--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I think of competition it's like I…" description: "\"When I think of competition it's like I try to create against the past. I think about Michelangelo and Picasso, you know, the pyramids.\" — Kanye West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/kanye-west-242_can-t-sleep_when-i-think-of-competition-it-s-like-i_2115107.jpg" --- # When I think of competition it's like I try to create… ![“When I think of competition it's like I try to create against the past. I think about Michelangelo and Picasso, you know, the pyramids.” quote by Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/kanye-west-242_can-t-sleep_when-i-think-of-competition-it-s-like-i_2115107.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/kanye-west-242_can-t-sleep_when-i-think-of-competition-it-s-like-i_2115107.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/kanye-west-242_can-t-sleep_when-i-think-of-competition-it-s-like-i_2115107.jpg) > “When I think of competition it's like I try to create against the past. I think about Michelangelo and Picasso, you know, the pyramids.” [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative competition drives us to surpass past achievements and innovate. **In simple terms:** Compete to outdo the past. Key Takeaway Use competition as a catalyst for innovation. Themes creativity competition innovation Mood ambitious inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - design projects - musical composition - business strategy - personal development - team leadership Key Concepts artistic ambition historical influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn competition into collaboration? - What past works inspire your next creation? A Different Perspective Excessive rivalry can stifle collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can-t-sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-sleep/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Competition Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition-like-1156021/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Most arrogant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-arrogant/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-think/) [Pyramids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pyramids/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Think Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-competition-737557/) [Think Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-michelangelo-3281587/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [I'm like a vessel, and God has chosen me to be the voice and the connector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-m-like-a-vessel-and-god-has-chosen-me-to-be-the-voice-and-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I am so credible and so influential and so relevant that I will change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-am-so-credible-and-so-influential-and-so-relevant-that-i-will/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I hope and dream the time will come when serious artists will make marvelous pictures that will love and live in life-like manner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winsor-mccay/i-hope-and-dream-the-time-will-come-when-serious-artists-will-make/) [Winsor McCay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winsor-mccay/) > [If something becomes old-fashioned, it was no good to start with. Think about it. Michelangelo is not old-fashioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bailey/if-something-becomes-old-fashioned-it-was-no-good-to-start-with-think/) [David Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bailey/) > [I have never heard a dancer asking for advice about how to stay focused on her footwork, or a painter complaining about the dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-have-never-heard-a-dancer-asking-for-advice-about-how-to-stay/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I just think that when my confidence meets other people's insecurity, that equals Kanye's arrogant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-just-think-that-when-my-confidence-meets-other-people-s-insecurity/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I am Warhol. I am the No. 1 most impactful artist of our generation. I am Shakespeare in the flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-am-warhol-i-am-the-no-1-most-impactful-artist-of-our-generation-i/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I wouldn't even say that I'm a rapper. I'd say I'm more of a messenger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-wouldn-t-even-say-that-i-m-a-rapper-i-d-say-i-m-more-of-a-messenger/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I am the number one human being in music. That means any person that's living or breathing is number two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-am-the-number-one-human-being-in-music-that-means-any-person-that-s/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Competition like that seen between Blue Origin and SpaceX is key to rapid progress in space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pittman/competition-like-that-seen-between-blue-origin-and-spacex-is-key-to/) [Bruce Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pittman/) > [If we are friends it shouldn't be no competition, like why are you trying make yourself look better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-are-friends-it-shouldn-t-be-no-competition-like-why-are-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I only fear myself and my competition is with me. I have always been like this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-kishan/i-only-fear-myself-and-my-competition-is-with-me-i-have-always-been/) [Ravi Kishan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-kishan/) > [Competition, of course there's always competition, and I like competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delphine-arnault/competition-of-course-there-s-always-competition-and-i-like/) [Delphine Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delphine-arnault/) > [There is competition. It's almost like I'm back in tennis competing in a way. There are usually about twenty composers vying for the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-zigman/there-is-competition-it-s-almost-like-i-m-back-in-tennis-competing-in/) [Aaron Zigman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-zigman/) > [It's not like it's a competition; it's almost like mirror motivation. My twin brother's always pushing me to get better and better, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermall-charlo/it-s-not-like-it-s-a-competition-it-s-almost-like-mirror-motivation/) [Jermall Charlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermall-charlo/) ## More by Kanye West > [I feel that I'm very blessed. But with great blessings come great responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-that-i-m-very-blessed-but-with-great-blessings-come-great/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Get away from me misery, get away from me loneliness, get away from me fake bitches I can't take the phoniness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/get-away-from-me-misery-get-away-from-me-loneliness-get-away-from-me/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The creatives, they want to connect with people. These artists, the clothing designers, they want to connect with people the same way that music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/the-creatives-they-want-to-connect-with-people-these-artists-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [People know I'm smart. And people know that, whether it's SNL or Jimmy Kimmel, it's a trend to take the piss out of celebrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/people-know-i-m-smart-and-people-know-that-whether-it-s-snl-or-jimmy/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Rome wasn't built in a day, and the internet is our new Rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/rome-wasn-t-built-in-a-day-and-the-internet-is-our-new-rome/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [My child-like creativity, purity and honesty is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/my-child-like-creativity-purity-and-honesty-is-honestly-being-crowded/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [If you’re taught you can't do anything you won't do anything, I was taught I could do everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/if-you-re-taught-you-can-t-do-anything-you-won-t-do-anything-i-was/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Cause I want to be on 106 and Park pushing a benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/cause-i-want-to-be-on-106-and-park-pushing-a-benz/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The media crucify me like they did Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/the-media-crucify-me-like-they-did-christ/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [ Kris \[Jenner\] and the family, they have the power of communication. This is the number one communications company. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/kris-jenner-and-the-family-they-have-the-power-of-communication-this/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [My wife has dated broke black dudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/my-wife-has-dated-broke-black-dudes/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [If it wasn't for race mixing, there'd be no video girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/if-it-wasn-t-for-race-mixing-there-d-be-no-video-girls/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [And my bitch in that new Phoebe Philo so much head, I woke up to Sleepy Hollow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/and-my-bitch-in-that-new-phoebe-philo-so-much-head-i-woke-up-to/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [It's funny because I've made a living off of words, but words get in the way of what you really want to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/it-s-funny-because-i-ve-made-a-living-off-of-words-but-words-get-in/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) [Explore all 839 Kanye West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) ## More Can-t-sleep quotes > [I don't sleep. I wait. I sleep in cars and on couches. I sleep when I can, but when I can't sleep, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-don-t-sleep-i-wait-i-sleep-in-cars-and-on-couches-i-sleep-when-i/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [I get my most creative energy after a show, so I love to go back to the hotel and compose new material. I generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-get-my-most-creative-energy-after-a-show-so-i-love-to-go-back-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I'm so tired, but I can't sleep. Standing on the edge of something much too deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-m-so-tired-but-i-can-t-sleep-standing-on-the-edge-of-something-much/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [Can't sleep unless the TV is on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/can-t-sleep-unless-the-tv-is-on/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > [I feel everything more deeply. Every action I take, I think of her first. That's a big change for me. That - and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-feel-everything-more-deeply-every-action-i-take-i-think-of-her/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [There is a school of thought that believes that sleep is for the night. You appear to be out to disprove them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ayckbourn/there-is-a-school-of-thought-that-believes-that-sleep-is-for-the/) [Alan Ayckbourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ayckbourn/) > [He who sleeps half a day has won half a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/he-who-sleeps-half-a-day-has-won-half-a-life/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [In response to skyrocketing gas prices, liberals say, practically in unison, 'We can't drill our way out of this crisis.' What does that mean?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/in-response-to-skyrocketing-gas-prices-liberals-say-practically-in/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Remember that almost everything looks better after a good night's sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/remember-that-almost-everything-looks-better-after-a-good-night-s/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [When I was meeting people in L.A., guys always thought if they paid for dinner, they deserved a blow job. But generally, I'll say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/when-i-was-meeting-people-in-l-a-guys-always-thought-if-they-paid-for/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I can't sleep very well at night. It takes me a while to get to sleep. I could just be nocturnal. I have my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-can-t-sleep-very-well-at-night-it-takes-me-a-while-to-get-to-sleep/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [Poor people have the blues because they're poor and hungry. 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