--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the stuff that's very…" description: "\"I think the stuff that's very spontaneous, not contrived at all, is the stuff that works.\" — John Waite" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/john-waite-7196_i-think_i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneou_3061774.png" --- # I think the stuff that's very spontaneous, not contrived… ![“I think the stuff that's very spontaneous, not contrived at all, is the stuff that works.” quote by John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/john-waite-7196_i-think_i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneou_3061774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/john-waite-7196_i-think_i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneou_3061774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/john-waite-7196_i-think_i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneou_3061774.png) > “I think the stuff that's very spontaneous, not contrived at all, is the stuff that works.” [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spontaneous, authentic actions are more effective than forced, artificial ones. **In simple terms:** Natural, unplanned actions work best. Key Takeaway Trust intuition and act authentically. Themes creativity authenticity efficacy Mood inspired reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - improvisation - creative brainstorming - live performance - problem solving Key Concepts spontaneity intuition flow state Questions to Reflect On - When does planning outweigh spontaneity? - How can you balance authenticity with responsibility? A Different Perspective Spontaneity can lead to reckless decisions without planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Spontaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneous/) [Spontaneous Contrived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneous-contrived-5138239/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Stuff Spontaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff-spontaneous-5138238/) [Stuff Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff-works-724035/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works/) ## Related quotes > [The stuff that works best is driven by passion rather than dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-newmark/the-stuff-that-works-best-is-driven-by-passion-rather-than-dollars/) [Craig Newmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-newmark/) > [“There’s plenty of serious stuff that works to cord the muscles of literary merit. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/there-s-plenty-of-serious-stuff-that-works-to-cord-the-muscles-of/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [We are stuck with technology when what we really want is just stuff that works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/we-are-stuck-with-technology-when-what-we-really-want-is-just-stuff/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [But I also think that once you've found stuff that works, stop reading forums, stop reading reviews and just get out there and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guthrie-govan/but-i-also-think-that-once-you-ve-found-stuff-that-works-stop-reading/) [Guthrie Govan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guthrie-govan/) > [“This stuff only works in practice. In theory, it’s a mess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/this-stuff-only-works-in-practice-in-theory-it-s-a-mess/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [I just want to put some positive stuff out there. If it works, great. If it doesn't, no problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-james/i-just-want-to-put-some-positive-stuff-out-there-if-it-works-great-if/) [Kevin James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-james/) > [I'm starting to feel like I can actually figure out how stuff works. I can actually pick stuff apart and have a chance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-giertz/i-m-starting-to-feel-like-i-can-actually-figure-out-how-stuff-works-i/) [Simone Giertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-giertz/) > [I took Second City out of desperation, and that's what ended up working out. It shows that you should be doing a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-took-second-city-out-of-desperation-and-that-s-what-ended-up/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [Learn how a 3D printer works. Get inspired. Make your own stuff. It is a wonderful time to be innovative. Connect things together. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bre-pettis/learn-how-a-3d-printer-works-get-inspired-make-your-own-stuff-it-is-a/) [Bre Pettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bre-pettis/) > [“Take better control of your schedule by choosing to do one spontaneous thing for yourself every day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-dippel/take-better-control-of-your-schedule-by-choosing-to-do-one/) [Judy Dippel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-dippel/) > [Music comes from the heart and returns to the heart... music is spontaneous, impulsive expression... its range is without limit... music is forever growing...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-stokowski/music-comes-from-the-heart-and-returns-to-the-heart-music-is/) [Leopold Stokowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-stokowski/) > [The observation of the way in which the children pass from the first disordered movements to those which are spontaneous and ordered -- this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-observation-of-the-way-in-which-the-children-pass-from-the-first/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [The idea of spontaneous generation of life in its present form is therefore highly improbable even to the scale of the billions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-prigogine/the-idea-of-spontaneous-generation-of-life-in-its-present-form-is/) [Ilya Prigogine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-prigogine/) > [I don't want to make myself sound that spontaneous, because I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-rae-perkins/i-don-t-want-to-make-myself-sound-that-spontaneous-because-i-m-not/) [Lynne Rae Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-rae-perkins/) > [Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/singing-has-always-seemed-to-me-the-most-perfect-means-of-expression/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) ## More by John Waite > [I was staring at a wall of photos and thought, 'What would that sound like if it was music?' And I guess that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-was-staring-at-a-wall-of-photos-and-thought-what-would-that-sound/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [There's an easy way to tell if you have a good song. You get hit in the head with a message, and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/there-s-an-easy-way-to-tell-if-you-have-a-good-song-you-get-hit-in/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [Songs, and songwriting keeps me inspired, moving forward. I tend to scribble down notes, lyrics or just random thoughts on pieces of paper, backs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/songs-and-songwriting-keeps-me-inspired-moving-forward-i-tend-to/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [When you play live, everything goes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/when-you-play-live-everything-goes-up/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [I was going to be a painter. I went to art school - but every 16-year-old wants to be a painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-was-going-to-be-a-painter-i-went-to-art-school-but-every-16-year/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [I really expected things to be different. But being in Bad English was too much of a compromise. Instead of being true to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-really-expected-things-to-be-different-but-being-in-bad-english-was/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [I thought my wife and I would grow old together, but it just didn't work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-thought-my-wife-and-i-would-grow-old-together-but-it-just-didn-t/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [You know, I still find music as inspiring and exciting as I did when I was 15.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/you-know-i-still-find-music-as-inspiring-and-exciting-as-i-did-when-i/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [Music comes from a whole different place. It tells the story of your life and it's probably the closest thing I have to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/music-comes-from-a-whole-different-place-it-tells-the-story-of-your/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [I think rock 'n' roll is very visual. All of the best bands, like The Stones, The Who and Small Faces, were very valid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-think-rock-n-roll-is-very-visual-all-of-the-best-bands-like-the/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [I always thought that the Babys were five years ahead of everybody else, I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-always-thought-that-the-babys-were-five-years-ahead-of-everybody/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [I like imperfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-like-imperfection/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [There's a lot of compromises, but that's what a great record should be, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/there-s-a-lot-of-compromises-but-that-s-what-a-great-record-should-be/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [Rock seems a little bit redundant now because it really is what country is. It's the voice of America and rock 'n' roll used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/rock-seems-a-little-bit-redundant-now-because-it-really-is-what/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [We had huge success at first - really, really big. You could not turn on AM radio and not hear 'Every Time I Think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/we-had-huge-success-at-first-really-really-big-you-could-not-turn-on/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) [Explore all 93 John Waite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) ## More I think quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/) [Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I think it's a wonderful thing, turning 50. I think everyone should do it at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-thing-turning-50-i-think-everyone-should-do/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) [Browse all 29,267 I think quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the stuff that's very spontaneous, not contrived at all, is the stuff that works.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Waite" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneous-not-contrived-at-all-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "I think" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneous-not-contrived-at-all-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/john-waite-7196_i-think_i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneou_3061774.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/john-waite-7196_i-think_i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneou_3061774.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29f/john-waite-7196_i-think_i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneou_3061774.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the stuff that's very spontaneous, not contrived at all, is the stuff that works.” — John Waite", "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 Waite", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the stuff that's very...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneous-not-contrived-at-all-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/i-think-the-stuff-that-s-very-spontaneous-not-contrived-at-all-is-the/#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 } } ] } ```