--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be creative, a person has to…" description: "\"To be creative, a person has to internalize the entire system that makes creativity possible. Creative individuals are remarkable for their ability to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_ability_to-be-creative-a-person-has-to-internali_1216013.jpg" --- # To be creative, a person has to internalize the entire… ![“To be creative, a person has to internalize the entire system that makes creativity possible. Creative individuals are remarkable for their ability to adapt to almost any situation and to make do with whatever is at hand to reach their goals.” quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_ability_to-be-creative-a-person-has-to-internali_1216013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_ability_to-be-creative-a-person-has-to-internali_1216013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-1255_ability_to-be-creative-a-person-has-to-internali_1216013.jpg) > “To be creative, a person has to internalize the entire system that makes creativity possible. Creative individuals are remarkable for their ability to adapt to almost any situation and to make do with whatever is at hand to reach their goals.” [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creativity requires absorbing the whole system that enables it, allowing adaptability and resourcefulness in any situation. **In simple terms:** Creativity needs understanding the whole system and adaptability. Key Takeaway Learn the system to boost creativity. Themes creativity adaptability resourcefulness systems thinking Mood analytical inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - creative work - problem solving - skill development Key Concepts psychology systems theory innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can you map your creative environment? - What resources help you adapt quickly? A Different Perspective Understanding the system can be complex and time‑consuming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability to adapt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-to-adapt/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-person/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) ## Related quotes > [It is the limitation of means that determines style, gives rise to new forms and makes creativity possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-braque/it-is-the-limitation-of-means-that-determines-style-gives-rise-to-new/) [Georges Braque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-braque/) > [Creative individuals are more likely to have not only the strengths of their own gender but those of the other one, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/creative-individuals-are-more-likely-to-have-not-only-the-strengths/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Creative individuals tend to be smart, yet also naive at the same time... Creative individuals have a combination of playfulness and discipline, or responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/creative-individuals-tend-to-be-smart-yet-also-naive-at-the-same-time/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [ If I had to express in one word what makes their \[creative individuals'\] personalities different from others, it's complexity. They show tendencies of thought… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/if-i-had-to-express-in-one-word-what-makes-their-creative-individuals/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Because there is no ego, God can flow through you; great creativity becomes possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-there-is-no-ego-god-can-flow-through-you-great-creativity/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I want my children to experience as much creativity as possible. 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First, there was no subject he could not easily get interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-webb-young/every-really-good-creative-person-in-advertising-has-always-had-two/) [James Webb Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-webb-young/) > [Being successful as a creative person is a crapshoot, but it's essential if you feel drawn to being creative that you express it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-carlin-mccall/being-successful-as-a-creative-person-is-a-crapshoot-but-it-s/) [Kelly Carlin-McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-carlin-mccall/) > [If you want to be a creative person, then you’re gonna have to be creative in how you put your career together. There isn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-soth/if-you-want-to-be-a-creative-person-then-you-re-gonna-have-to-be/) [Alec Soth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-soth/) > [The fact that a consistendy highly creative person is generally irresponsible in the sense that we have used this term is in part predictable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-levitt/the-fact-that-a-consistendy-highly-creative-person-is-generally/) [Theodore Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-levitt/) > [Let me insist and emphasise it because I would like all of my sannyasins to be creative in some way. To me, creativity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/let-me-insist-and-emphasise-it-because-i-would-like-all-of-my/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/there-is-no-doubt-that-creativity-is-the-most-important-human/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [TV shows are great right now in America. I find myself - and I hate to admit it - but we watch more TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franka-potente/tv-shows-are-great-right-now-in-america-i-find-myself-and-i-hate-to/) [Franka Potente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franka-potente/) > [A consistently highly creative person is generally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-levitt/a-consistently-highly-creative-person-is-generally-irresponsible/) [Theodore Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-levitt/) ## More by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi > [“Entropy is the normal state of consciousness—a condition that is neither useful nor enjoyable. To avoid this condition, people are naturally eager to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/entropy-is-the-normal-state-of-consciousness-a-condition-that-is/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/most-enjoyable-activities-are-not-natural-they-demand-an-effort-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [People without an internalized symbolic system can all too easily become captives of the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/people-without-an-internalized-symbolic-system-can-all-too-easily/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Through learning we grow, becoming more than we were before, and in that sense learning is unselfish, because it results in the transformation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/through-learning-we-grow-becoming-more-than-we-were-before-and-in/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Unfortunately, many people find the only challenges they can respond to are violence, gambling, random sex, or drugs. 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It really does not make sense to go through the motions of existence if one does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/it-is-essential-to-learn-to-enjoy-life-it-really-does-not-make-sense/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“It is usual to explain the motivation of those who enjoy dangerous activities as some sort of pathological need: they are trying to exorcise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/it-is-usual-to-explain-the-motivation-of-those-who-enjoy-dangerous/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Wisdom and integrity cannot be found in any single domain. A broader viewpoint that breaks across disciplinary boundaries is needed, a way of understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/wisdom-and-integrity-cannot-be-found-in-any-single-domain-a-broader/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/for-better-or-worse-our-future-will-be-determined-in-large-part-by/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Many business leaders today view their jobs as entailing responsibility for the welfare of the wider community. These individuals do not define themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/many-business-leaders-today-view-their-jobs-as-entailing/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [The rules themselves are clear enough, and within everyone’s reach. But many forces, both within ourselves and in the environment, stand in the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/the-rules-themselves-are-clear-enough-and-within-everyone-s-reach-but/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [When each of these three elements of vision-concern for excellence, for people and for the wider environment-are present, business is transformed from a tool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/when-each-of-these-three-elements-of-vision-concern-for-excellence/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [If an enterprise does not aspire to be the best of its kind, it will attract second-rate employees, and it will be soon forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/if-an-enterprise-does-not-aspire-to-be-the-best-of-its-kind-it-will/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Only direct control of experience, the ability to derive moment-by-moment enjoyment from everything we do, can overcome the obstacles to fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/only-direct-control-of-experience-the-ability-to-derive-moment-by/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Try to be surprised by something every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/try-to-be-surprised-by-something-every-day/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) [Explore all 262 Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be creative, a person has to internalize the entire system that makes creativity possible. 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