create-should-not-know/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With all the things I know, one could write a book... Although, one might also say that, considering all that I don’t know, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-guitry/with-all-the-things-i-know-one-could-write-a-book-although-one-might/) [Sacha Guitry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-guitry/) > [“Creation, or that of knowledge from within, is in knowing that "you are" And because you are, you may consistently create that which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marie-bergman/creation-or-that-of-knowledge-from-within-is-in-knowing-that-you-are/) [Catherine Marie Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marie-bergman/) > [Choosing a job or business is the same thing. I'm not the best one to advise someone how to make billions of dollars; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/choosing-a-job-or-business-is-the-same-thing-i-m-not-the-best-one-to/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [I admire people who are creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luise-rainer/i-admire-people-who-are-creative/) [Luise Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luise-rainer/) ## More by Jim Gilmore > [Consumers view of you is not about how they compare you to other banks. It's about how they compare you to all of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/consumers-view-of-you-is-not-about-how-they-compare-you-to-other/) [Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) > [You are not guilty of anything until you are charged and tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/you-are-not-guilty-of-anything-until-you-are-charged-and-tried/) [Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) > [Tom Brady was suspended 4 games for hiding evidence. Hillary should have to sit out first 4 primaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/tom-brady-was-suspended-4-games-for-hiding-evidence-hillary-should/) [Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) > [If the rules of creativity are the norm for a company, creative people will be the norm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/if-the-rules-of-creativity-are-the-norm-for-a-company-creative-people/) [Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) > [I'm here to tell you the coffee was hot, the orange juice was cold, New York's still there and Reagan National is back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/i-m-here-to-tell-you-the-coffee-was-hot-the-orange-juice-was-cold-new/) [Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) > [Tell the President to stand up to our enemies, not cower to them or make excuses for them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/tell-the-president-to-stand-up-to-our-enemies-not-cower-to-them-or/) [Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) > [I never believed that surrendering the executive power should be a condition of getting the second term. The second term should stand on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/i-never-believed-that-surrendering-the-executive-power-should-be-a/) [Jim Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) [Explore all 8 Jim Gilmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/) ## More Creative quotes > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [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/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [The creative strength is good enough and deep enough to bring itself to flower and to grow in spite of this sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-greenberg/the-creative-strength-is-good-enough-and-deep-enough-to-bring-itself/) [Joanne Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-greenberg/) > [Anytime I get the chance to sing or work with Michael John, it is such an incredibly fertile and incredibly creative and safe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/anytime-i-get-the-chance-to-sing-or-work-with-michael-john-it-is-such/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [What Sri Chinmoy does is God-given! He has a tremendous, a fantastic creative urge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/what-sri-chinmoy-does-is-god-given-he-has-a-tremendous-a-fantastic/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Teasing out the way the world might look through another's eyes is what makes the creative process so fascinating and enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-carter/teasing-out-the-way-the-world-might-look-through-another-s-eyes-is/) [Stephen L. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-carter/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) [Browse all 7,284 Creative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not enough to tell people to be creative; they need to know how, and what to create.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Gilmore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-creative-they-need-to-know-how/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-creative-they-need-to-know-how/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/jim-gilmore-47096_creative_it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-cre_778267.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/jim-gilmore-47096_creative_it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-cre_778267.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/jim-gilmore-47096_creative_it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-cre_778267.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not enough to tell people to be creative; they need to know how, and what to create.” — Jim Gilmore", "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": "Jim Gilmore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gilmore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not enough to tell people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-creative-they-need-to-know-how/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gilmore/it-s-not-enough-to-tell-people-to-be-creative-they-need-to-know-how/#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 } } ] } ```