--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: think I was inspired by a commercial for…" description: "\"“think I was inspired by a commercial for an old board game called Stay Alive.”\" — John Darnielle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/john-darnielle-2176_stay-alive_think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for_3031973.png" --- # think I was inspired by a commercial for an old board game… ![“think I was inspired by a commercial for an old board game called Stay Alive.” quote by John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/john-darnielle-2176_stay-alive_think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for_3031973.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/john-darnielle-2176_stay-alive_think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for_3031973.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/john-darnielle-2176_stay-alive_think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for_3031973.png) > ““think I was inspired by a commercial for an old board game called Stay Alive.”” [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator admits inspiration came from a commercial for the board game “Stay Alive,” highlighting unexpected sources of artistic spark. **In simple terms:** Inspired by a board game commercial. Key Takeaway Seek inspiration in everyday media. Themes creativity inspiration media games art Mood playful insightful Type creative cultural When to use this quote - interview - artist statement - cultural observation Key Concepts cultural studies advertising creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do mundane media shape art? - What makes a commercial inspiring? A Different Perspective Commercials may be seen as low art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-stay-4957193/) [Commercial Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commercial-old-2011572/) [Inspired Commercial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired-commercial-2966556/) [Stay Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-alive/) [Think Inspired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-inspired-629601/) ## Related quotes > [I can be inspired by anything. It can be from an artist, I love Georgia O'Keefe, de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Lichtenstein, Koons- I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-de-forest/i-can-be-inspired-by-anything-it-can-be-from-an-artist-i-love-georgia/) [Autumn de Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-de-forest/) > [My first commercial was an Old Navy commercial where I stood in line in front of a club, and Fran Drescher was in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-stevens/my-first-commercial-was-an-old-navy-commercial-where-i-stood-in-line/) [Amber Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-stevens/) > [“They dip their pens in our hearts and think they are inspired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/they-dip-their-pens-in-our-hearts-and-think-they-are-inspired/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [I don't think I have ever been as inspired by any character that I have played. I was deeply moved by Temple's courage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-don-t-think-i-have-ever-been-as-inspired-by-any-character-that-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [It is never a bad time to tell your family you love them; don't think of it as prompted by a tragedy, think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-never-a-bad-time-to-tell-your-family-you-love-them-don-t-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think I was always inspired by seeing a problem, and finding a solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/i-think-i-was-always-inspired-by-seeing-a-problem-and-finding-a/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [When you're an artist, there's always a moment in your life when you think you're not inspired and instead of doing things and instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-laurent/when-you-re-an-artist-there-s-always-a-moment-in-your-life-when-you/) [Melanie Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-laurent/) > [I think that my script, if it gets used, would be great. But if it doesn't, I think it inspired them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-dawn-chong/i-think-that-my-script-if-it-gets-used-would-be-great-but-if-it-doesn/) [Rae Dawn Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-dawn-chong/) > [I think I'm inspired mostly by other artists that aren't actors, like writers or singers or artists, for being so brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-think-i-m-inspired-mostly-by-other-artists-that-aren-t-actors-like/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [I get inspired with passion, I think. I get inspired by people who are just passionate, and it doesn't matter what they do or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jackson/i-get-inspired-with-passion-i-think-i-get-inspired-by-people-who-are/) [Neil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jackson/) > [I think if you're inspired, you don't let a little thing like scheduling and deadlines get in your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collen/i-think-if-you-re-inspired-you-don-t-let-a-little-thing-like/) [Phil Collen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collen/) > [I travel a lot because of work. Also but because of that, I think I get inspired by what you're wearing, what everybody's wearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-jung/i-travel-a-lot-because-of-work-also-but-because-of-that-i-think-i-get/) [Jessica Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-jung/) > [“Just another case of sometimes. Sometimes fates plans are different from your own. Sometimes the beautiful things are right in your reach but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everance-caiser/just-another-case-of-sometimes-sometimes-fates-plans-are-different/) [Everance Caiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everance-caiser/) > [“Don't matter if you're rich and strong Don't matter if you're weak Don't matter if you write a song The nightingales repeat Don't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/don-t-matter-if-you-re-rich-and-strong-don-t-matter-if-you-re-weak/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [Did he just say--?" "Yes," Claire said, smiling. "Yes, he did." "Whoa. Guess I'd better stay alive, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/did-he-just-say-yes-claire-said-smiling-yes-he-did-whoa-guess-i-d/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## More by John Darnielle > [I don't write my own publicity materials, I just read 'em and give 'em the OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/i-don-t-write-my-own-publicity-materials-i-just-read-em-and-give-em/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [“But secret agents, like God, only give signs to their confidants. They are also very cruel and even unhappy at times. At any rate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/but-secret-agents-like-god-only-give-signs-to-their-confidants-they/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [“I am heavy in his arms, and I feel safe there, but I am lost, and I need constantly to be shoring up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/i-am-heavy-in-his-arms-and-i-feel-safe-there-but-i-am-lost-and-i-need/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [The more I learn about stuff the more conscious I become of grave gaps in my knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/the-more-i-learn-about-stuff-the-more-conscious-i-become-of-grave/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [If you get into a fight and somebody punches you, you get two feelings. One: That really hurts. Two: That relief in the realness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/if-you-get-into-a-fight-and-somebody-punches-you-you-get-two-feelings/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [When I was a kid, I was a big science fiction fan, but current horror books were harder to get your hands on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-a-big-science-fiction-fan-but-current-horror/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [It's impossible to be content all the time - you have to learn to be content in places where you're unhappy and owning your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/it-s-impossible-to-be-content-all-the-time-you-have-to-learn-to-be/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [“It's in the nature of the landscape to change, and it's in the nature of people to help the process along...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/it-s-in-the-nature-of-the-landscape-to-change-and-it-s-in-the-nature/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [Everybody is in various states of needing to transcend something. I believe in mental health care, but when we call people "crazy," we exclude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/everybody-is-in-various-states-of-needing-to-transcend-something-i/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [“But resiliency only means that a thing retains its shape. That it doesn’t break, or lose its ability to function. It doesn’t mean a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/but-resiliency-only-means-that-a-thing-retains-its-shape-that-it/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [“One thing I’ve learned is it’s better sometimes, in the weeds, to resist the temptation to stand up and follow the compass. \*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/one-thing-i-ve-learned-is-it-s-better-sometimes-in-the-weeds-to/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [People always talk about good time rock and roll, Chuck Berry or whatever, like this liberating force for feeling good. But what I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/people-always-talk-about-good-time-rock-and-roll-chuck-berry-or/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [It's hard always to say what it is one likes about a place, for me. I feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/it-s-hard-always-to-say-what-it-is-one-likes-about-a-place-for-me-i/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [“Another nagging little question lodged like a bit of grapeshot in his chest. It was nothing major, but the place where he stored them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/another-nagging-little-question-lodged-like-a-bit-of-grapeshot-in-his/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [I'm not really a goal-oriented guy. I started doing the Mountain Goats just for the sheer hell of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/i-m-not-really-a-goal-oriented-guy-i-started-doing-the-mountain-goats/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) [Explore all 181 John Darnielle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) ## More Stay Alive quotes > [Did he just say--?" "Yes," Claire said, smiling. "Yes, he did." "Whoa. Guess I'd better stay alive, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/did-he-just-say-yes-claire-said-smiling-yes-he-did-whoa-guess-i-d/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“Don't matter if you're rich and strong Don't matter if you're weak Don't matter if you write a song The nightingales repeat Don't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/don-t-matter-if-you-re-rich-and-strong-don-t-matter-if-you-re-weak/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“Just another case of sometimes. Sometimes fates plans are different from your own. Sometimes the beautiful things are right in your reach but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everance-caiser/just-another-case-of-sometimes-sometimes-fates-plans-are-different/) [Everance Caiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everance-caiser/) > [Many a man has decided to stay alive not because of the will to live but because of the determination not to give assorted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-behan/many-a-man-has-decided-to-stay-alive-not-because-of-the-will-to-live/) [Brendan Behan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-behan/) > [“But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/but-poetry-romance-love-beauty-these-are-what-we-stay-alive-for/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“As long as I keep moving, I should be OK. As long as I keep the notebook with me, I should stay alive. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-goeglein/as-long-as-i-keep-moving-i-should-be-ok-as-long-as-i-keep-the/) [T.M. Goeglein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-goeglein/) > [“Jules turned off the faucet and the room became silent except for the ticking clock. “Promise me one thing.” She picked up the dishtowel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-abshire/jules-turned-off-the-faucet-and-the-room-became-silent-except-for-the/) [Mary Abshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-abshire/) > [“You know what I think?" she says. "That people's memories are maybe the fuel they burn to stay alive. Whether those memories have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/you-know-what-i-think-she-says-that-people-s-memories-are-maybe-the/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/love-is-how-you-stay-alive-even-after-you-are-gone/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“I can't stop thinking about dying the way humans do it. Imagine! If at any moment, you could just stop existing. How different everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-turgeon/i-can-t-stop-thinking-about-dying-the-way-humans-do-it-imagine-if-at/) [Carolyn Turgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-turgeon/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Us in the graveyard, we wants you to stay alive. We wants you to surprise us and disappoint us and impress us and amaze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/us-in-the-graveyard-we-wants-you-to-stay-alive-we-wants-you-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The purpose of life is to stay alive. Watch any animal in nature--all it tries to do is stay alive. It doesn't care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-stay-alive-watch-any-animal-in-nature-all/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [I don't consider myself a great actress. I'm just trying to stay alive, actually. I think I'm good, and I've learned a lot, certainly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-great-actress-i-m-just-trying-to-stay-alive/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [“Silence, daughter. Stay alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/silence-daughter-stay-alive/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) [Browse all 478 Stay Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“think I was inspired by a commercial for an old board game called Stay Alive.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Darnielle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for-an-old-board-game-called/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Stay Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for-an-old-board-game-called/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/john-darnielle-2176_stay-alive_think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for_3031973.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/john-darnielle-2176_stay-alive_think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for_3031973.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/john-darnielle-2176_stay-alive_think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for_3031973.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“think I was inspired by a commercial for an old board game called Stay Alive.” — John Darnielle", "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": "John Darnielle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“think I was inspired by a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for-an-old-board-game-called/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/think-i-was-inspired-by-a-commercial-for-an-old-board-game-called/#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 } } ] } ```