--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People always say they can't do things…" description: "\"People always say they can't do things, that they're impossible. They just haven't been creative enough.\" — Maureen Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/maureen-johnson-1282_creative_people-always-say-they-can-t-do-things-t_3089921.png" --- # People always say they can't do things, that they're… ![“People always say they can't do things, that they're impossible. They just haven't been creative enough.” quote by Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/maureen-johnson-1282_creative_people-always-say-they-can-t-do-things-t_3089921.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/maureen-johnson-1282_creative_people-always-say-they-can-t-do-things-t_3089921.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/maureen-johnson-1282_creative_people-always-say-they-can-t-do-things-t_3089921.png) > “People always say they can't do things, that they're impossible. They just haven't been creative enough.” [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People claim impossibility because they lack imagination; creativity can turn the impossible into possible. **In simple terms:** Impossibility is often just a lack of ideas. Key Takeaway Cultivate creative thinking to solve problems. Themes creativity perseverance innovation Mood inspirational motivational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - business challenges - personal goals - artistic projects Key Concepts problem solving mindset Questions to Reflect On - What creative approach could you try on a tough problem? - How do you differentiate between true limits and perceived ones? A Different Perspective Creative solutions may still face practical limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Things that are impossible just take longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hickson/things-that-are-impossible-just-take-longer/) Ian Hickson > [What some folks call impossible is just stuff they haven't seen before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/what-some-folks-call-impossible-is-just-stuff-they-haven-t-seen-before/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I have learned that I will not pay any attention to anything people say about my movies, because people say things that are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-sorrentino/i-have-learned-that-i-will-not-pay-any-attention-to-anything-people/) [Paolo Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-sorrentino/) > [Sometimes people say things they don't mean, and you just have to let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/sometimes-people-say-things-they-don-t-mean-and-you-just-have-to-let/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I can read people, and if the other person doesn't want to say anything, I'm fine with that. People say things when it's time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidan-gillen/i-can-read-people-and-if-the-other-person-doesn-t-want-to-say/) [Aidan Gillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidan-gillen/) > [“I hate when people say something is not their job or that something isn't possible. We all say these things, sure, but some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/i-hate-when-people-say-something-is-not-their-job-or-that-something/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [“Livvy: Look. Since then, Ty's learned so much about the way people say things they don't mean, about tone not matching expression, all that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/livvy-look-since-then-ty-s-learned-so-much-about-the-way-people-say/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [And the people who say things to you about the way you look and the way you dress, they have nothing more to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-the-people-who-say-things-to-you-about-the-way-you-look-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes when people say things, we should actually believe what they say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/sometimes-when-people-say-things-we-should-actually-believe-what-they/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [It's the nature often on social media that people say things without really thinking through their position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/it-s-the-nature-often-on-social-media-that-people-say-things-without/) [James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/) > [People say many things, but at the end of the day people can say what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-velasquez/people-say-many-things-but-at-the-end-of-the-day-people-can-say-what/) [Patricia Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-velasquez/) > [People sometimes say we take things too seriously, but it's the only way you'll get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/people-sometimes-say-we-take-things-too-seriously-but-it-s-the-only/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [“Now, as I expect you know, there is nothing more cruel than talk, and there is nothing more difficult to combat. When people say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/now-as-i-expect-you-know-there-is-nothing-more-cruel-than-talk-and/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“And better still to be alone with one’s books. They tell their incredible stories at the time when you want to hear them. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-better-still-to-be-alone-with-one-s-books-they-tell-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Impossible Is Just Impossible".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behnam-rajabpoor/impossible-is-just-impossible/) [Behnam Rajabpoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behnam-rajabpoor/) ## More by Maureen Johnson > [“Knowledge is the heaviest weight of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/knowledge-is-the-heaviest-weight-of-all/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [There is no normal. I've never met a normal person. The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I may have been a complete lunatic, but I was a complete lunatic with manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-may-have-been-a-complete-lunatic-but-i-was-a-complete-lunatic-with/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Did you hear?" he asked. "They found another body around nine this morning. It's the Ripper, definitely." "Good morning," I replied. "Morning. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/did-you-hear-he-asked-they-found-another-body-around-nine-this/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [She was standing in the airport of Copenhagen, staring at a doorway, trying to figure out if it was (a) a bathroom and (b)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-was-standing-in-the-airport-of-copenhagen-staring-at-a-doorway/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [When I worked in theater, I was always writing things on Post-it Notes and sticking them on screens or desks. Twitter has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-i-worked-in-theater-i-was-always-writing-things-on-post-it-notes/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [She had always thought applying to college would be exciting. Living away from home, meeting so many new people, Learning new things, making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-had-always-thought-applying-to-college-would-be-exciting-living/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“Vitamin D,” Stevie said. “You need it.” “You don’t know that,” he said. “I want to eat my meat in my room with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/vitamin-d-stevie-said-you-need-it-you-don-t-know-that-he-said-i-want/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [No one hid their interest when I walked into the room. I'm not sure if it was the news about Boo or my general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/no-one-hid-their-interest-when-i-walked-into-the-room-i-m-not-sure-if/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [You'd been petting a stuffed dog?' she said 'A dead one?' 'It was a really well stuffed dog' I clarified. 'I have seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-d-been-petting-a-stuffed-dog-she-said-a-dead-one-it-was-a-really/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“When she emerged, Keith was watching the tiny round window of the under-the-counter washing machine. "Put your clothes in for a wash," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-she-emerged-keith-was-watching-the-tiny-round-window-of-the/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“For you, there is underage, and then, there is underage. I believe a taste of wine is perfectly acceptable, but please stick to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/for-you-there-is-underage-and-then-there-is-underage-i-believe-a/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Rory: "People are being serious." Jazza: "There's a serial killer out there. Of course people are being serious." Rory: "Yeah, but what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/rory-people-are-being-serious-jazza-there-s-a-serial-killer-out-there/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Boo: "Go talk to her." Callum: "About what?" Boo: "Anything." Callum: "You want me to walk up to her and say, 'Are you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/boo-go-talk-to-her-callum-about-what-boo-anything-callum-you-want-me/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) [Explore all 262 Maureen Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) ## 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": "People always say they can't do things, that they're impossible. 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