--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way you can really deal with…" description: "\"The only way you can really deal with creative people is with very loose reins,\" — Lorne Michaels" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/lorne-michaels-14545_creative_the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-cr_1088731.png" --- # The only way you can really deal with creative people is… ![“The only way you can really deal with creative people is with very loose reins,” quote by Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/lorne-michaels-14545_creative_the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-cr_1088731.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/lorne-michaels-14545_creative_the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-cr_1088731.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/lorne-michaels-14545_creative_the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-cr_1088731.png) > “The only way you can really deal with creative people is with very loose reins,” [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative talent thrives when given freedom; tight control stifles innovation. **In simple terms:** Give creatives freedom; avoid tight control. Key Takeaway Allow flexibility for creative work. Themes creativity leadership freedom Mood analytical encouraging Type leadership inspirational When to use this quote - advertising - film production - software development Key Concepts media psychology management Questions to Reflect On - How much structure supports creativity? - What boundaries enhance creative output? A Different Perspective Too much freedom can lead to lack of direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-people/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The really expert riders of horses let the horse know immediately who is in control, but then they guide the horse with loose reins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-really-expert-riders-of-horses-let-the-horse-know-immediately-who/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [“Civilized people loose fire in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-poison-king/civilized-people-loose-fire-in-it/) [Dr. Poison King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-poison-king/) > [Not men but measures a sort of charm by which many people get loose from every honorable engagement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/not-men-but-measures-a-sort-of-charm-by-which-many-people-get-loose/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Until people loose someone they never realize their value...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-jebaraj/until-people-loose-someone-they-never-realize-their-value/) [Samuel Jebaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-jebaraj/) > [Never fight with ugly people because they have nothing to loose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bferror/never-fight-with-ugly-people-because-they-have-nothing-to-loose/) Bferror > [The traditional model for a company like Coca-Cola is to hire one big advertising agency and essentially outsource all of its creativity in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-traditional-model-for-a-company-like-coca-cola-is-to-hire-one-big/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [You know a shooter when you see it. At least the creative people do. If a picture isn't obvious in the first draft you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/you-know-a-shooter-when-you-see-it-at-least-the-creative-people-do-if/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [I'm very supportive of creative people being paid for the work that they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-weiner/i-m-very-supportive-of-creative-people-being-paid-for-the-work-that/) [Matthew Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-weiner/) > [Hollywood's like a warehouse. It's just a place that you go. What's interesting in the warehouse has to do with the creative people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/hollywood-s-like-a-warehouse-it-s-just-a-place-that-you-go-what-s/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Creative people don't behave very well generally. If you're looking for examples of good relationships in show business, you're gonna be depressed real fast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/creative-people-don-t-behave-very-well-generally-if-you-re-looking/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [“... an artist should paint from the heart, and not always what people expect. Predictability often leads to the dullest work, in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-artist-should-paint-from-the-heart-and-not-always-what-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My husband is a musician. He cooks and he's a chef but he also, he makes basement recordings. So many people in my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/my-husband-is-a-musician-he-cooks-and-he-s-a-chef-but-he-also-he/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [I understand why creative people like dark, but American audiences dont like dark. They like story. They do not respond to nervous breakdowns and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-moonves/i-understand-why-creative-people-like-dark-but-american-audiences/) [Leslie Moonves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-moonves/) > [All I'm interested in is being creative and working with creative people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-evans/all-i-m-interested-in-is-being-creative-and-working-with-creative/) [Lee Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-evans/) > [Establish an atmosphere that energizes you. Some creative people flourish in confusion; others need to be free from interruption. Many prepare themselves for work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/establish-an-atmosphere-that-energizes-you-some-creative-people/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) ## More by Lorne Michaels > [I'm always very fearful when academics get ahold of comedy. Comedy is such a clear thing - people laugh, or they don't laugh. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/i-m-always-very-fearful-when-academics-get-ahold-of-comedy-comedy-is/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [Even the most powerful people at a given point in terms of class, will all play by the same rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/even-the-most-powerful-people-at-a-given-point-in-terms-of-class-will/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [Yeah, I love Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/yeah-i-love-los-angeles/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [My role is to support it, protect it to the extent that I can, and encourage it. I have a regular job in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/my-role-is-to-support-it-protect-it-to-the-extent-that-i-can-and/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [It's better when they laugh, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/it-s-better-when-they-laugh-isn-t-it/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [There are things in low comedy that make people uncomfortable, and there are things in high comedy that make people bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/there-are-things-in-low-comedy-that-make-people-uncomfortable-and/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [Tearing up a picture of the Pope comes under the heading of a Comedy Killer. It kind of breaks the spirit of the evening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/tearing-up-a-picture-of-the-pope-comes-under-the-heading-of-a-comedy/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [If a culture doesn't allow you to laugh at the leaders or at things that your eyes and ears tell you are actually happening,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/if-a-culture-doesn-t-allow-you-to-laugh-at-the-leaders-or-at-things/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [People go to the zoo and they like the lion because it's scary. And the bear because it's intense, but the monkey makes people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/people-go-to-the-zoo-and-they-like-the-lion-because-it-s-scary-and/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [Some people, their whole lives, are just injustice collectors. They’re going to find new injustices every day. That’s what they do, and that’s what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/some-people-their-whole-lives-are-just-injustice-collectors-they-re/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [I don’t tweet for a very simple reason, which is that I drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/i-don-t-tweet-for-a-very-simple-reason-which-is-that-i-drink/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [We make fun of our leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/we-make-fun-of-our-leaders/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [“The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/the-show-doesn-t-go-on-because-it-s-ready-it-goes-on-because-it-s-11-2/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [Look, she really screwed up and it had a profound effect on her career. To me, it seemed it wasn't fair for someone that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/look-she-really-screwed-up-and-it-had-a-profound-effect-on-her-career/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) > [One advantage of getting older is knowing when to worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/one-advantage-of-getting-older-is-knowing-when-to-worry/) [Lorne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) [Explore all 46 Lorne Michaels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/) ## More Creative quotes > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [The creative strength is good enough and deep enough to bring itself to flower and to grow in spite of this sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-greenberg/the-creative-strength-is-good-enough-and-deep-enough-to-bring-itself/) [Joanne Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-greenberg/) > [Anytime I get the chance to sing or work with Michael John, it is such an incredibly fertile and incredibly creative and safe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/anytime-i-get-the-chance-to-sing-or-work-with-michael-john-it-is-such/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [What Sri Chinmoy does is God-given! He has a tremendous, a fantastic creative urge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/what-sri-chinmoy-does-is-god-given-he-has-a-tremendous-a-fantastic/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Teasing out the way the world might look through another's eyes is what makes the creative process so fascinating and enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-carter/teasing-out-the-way-the-world-might-look-through-another-s-eyes-is/) [Stephen L. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-carter/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) [Browse all 7,284 Creative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way you can really deal with creative people is with very loose reins,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lorne Michaels" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-creative-people-is-with-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-creative-people-is-with-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/lorne-michaels-14545_creative_the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-cr_1088731.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/lorne-michaels-14545_creative_the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-cr_1088731.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/lorne-michaels-14545_creative_the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-cr_1088731.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way you can really deal with creative people is with very loose reins,” — Lorne Michaels", "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": "Lorne Michaels", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-michaels/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only way you can really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-creative-people-is-with-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-michaels/the-only-way-you-can-really-deal-with-creative-people-is-with-very/#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 } } ] } ```