--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to have a temperamental…" description: "\"You have to have a temperamental attraction to dangerous ideas.\" — Jim Holt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jim-holt-34702_attraction_you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attract_541491.jpg" --- # You have to have a temperamental attraction to dangerous… ![“You have to have a temperamental attraction to dangerous ideas.” quote by Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jim-holt-34702_attraction_you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attract_541491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jim-holt-34702_attraction_you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attract_541491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jim-holt-34702_attraction_you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attract_541491.jpg) > “You have to have a temperamental attraction to dangerous ideas.” [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attraction to risky ideas fuels creativity and progress. **In simple terms:** Risky ideas spark growth. Key Takeaway Embrace daring concepts. Themes creativity risk innovation Mood curious provocative Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - artistic projects - scientific research - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts philosophy psychology culture Questions to Reflect On - What risky idea excites you? - How do you balance risk and safety? A Different Perspective Dangerous ideas can lead to harmful outcomes if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Dangerous ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ## Related quotes > [“At the apex of Prince's career, I listened almost exclusively to metal. My sister actually purchased 'Purple Rain' on cassette, which I write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/at-the-apex-of-prince-s-career-i-listened-almost-exclusively-to-metal/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [It's important to be the gatekeeper against dangerous ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tzipi-livni/it-s-important-to-be-the-gatekeeper-against-dangerous-ideas/) [Tzipi Livni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tzipi-livni/) > [The most dangerous ideas are not those that challenge the status quo. The most dangerous ideas are those so embedded in the status quo,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/the-most-dangerous-ideas-are-not-those-that-challenge-the-status-quo/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [The only antidote to dangerous ideas is strong alternatives vigorously advocated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/the-only-antidote-to-dangerous-ideas-is-strong-alternatives/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [Donald Trump doesn't have a plan. He said, I have a secret plan, and then he said, um, I know more than all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/donald-trump-doesn-t-have-a-plan-he-said-i-have-a-secret-plan-and/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [Let me lay my cards on the table. If I were to give an award for the single best idea anyone ever had, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/let-me-lay-my-cards-on-the-table-if-i-were-to-give-an-award-for-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [“Like birds leaving the dangerous places man must also leave his dangerous ideas!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/like-birds-leaving-the-dangerous-places-man-must-also-leave-his/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Donald Trump doesn't have a plan. But he does have dangerous ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/donald-trump-doesn-t-have-a-plan-but-he-does-have-dangerous-ideas/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [We have been trying to point out that this concept of an indefinitely favorable future is dangerous, even if it is true; because even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/we-have-been-trying-to-point-out-that-this-concept-of-an-indefinitely/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Feelings are more dangerous than ideas, because they aren't susceptible to rational evaluation. They grow quietly, spreading underground, and erupt suddenly, all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/feelings-are-more-dangerous-than-ideas-because-they-aren-t/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Yesterday's dangerous idea is today's orthodoxy and tomorrow's cliché.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/yesterday-s-dangerous-idea-is-today-s-orthodoxy-and-tomorrow-s-clich/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“It was like trying to balance on a pair of knife blades. Who had thought of this mad form of travel in the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/it-was-like-trying-to-balance-on-a-pair-of-knife-blades-who-had/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [“And the only thing worse than the silencing of a martyr, a real martyr – someone with dangerous ideas – is silencing someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/and-the-only-thing-worse-than-the-silencing-of-a-martyr-a-real-martyr/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [As a rule, the most dangerous ideas are not the ones that divide people but those on which they agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vizinczey/as-a-rule-the-most-dangerous-ideas-are-not-the-ones-that-divide/) [Stephen Vizinczey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vizinczey/) > [ \[Donald Trump\] suggestions that the United States should leave the Pacific and let Japan, South Korea, or whoever else wants to develop nuclear weapons.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/donald-trump-suggestions-that-the-united-states-should-leave-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Jim Holt > [“Consistency is the virtue of small minds, and Spinoza had a great mind—he was inconsistent all over the place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/consistency-is-the-virtue-of-small-minds-and-spinoza-had-a-great-mind/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [Jokes often arise involuntarily, like dreams, and tend to be swiftly forgotten. From these similarities Freud inferred that jokes and dreams share a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/jokes-often-arise-involuntarily-like-dreams-and-tend-to-be-swiftly/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [“(It is interesting that the words “cosmos” and “cosmetic” have the same root, the Greek word for “adornment” or “arrangement.”)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/it-is-interesting-that-the-words-cosmos-and-cosmetic-have-the-same/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [Having just enough life to enjoy being dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/having-just-enough-life-to-enjoy-being-dead/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [When you are trying to understand the world, it is unwise to assume that you occupy a privileged position in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/when-you-are-trying-to-understand-the-world-it-is-unwise-to-assume/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [“To begin with, if existence arose out of a need for goodness, then it must be essentially mental. In other words, existence must ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/to-begin-with-if-existence-arose-out-of-a-need-for-goodness-then-it/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [“In both jokes and dreams, Freud observed, meanings are condensed and displaced, things are represented indirectly or by their opposites, fallacious reasoning trumps logic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/in-both-jokes-and-dreams-freud-observed-meanings-are-condensed-and/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [To abandon the principle of simplicity would be to abandon all reasoning about the external world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/to-abandon-the-principle-of-simplicity-would-be-to-abandon-all/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [Suppose you turn your attention inward in search of this 'I'. You may encounter nothing more than an ever changing stream of consciousness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/suppose-you-turn-your-attention-inward-in-search-of-this-i-you-may/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [“In 1921, a New York rabbi asked Einstein if he believed in God. "I believe in Spinoza's God," he answered, "who reveals himself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/in-1921-a-new-york-rabbi-asked-einstein-if-he-believed-in-god-i/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [“I really don’t like to formulate what I believe because, like a quantum phenomenon, it varies from day to day, and anyway there’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/i-really-don-t-like-to-formulate-what-i-believe-because-like-a/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) > [It has been said that the question, 'Why is there something rather than nothing?' is so profound that it would occur only to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/it-has-been-said-that-the-question-why-is-there-something-rather-than/) [Jim Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) [Explore all 13 Jim Holt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/) ## More Attraction quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [You cannot perceive what you are not in the vibration of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/you-cannot-perceive-what-you-are-not-in-the-vibration-of/) [Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/) > [What the Laws of Attraction are really about; how to harness the power of creation within you to make life what you truly desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-the-laws-of-attraction-are-really-about-how-to-harness-the-power/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [You are the one who calls the law of attraction into action, and you do it through your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-are-the-one-who-calls-the-law-of-attraction-into-action-and-you/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [All of my work is meant to evoke a whole bunch of different layers of discord between the attraction and repulsion that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/all-of-my-work-is-meant-to-evoke-a-whole-bunch-of-different-layers-of/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [War is thus divine in itself, since it is a law of the world. War is divine through its consequences of a supernatural nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-de-maistre/war-is-thus-divine-in-itself-since-it-is-a-law-of-the-world-war-is/) [Joseph de Maistre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-de-maistre/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) [Browse all 2,005 Attraction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have to have a temperamental attraction to dangerous ideas.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Holt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attraction-to-dangerous-ideas/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attraction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attraction-to-dangerous-ideas/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jim-holt-34702_attraction_you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attract_541491.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jim-holt-34702_attraction_you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attract_541491.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jim-holt-34702_attraction_you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attract_541491.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have to have a temperamental attraction to dangerous ideas.” — Jim Holt", "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 Holt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-holt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You have to have a temperamental...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attraction-to-dangerous-ideas/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-holt/you-have-to-have-a-temperamental-attraction-to-dangerous-ideas/#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 } } ] } ```