--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple…" description: "\"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.\" — John Steinbeck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/john-steinbeck-71_creativity_ideas-are-like-rabbits-you-get-a-couple_2778990.jpg" --- # Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to… ![“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/john-steinbeck-71_creativity_ideas-are-like-rabbits-you-get-a-couple_2778990.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/john-steinbeck-71_creativity_ideas-are-like-rabbits-you-get-a-couple_2778990.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/john-steinbeck-71_creativity_ideas-are-like-rabbits-you-get-a-couple_2778990.jpg) > “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas multiply quickly when nurtured, turning a few into many. **In simple terms:** Ideas grow fast when tended. Key Takeaway Cultivate and manage ideas early. Themes creativity growth management Mood enthusiastic reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - project planning - creative workshops Key Concepts Idea incubation exponential expansion Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize emerging ideas? - What systems help you keep ideas manageable? A Different Perspective Ideas can become overwhelming without organization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Dozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dozen/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-like-234875/) [Like Rabbits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-rabbits-2101666/) [Rabbits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rabbits/) [Soon Dozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soon-dozen-3295967/) ## Related quotes > [Some people believe that - pardon my language - in order to be good Catholics, we should be like rabbits. No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/some-people-believe-that-pardon-my-language-in-order-to-be-good/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The rabbit's not like us. It has no history books, no photographs, no knowledge of sorrow or regret. I mean, I'm sorry, Miss Pommeroy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-darko/the-rabbit-s-not-like-us-it-has-no-history-books-no-photographs-no/) [Donnie Darko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-darko/) > [ \[Jem\] 'It will help you sleep.' 'All I’ve been doing is sleeping!' \[Tessa\] 'And very amusing it is to watch, said Jem. 'Did you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jem-it-will-help-you-sleep-all-i-ve-been-doing-is-sleeping-tessa-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Some think, excuse me if I use the word, that in order to be good Catholics, we have to be like rabbits - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/some-think-excuse-me-if-i-use-the-word-that-in-order-to-be-good/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Lies are horny little buggers, they breed like rabbits and bound around just as insanely and then you have to try to keep track…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/lies-are-horny-little-buggers-they-breed-like-rabbits-and-bound/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [I was minding my own buisness long before you and the princess started humping like rabbits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-was-minding-my-own-buisness-long-before-you-and-the-princess/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“Americans bred like rabbits, expecting the reaper to slaughter at least a few before they reached ripeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/americans-bred-like-rabbits-expecting-the-reaper-to-slaughter-at/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“Though it was close to midnight, Gyeong-hee sensed hundreds of figures hovering at those windows, peering out like rabbits from their burrows, eyes narrowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bandi/though-it-was-close-to-midnight-gyeong-hee-sensed-hundreds-of-figures/) [Bandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bandi/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Yes, society must go on; it must breed, like rabbits. That is what we are here for. But then, I don't like society—much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/yes-society-must-go-on-it-must-breed-like-rabbits-that-is-what-we-are/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [All right, two dozen house specials. Any chance one of you might want to live dangerously and try a vegetable? (Aimee) Do we look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/all-right-two-dozen-house-specials-any-chance-one-of-you-might-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“What the hell kind of bed you giving us, anyways? We don't want no pants rabbits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/what-the-hell-kind-of-bed-you-giving-us-anyways-we-don-t-want-no/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Sir, this is a unique dog. He does not live by tooth or fang. He respects the right of cats to be cats although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sir-this-is-a-unique-dog-he-does-not-live-by-tooth-or-fang-he/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills toward the top. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/evening-of-a-hot-day-started-the-little-wind-to-moving-among-the/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I can still tend the rabbits, George? I didn't mean no harm, George.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-can-still-tend-the-rabbits-george-i-didn-t-mean-no-harm-george/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More by John Steinbeck > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Prayer never brought in no side-meat. Takes a shoat to bring in pork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/prayer-never-brought-in-no-side-meat-takes-a-shoat-to-bring-in-pork/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-now-submarines-are-armed-with-mass-murder-our-silly-only-way-of/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“He was forever inventing a new way of doing an old thing and doing it better and quicker, but he never in his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-was-forever-inventing-a-new-way-of-doing-an-old-thing-and-doing-it/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“You come back a changed man. Samuel, you don’t change him. He changes you. I can see the look of him in your face.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-come-back-a-changed-man-samuel-you-don-t-change-him-he-changes/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I find out of long experience that I admire all nations and hate all governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-find-out-of-long-experience-that-i-admire-all-nations-and-hate-all/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [At about 10 o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows and in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-about-10-o-clock-in-the-morning-the-sun-threw-a-bright-dust-laden/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Who in his mind has not probe the dark water?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/who-in-his-mind-has-not-probe-the-dark-water/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [People like you to be something, preferably what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/people-like-you-to-be-something-preferably-what-they-are/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Suddenly he knew joy and sorrow felted into one fabric. Courage and fear were one thing too. He found that he had started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/suddenly-he-knew-joy-and-sorrow-felted-into-one-fabric-courage-and/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I am writing this from what we Americans call Yurrp. In Yurrp writers are taken as seriously as Lana Turner's legs are in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-writing-this-from-what-we-americans-call-yurrp-in-yurrp-writers/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-write-because-i-like-to-write-i-find-joy-in-the-texture-and-tone/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Explore all 1,589 John Steinbeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More Creativity quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“The Soviet “creative intelligentsia” - that is, people accustomed to thinking one thing, saying another and doing a third - is as a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-amalrik/the-soviet-creative-intelligentsia-that-is-people-accustomed-to/) [Andrei Amalrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-amalrik/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“You are the end of beauty and creativity one must have created so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-the-end-of-beauty-and-creativity-one-must-have-created-so-far/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/) [Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/) > [“I believe in magic. As a writer, I create them on blank paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonnia-kemmer/i-believe-in-magic-as-a-writer-i-create-them-on-blank-paper/) [Sonnia Kemmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonnia-kemmer/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) [Christoph Niemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-niemann/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 13,625 Creativity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ideas are like rabbits. 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