---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you cannot create, then buy a company…"
description: "\"“If you cannot create, then buy a company that can. In particular, the large corporations buy small, personnally owned companies that have made breakth..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/john-ralston-saul-3128_business_if-you-cannot-create-then-buy-a-company_3095654.jpg"
---

#  If you cannot create, then buy a company that can. In…

![“If you cannot create, then buy a company that can. In particular, the large corporations buy small, personnally owned companies that have made breakthroughs in particular areas. They are buying creativity, though the immediate rush this produces doesn't last long. Once integrated into an…” quote by John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/john-ralston-saul-3128_business_if-you-cannot-create-then-buy-a-company_3095654.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/john-ralston-saul-3128_business_if-you-cannot-create-then-buy-a-company_3095654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/john-ralston-saul-3128_business_if-you-cannot-create-then-buy-a-company_3095654.jpg)

> ““If you cannot create, then buy a company that can. In particular, the large corporations buy small, personnally owned companies that have made breakthroughs in particular areas. They are buying creativity, though the immediate rush this produces doesn't last long. Once integrated into an administrative atmosphere, the creativity is sucked out of them. (IV - From Managers and Speculators to Growth)””

[John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Acquiring creative startups can stifle their innovation when integrated into large corporate structures, diminishing the initial creative surge.

**In simple terms:** Buying creativity can kill it within big firms.

Key Takeaway

Beware of losing innovation after acquisition.

Themes

corporate acquisition creativity innovation integration growth strategy

Mood

cautious strategic

Type

analytical inspirational

When to use this quote

- M&A due diligence
- post‑acquisition integration planning
- startup funding
- innovation labs

Key Concepts

business strategy organizational culture creative destruction

Questions to Reflect On

- How can corporations retain startup creativity?
- What structures protect innovation post‑acquisition?

A Different Perspective

Large firms may not preserve startup agility.

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[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Buy Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buy-company-738797/) [Buying Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying-creativity-5342851/) [Corporations Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations-buy-5321477/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Large Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-corporations-436123/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Owned Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owned-companies-3403599/)

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