--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People don't understand this: Ideas are…" description: "\"People don't understand this: Ideas are important, but they're not essential. What's essential and important is the execution of the idea. Everyone has..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/john-landis-17412_ancient_people-don-t-understand-this-ideas-are-i_1783724.jpg" --- # People don't understand this: Ideas are important, but… ![“People don't understand this: Ideas are important, but they're not essential. What's essential and important is the execution of the idea. Everyone has had the experience of seeing a movie and saying, "Hey! That was my idea!" Well, it doesn't mean anything that you had that idea. There's no such…” quote by John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/john-landis-17412_ancient_people-don-t-understand-this-ideas-are-i_1783724.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/john-landis-17412_ancient_people-don-t-understand-this-ideas-are-i_1783724.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/john-landis-17412_ancient_people-don-t-understand-this-ideas-are-i_1783724.jpg) > “People don't understand this: Ideas are important, but they're not essential. What's essential and important is the execution of the idea. Everyone has had the experience of seeing a movie and saying, "Hey! That was my idea!" Well, it doesn't mean anything that you had that idea. There's no such thing as an original concept. What's original is the way you re-use ancient concepts.” [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Execution matters more than the novelty of an idea; reusing old concepts creatively is key. **In simple terms:** Doing it well matters more than being original. Key Takeaway Focus on execution over originality. Themes creativity execution originality Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - business launches - artistic projects - product development Key Concepts Innovation idea reuse Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve execution? - What old ideas can you reinvent? A Different Perspective Original ideas still inspire; execution can fail. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Concept Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concept-original-1884611/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Idea Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-doesn-1065123/) [Ideas Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-important-887290/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Original Concept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-concept-1099618/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Understand Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-ideas-644970/) ## Related quotes > [For every manager, it is important to explain your ideas. It's very important the club understand those ideas and are ready to work together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/for-every-manager-it-is-important-to-explain-your-ideas-it-s-very/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [“...genius, having the widest experience of the human intelligence, can best understand the ideas most directly in opposition to those which form the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/genius-having-the-widest-experience-of-the-human-intelligence-can/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Simple ideas are easier to understand. Ideas that are easier to understand are repeated. Ideas that are repeated change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/simple-ideas-are-easier-to-understand-ideas-that-are-easier-to/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [My original concept was to provide a free encyclopedia for every single person in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/my-original-concept-was-to-provide-a-free-encyclopedia-for-every/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [Where I come from, you had to be original. You had to come up with your own little moves. It doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxrite/where-i-come-from-you-had-to-be-original-you-had-to-come-up-with-your/) [Roxrite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxrite/) > [That was part of the whole original concept. We were thinking, it's off-season, let's do a really fun, local-oriented event, raise money for good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/that-was-part-of-the-whole-original-concept-we-were-thinking-it-s-off/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [You need to understand how human beings bring together their brains and enable their ideas to combine and recombine, to meet and, indeed, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/you-need-to-understand-how-human-beings-bring-together-their-brains/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [Tragedy is formed 'round ideas it does not expound, and to understand its history is, in some part, to understand those ideas and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-williams/tragedy-is-formed-round-ideas-it-does-not-expound-and-to-understand/) [Bernard Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-williams/) > [That is what it is like with Pep. At first, you don't understand. But then you grow up, you work, and now we understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernandinho/that-is-what-it-is-like-with-pep-at-first-you-don-t-understand-but/) [Fernandinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernandinho/) > [The original concept for JTV was that we would give people a window into other people's lives. The problem is that if that window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-kan/the-original-concept-for-jtv-was-that-we-would-give-people-a-window/) [Justin Kan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-kan/) > [Nothing is more common than for men to think that because they are familiar with words they understand the ideas they stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/nothing-is-more-common-than-for-men-to-think-that-because-they-are/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [The original concept of rock and roll... was supposed to be this young angst with mistakes and all. Four or five guys get together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/the-original-concept-of-rock-and-roll-was-supposed-to-be-this-young/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [“People understand ideas when ideas relate to something they already know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-knapp/people-understand-ideas-when-ideas-relate-to-something-they-already/) [Brian Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-knapp/) > [What I haven't apologised for is the original concept of seeking to bring justice to all South Africans through the concept of nation states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/what-i-haven-t-apologised-for-is-the-original-concept-of-seeking-to/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [I think the original concept of the American dream was, 'Your crop died this summer, my crop did well, so there's enough carry both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reichardt/i-think-the-original-concept-of-the-american-dream-was-your-crop-died/) [Kelly Reichardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reichardt/) ## More by John Landis > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Marketing does have a lot to do with the success of a film. But even more so, and especially since home video, I've learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/marketing-does-have-a-lot-to-do-with-the-success-of-a-film-but-even/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [One of the challenges of the movie is there are no apologies or excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/one-of-the-challenges-of-the-movie-is-there-are-no-apologies-or/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I am very direct and I tend to treat everyone exactly the same, which sometimes gets me in trouble because some movie stars feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/i-am-very-direct-and-i-tend-to-treat-everyone-exactly-the-same-which/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Rock 'n' roll started to make so much money and generated so much income for the record companies that suddenly it was no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/rock-n-roll-started-to-make-so-much-money-and-generated-so-much/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [It's not that I don't want to, it's just that there's no money in it. By that I mean the way the video business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-want-to-it-s-just-that-there-s-no-money-in-it/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I'm very lucky to have worked in the '70s. It's a different industry and distribution is in a state of flux. It's all different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/i-m-very-lucky-to-have-worked-in-the-70s-it-s-a-different-industry/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [What's interesting as a director, and even studio executives don't understand this, is that if you're directing a $200 million movie with six million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/what-s-interesting-as-a-director-and-even-studio-executives-don-t/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I've been all over the world, and to be in Milan and see guys dressed as Jake and Elwood is amazing. They really have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/i-ve-been-all-over-the-world-and-to-be-in-milan-and-see-guys-dressed/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Anytime something makes money, no matter how outré, it's instantly mainstream. A good example is rock 'n' roll. When rock 'n' roll was first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/anytime-something-makes-money-no-matter-how-outr-it-s-instantly/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [The pedigree's pretty high. For people who are really scary movie fans, this is nirvana. If you're in the mood to get scared, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/the-pedigree-s-pretty-high-for-people-who-are-really-scary-movie-fans/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [In my career, my movies tend to polarize critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/in-my-career-my-movies-tend-to-polarize-critics/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [The 1960s and 1970s were the real years for independent film, because they were really independent. Plus, there were hundreds of distributors. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/the-1960s-and-1970s-were-the-real-years-for-independent-film-because/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [They sought out rap music to attack, but you don't hear that anymore because it made too much money. They use Che Guevara to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/they-sought-out-rap-music-to-attack-but-you-don-t-hear-that-anymore/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Directors, like actors, get typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/directors-like-actors-get-typecast/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) [Explore all 37 John Landis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. 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If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People don't understand this: Ideas are important, but they're not essential. What's essential and important is the execution of the idea. Everyone has had the experience of seeing a movie and saying, \"Hey! 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