--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know exactly where ideas come…" description: "\"I don't know exactly where ideas come from, but when I'm working well ideas just appear. I've heard other people say similar things - so it's one of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/jim-henson-7889_creative-process_i-don-t-know-exactly-where-ideas-come-fr_1497770.jpg" --- # I don't know exactly where ideas come from, but when I'm… ![“I don't know exactly where ideas come from, but when I'm working well ideas just appear. I've heard other people say similar things - so it's one of the ways I know there's help and guidance out there. It's just a matter of our figuring out how to receive the ideas or information that are waiting…” quote by Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/jim-henson-7889_creative-process_i-don-t-know-exactly-where-ideas-come-fr_1497770.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/jim-henson-7889_creative-process_i-don-t-know-exactly-where-ideas-come-fr_1497770.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/jim-henson-7889_creative-process_i-don-t-know-exactly-where-ideas-come-fr_1497770.jpg) > “I don't know exactly where ideas come from, but when I'm working well ideas just appear. I've heard other people say similar things - so it's one of the ways I know there's help and guidance out there. It's just a matter of our figuring out how to receive the ideas or information that are waiting to be heard.” [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas emerge when the mind is receptive and aligned with a flow of inspiration, often beyond conscious control. **In simple terms:** Be open to receive ideas. Key Takeaway Cultivate receptivity. Themes creativity intuition mindset Mood curious optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic work - problem solving - learning - innovation Key Concepts psychology creative process Questions to Reflect On - What practices help you stay open to inspiration? - How can you capture fleeting ideas? A Different Perspective Ideas may feel random without disciplined practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-process/) [Guidance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-come/) [Ideas Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-information-1331036/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Receive Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receive-ideas-462924/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Working Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-ideas-821500/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know exactly where ideas come from, it's just a matter of us figuring out how to receive the ideas waiting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/i-don-t-know-exactly-where-ideas-come-from-it-s-just-a-matter-of-us/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [“As we already said, authors receive their ideas from somewhere; and in the case of holy scriptures, that somewhere is the mind of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/as-we-already-said-authors-receive-their-ideas-from-somewhere-and-in/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Ideas are information taking shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/ideas-are-information-taking-shape/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The ideas I'm working with are ideas I'm committed to. I don't know how to soft-shoe them. I don't know how to make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-mae-weems/the-ideas-i-m-working-with-are-ideas-i-m-committed-to-i-don-t-know/) [Carrie Mae Weems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-mae-weems/) > [Just once in a while, let us exalt the importance of ideas and information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/just-once-in-a-while-let-us-exalt-the-importance-of-ideas-and/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Be a collector of good ideas, but don't trust your memory. The best collecting place for all of the ideas and information that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/be-a-collector-of-good-ideas-but-don-t-trust-your-memory-the-best/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I've always found that working through ideas in written form really changes the thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/i-ve-always-found-that-working-through-ideas-in-written-form-really/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [If you're working on ideas, and you don't know what they are, keep working on them. You don't know what they'll be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-griffin/if-you-re-working-on-ideas-and-you-don-t-know-what-they-are-keep/) [Patty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-griffin/) > [My best ideas come to me at unexpected moments, like when I'm reading children's books to my kids (the pictures inspire me), shopping, driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/my-best-ideas-come-to-me-at-unexpected-moments-like-when-i-m-reading/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [Some of the best ideas come sort of out of nowhere and when you're not expecting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/some-of-the-best-ideas-come-sort-of-out-of-nowhere-and-when-you-re/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [Ideas come when we do not expect them, and not when we are brooding and searching at our desks. Yet ideas would certainly not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/ideas-come-when-we-do-not-expect-them-and-not-when-we-are-brooding/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [My ideas come when I least expect it, so I've always got to have a studio nearby or close by somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akon/my-ideas-come-when-i-least-expect-it-so-i-ve-always-got-to-have-a/) [Akon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akon/) > [I don't believe in traditional company structures because the best ideas do not always come from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-believe-in-traditional-company-structures-because-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we sit down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us... Ideas come. Insights accrete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/when-we-sit-down-each-day-and-do-our-work-power-concentrates-around/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [I would like new people with new ideas to come into it and change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-marriner/i-would-like-new-people-with-new-ideas-to-come-into-it-and-change-it/) [Neville Marriner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-marriner/) ## More by Jim Henson > [I believe that life is basically a process of growth-that we go through many lives, choosing those situations and problems that we will learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/i-believe-that-life-is-basically-a-process-of-growth-that-we-go/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [It has always been difficult to get Big Bird to be very pretty. Big Bird in England is much more gorgeous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/it-has-always-been-difficult-to-get-big-bird-to-be-very-pretty-big/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [Cara: \*Flies\* Gen: What? I don't have wings! Cara: Ofcourse not! You're a boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/cara-flies-gen-what-i-don-t-have-wings-cara-ofcourse-not-you-re-a-boy/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [I don't want'a die... I have other plans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/i-don-t-want-a-die-i-have-other-plans/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [When The Muppet Show ended, we all sat around and said, what kind of television show would we like to do. We felt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/when-the-muppet-show-ended-we-all-sat-around-and-said-what-kind-of/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [Take what you got and fly with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/take-what-you-got-and-fly-with-it/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [I decided that what I really wanted to do was go off and paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/i-decided-that-what-i-really-wanted-to-do-was-go-off-and-paint/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [ \[Kids\] don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/kids-don-t-remember-what-you-try-to-teach-them-they-remember-what-you/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [It's into the same bag as E.T. and Yoda, wherein you're trying to create something that people will actually believe, but it's not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/it-s-into-the-same-bag-as-e-t-and-yoda-wherein-you-re-trying-to/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [“Simple is good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/simple-is-good/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [Nobody creates a fad. It just happens. People love going along with the idea of a beautiful pig. It’s like a conspiracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/nobody-creates-a-fad-it-just-happens-people-love-going-along-with-the/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [Yeah, I think we did the term Muppets before we got the show Sam and Friends - a few months after I started working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/yeah-i-think-we-did-the-term-muppets-before-we-got-the-show-sam-and/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [I believe that we form our own lives, that we create our own reality, and that everything works out for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/i-believe-that-we-form-our-own-lives-that-we-create-our-own-reality/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [I try hard not to judge anyone, and I try to bless everyone who is a part of my life, particularly anyone with whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/i-try-hard-not-to-judge-anyone-and-i-try-to-bless-everyone-who-is-a/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [“When single shines the triple sun, What was sundered and undone Shall be whole, the two made one By Gelfling hand, or else by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/when-single-shines-the-triple-sun-what-was-sundered-and-undone-shall/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) [Explore all 86 Jim Henson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) ## More Creative process quotes > [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/) > [“Other worshipful objects were content with worship; men, women, God, all let one kneel prostrate; but this form, were it only the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/other-worshipful-objects-were-content-with-worship-men-women-god-all/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Any creative process is about being in a territory which isn't secure, isn't necessarily familiar, and isn't convenient in any sort of way. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/any-creative-process-is-about-being-in-a-territory-which-isn-t-secure/) [Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/) > [ “\[A\]lways get to the dialogue as soon as possible. I always feel the thing to go for is speed. Nothing puts the reader off… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/a-lways-get-to-the-dialogue-as-soon-as-possible-i-always-feel-the/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [Use the creative process - singing, writing, art, dance, whatever - to get to know yourself better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catie-curtis/use-the-creative-process-singing-writing-art-dance-whatever-to-get-to/) [Catie Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catie-curtis/) > [Fear is a killer, when it comes to the creative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-baldwin/fear-is-a-killer-when-it-comes-to-the-creative-process/) [Adam Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-baldwin/) > [The impresario function is about intervening with the company's more administrative management structure. It is about trying to establish a sense of boundaries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-impresario-function-is-about-intervening-with-the-company-s-more/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [“I’m a big believer in cooking your own meals. It makes it much easier not only to ensure that you eat fresh foods but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ori-hofmekler/i-m-a-big-believer-in-cooking-your-own-meals-it-makes-it-much-easier/) [Ori Hofmekler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ori-hofmekler/) > [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/) > [There just is exponentially more money in the movie business than in the music business. As a result there are more people involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/there-just-is-exponentially-more-money-in-the-movie-business-than-in/) [Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/) > [“The sooner you finish procrastinating, the sooner you can get back to your art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lennox/the-sooner-you-finish-procrastinating-the-sooner-you-can-get-back-to/) [Stephanie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lennox/) > [Well, I do expect a lot of myself. I'm a harsh critic because I know what I'm capable of. I have hit those occasional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-stevens/well-i-do-expect-a-lot-of-myself-i-m-a-harsh-critic-because-i-know/) [Dave Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-stevens/) > [With music I get to feel real ownership with what I do. I write it, I perform it and even if it is crap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/with-music-i-get-to-feel-real-ownership-with-what-i-do-i-write-it-i/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/the-creative-act-is-not-performed-by-the-artist-alone-the-spectator/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [It is not enough to have a talented designer; the management must be inspired too. The creative process is very disorganised; the production process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-arnault/it-is-not-enough-to-have-a-talented-designer-the-management-must-be/) [Bernard Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-arnault/) [Browse all 691 Creative process quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-process/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know exactly where ideas come from, but when I'm working well ideas just appear. I've heard other people say similar things - so it's one of the ways I know there's help and guidance out there. 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