--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think you have a better mousetrap…" description: "\"If you think you have a better mousetrap or car, or shirt, or whatever, you've got to tell people.\" — Lee Clow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/lee-clow-14137_car_if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap_1846131.png" --- # If you think you have a better mousetrap or car, or shirt… ![“If you think you have a better mousetrap or car, or shirt, or whatever, you've got to tell people.” quote by Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/lee-clow-14137_car_if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap_1846131.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/lee-clow-14137_car_if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap_1846131.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/lee-clow-14137_car_if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap_1846131.png) > “If you think you have a better mousetrap or car, or shirt, or whatever, you've got to tell people.” [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great products need promotion; silence stalls success. **In simple terms:** Tell people about your good ideas. Key Takeaway Communicate your innovations. Themes marketing innovation communication Mood enthusiastic strategic Type advertising motivational When to use this quote - startup pitches - advertising campaigns - sales meetings Key Concepts Business strategy product launch Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance promotion and humility? - What channels best reach your audience? A Different Perspective Over‑promotion can backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mousetrap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mousetrap/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Anyone who has invented a better mousetrap, or the contemporary equivalent, can expect to be harassed by strangers demanding that you read their unpublished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/anyone-who-has-invented-a-better-mousetrap-or-the-contemporary/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [This decade is strewn with examples of bright people who thought they built a better mousetrap that could consistently extract abnormal returns from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/this-decade-is-strewn-with-examples-of-bright-people-who-thought-they/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [“... the object of learning was not to build a better mousetrap but to ask a better question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-lester/the-object-of-learning-was-not-to-build-a-better-mousetrap-but-to-ask/) [Julius Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-lester/) > [Before you build a better mousetrap, it helps to know if there are any mice out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/before-you-build-a-better-mousetrap-it-helps-to-know-if-there-are-any/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [We're simple-minded, the team at Hulu, which is, we think if we can obsess over quality and build a better mousetrap, that good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kilar/we-re-simple-minded-the-team-at-hulu-which-is-we-think-if-we-can/) [Jason Kilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kilar/) > [“Whenever man comes up with a better mousetrap, nature immediately comes up with a better mouse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-carswell/whenever-man-comes-up-with-a-better-mousetrap-nature-immediately/) James D. Carswell > [Today, if you invent a better mousetrap, the government comes along with a better mouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-if-you-invent-a-better-mousetrap-the-government-comes-along/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Building good technology starts with strong curiosity, pursuit of hard problems and exploration, wherever it leads. It isn't necessarily high-minded. Rather, on an important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-johnson/building-good-technology-starts-with-strong-curiosity-pursuit-of-hard/) [Bryan Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-johnson/) > [If you build a better mousetrap, regardless of your marketing budget, the world will beat its own path to your door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/if-you-build-a-better-mousetrap-regardless-of-your-marketing-budget/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [Building a better mousetrap merely results in smarter mice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/building-a-better-mousetrap-merely-results-in-smarter-mice/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [If a man can... make a better mousetrap, the world will make a beaten path to his door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-a-man-can-make-a-better-mousetrap-the-world-will-make-a-beaten/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“I used to love the saying, 'If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door.' It sounds great,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hawkins/i-used-to-love-the-saying-if-you-build-a-better-mousetrap-the-world/) [John Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hawkins/) > [If you build a better mousetrap, you will catch better mice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gobel/if-you-build-a-better-mousetrap-you-will-catch-better-mice/) [George Gobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gobel/) > [Money has no color. If you can build a better mousetrap, it won't matter whether you're black or white. People will buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-gaston/money-has-no-color-if-you-can-build-a-better-mousetrap-it-won-t/) A. G. Gaston > [Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/build-a-better-mousetrap-and-the-world-will-beat-a-path-to-your-door/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Lee Clow > [Most ideas are a bit scary, and if an idea isn't scary, it's not an idea at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/most-ideas-are-a-bit-scary-and-if-an-idea-isn-t-scary-it-s-not-an/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Throughout history, the technology always comes first. It's just technology for a while, until the day we artists inherit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/throughout-history-the-technology-always-comes-first-it-s-just/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [ \[In 2011 on Steve Jobs\] He was the most amazing person I have ever know. He was a genius. He was an innovator. He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/in-2011-on-steve-jobs-he-was-the-most-amazing-person-i-have-ever-know/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [A thing that most creatives don't do well is that you've gotta learn to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/a-thing-that-most-creatives-don-t-do-well-is-that-you-ve-gotta-learn/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [What I've always loved to do is build a brand that's so cool that you want to wear their T-shirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/what-i-ve-always-loved-to-do-is-build-a-brand-that-s-so-cool-that-you/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [ \[In 2007\] People's relationship with a brand is becoming a dialog, not a monolog. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/in-2007-people-s-relationship-with-a-brand-is-becoming-a-dialog-not-a/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [I found my own way of doing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/i-found-my-own-way-of-doing-things/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Managing brands is going to be more and more about trying to manage everything that your company does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/managing-brands-is-going-to-be-more-and-more-about-trying-to-manage/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [The only reason you should move to a new job is if you are not getting the opportunity to do what you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/the-only-reason-you-should-move-to-a-new-job-is-if-you-are-not/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [TV spots are short. If you can't hold folks' attention for 20 seconds before revealing the brand, find another line of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/tv-spots-are-short-if-you-can-t-hold-folks-attention-for-20-seconds/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [ Steve \[Jobs\] is unique. There aren't many clients that are like that. You have one guy that you really work for. That's very rare. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/steve-jobs-is-unique-there-aren-t-many-clients-that-are-like-that-you/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [ \[In 2004 on being at TBWA Chiat Day for 30 years.\] Different people are different in terms of the way they're made. I knew… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/in-2004-on-being-at-tbwa-chiat-day-for-30-years-different-people-are/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Your ad begins as an interruption. Make paying attention to it feel like a reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/your-ad-begins-as-an-interruption-make-paying-attention-to-it-feel/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Most people who are deemed 'mean' are usually perfectionist who make mediocre people unhappy, cause they put more pressure on them then they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/most-people-who-are-deemed-mean-are-usually-perfectionist-who-make/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) > [Good advertising is a dialog with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/good-advertising-is-a-dialog-with-people/) [Lee Clow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) [Explore all 47 Lee Clow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/) ## More Car quotes > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us. The nonstories. The extra minute to find the briefcase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-things-that-don-t-happen-to-us-that-we-ll-never-know-didn-t/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 6,849 Car quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you think you have a better mousetrap or car, or shirt, or whatever, you've got to tell people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Clow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap-or-car-or-shirt-or-whatever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Car" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap-or-car-or-shirt-or-whatever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/lee-clow-14137_car_if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap_1846131.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/lee-clow-14137_car_if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap_1846131.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/lee-clow-14137_car_if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap_1846131.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you think you have a better mousetrap or car, or shirt, or whatever, you've got to tell people.” — Lee Clow", "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": "Lee Clow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-clow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you think you have a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap-or-car-or-shirt-or-whatever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-clow/if-you-think-you-have-a-better-mousetrap-or-car-or-shirt-or-whatever/#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 } } ] } ```