--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was teaching I often said to…" description: "\"When I was teaching I often said to students that you are trying to be too creative, don't be too creative, because there is so much already in what yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/michael-craig-martin-9157_bits_when-i-was-teaching-i-often-said-to-stud_3155081.jpg" --- # When I was teaching I often said to students that you are… ![“When I was teaching I often said to students that you are trying to be too creative, don't be too creative, because there is so much already in what you are making, you don't need to do very much. You just need to do a little bit, and that is a lot.” quote by Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/michael-craig-martin-9157_bits_when-i-was-teaching-i-often-said-to-stud_3155081.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/michael-craig-martin-9157_bits_when-i-was-teaching-i-often-said-to-stud_3155081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/michael-craig-martin-9157_bits_when-i-was-teaching-i-often-said-to-stud_3155081.jpg) > “When I was teaching I often said to students that you are trying to be too creative, don't be too creative, because there is so much already in what you are making, you don't need to do very much. You just need to do a little bit, and that is a lot.” [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work often overcomplicates; modest additions can be powerful. **In simple terms:** Small, thoughtful changes matter more than excess. Key Takeaway Embrace restraint in creation. Themes creativity minimalism artistic discipline Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - design projects - writing - music composition - visual arts Key Concepts art theory process optimization Questions to Reflect On - How can you simplify your current project? - What small change could enhance your work? A Different Perspective Too much novelty can dilute impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [“I like teaching, too," said Gilbert. "It's good training, for one thing. 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Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I couldn't run a tight schedule, and if you're any good at teaching, you get sucked dry because you like your students and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/i-couldn-t-run-a-tight-schedule-and-if-you-re-any-good-at-teaching/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [During that time, I began writing and designing the propaganda that we distributed to the students who we were trying to convince to join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-schiff/during-that-time-i-began-writing-and-designing-the-propaganda-that-we/) [Lewis Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-schiff/) > [While most students were trying to draw one beautiful finished piece, I would be in the background drawing dozens of studies at different angles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-most-students-were-trying-to-draw-one-beautiful-finished-piece/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is a win for the 4-year-olds who require pre-K, the low-wealth counties that need assistance with school construction and the disadvantaged students trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-easley/this-is-a-win-for-the-4-year-olds-who-require-pre-k-the-low-wealth/) Dominique Easley > [Well done, students... if you were trying to disappoint me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shifu/well-done-students-if-you-were-trying-to-disappoint-me/) [Shifu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shifu/) > [Being creative and making money in the theater is very challenging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/being-creative-and-making-money-in-the-theater-is-very-challenging/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [The creative part for me is making songs, and that's what I really love the most, and that's what I've always done for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/the-creative-part-for-me-is-making-songs-and-that-s-what-i-really/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [I think the biggest challenge over time is that we stay creative and making sure that we continue to launch awesome products that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krieger/i-think-the-biggest-challenge-over-time-is-that-we-stay-creative-and/) [Mike Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krieger/) > [I was always really creative and making up stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-cruikshank/i-was-always-really-creative-and-making-up-stuff/) [Lucas Cruikshank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-cruikshank/) > [I think being creative and making something that you can look at is so good for your brain and your soul. Nothing beats it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasia-demetriou/i-think-being-creative-and-making-something-that-you-can-look-at-is/) [Natasia Demetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasia-demetriou/) > [I'm very creative - making music, making puppets, that's my thing - but mainstream success and the demands that brings? No, not really for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-townsend/i-m-very-creative-making-music-making-puppets-that-s-my-thing-but/) [Devin Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-townsend/) > [I enjoy writing the same way I enjoy doing standup. 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