--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m much better at working out ideas in…" description: "\"I’m much better at working out ideas in action than I am in theorizing about it and then transferring my thinking to action. I don’t work that way. I w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/myles-horton-28524_action_i-m-much-better-at-working-out-ideas-in_1315215.jpg" --- # I’m much better at working out ideas in action than I am… ![“I’m much better at working out ideas in action than I am in theorizing about it and then transferring my thinking to action. I don’t work that way. I work with tentative ideas and I experiment and then with that experimentation in action, I finally come to the conclusions about what I think is the…” quote by Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/myles-horton-28524_action_i-m-much-better-at-working-out-ideas-in_1315215.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/myles-horton-28524_action_i-m-much-better-at-working-out-ideas-in_1315215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/myles-horton-28524_action_i-m-much-better-at-working-out-ideas-in_1315215.jpg) > “I’m much better at working out ideas in action than I am in theorizing about it and then transferring my thinking to action. I don’t work that way. I work with tentative ideas and I experiment and then with that experimentation in action, I finally come to the conclusions about what I think is the right way to do it.” [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers learning by doing, testing ideas through action rather than abstract theorizing. **In simple terms:** Learn by doing, not just thinking. Key Takeaway Embrace experimentation. Themes learning experimentation practicality Mood reflective determined Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - startup development - product design - personal skill building - research methodology Key Concepts action learning iterative process Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance theory and practice? - When does experimentation become inefficient? A Different Perspective May overlook theoretical insights that could guide experiments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Theorizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-theorizing-4365109/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Experimentation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experimentation/) [Experimentation Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experimentation-action-4365110/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-experiment-4365111/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-action-1375224/) [Transferring Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transferring-thinking-4365112/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) ## Related quotes > [You must be ready to give up even the most attractive ideas when experiment shows them to be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-volta/you-must-be-ready-to-give-up-even-the-most-attractive-ideas-when/) [Alessandro Volta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-volta/) > [Dear Procrastinator: Taking action in and of itself is not difficult, but is in fact satisfying and is usually followed by a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/dear-procrastinator-taking-action-in-and-of-itself-is-not-difficult/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [“Being a philosopher requires a lot of thinking and no action. Being a model requires a lot of action and no thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/being-a-philosopher-requires-a-lot-of-thinking-and-no-action-being-a/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [There are a lot of big action movies that we've worked on where the attitude has been, 'Let's just get through this scene.' Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leitch/there-are-a-lot-of-big-action-movies-that-we-ve-worked-on-where-the/) [David Leitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leitch/) > [Don't mistake thinking for action & don't mistake action for results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/don-t-mistake-thinking-for-action-don-t-mistake-action-for-results/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“A man lives by thinking about action. A warrior lives by taking action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/a-man-lives-by-thinking-about-action-a-warrior-lives-by-taking-action/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [Thinking is action… but there is nothing on this earth as powerful as consistent, bold, physical action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ringer/thinking-is-action-but-there-is-nothing-on-this-earth-as-powerful-as/) [Robert Ringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ringer/) > [Simple black-and-white thinking or action is always going to be problematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gyllenhaal/simple-black-and-white-thinking-or-action-is-always-going-to-be/) [Maggie Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gyllenhaal/) > [“The act of speaking our intentions aloud shifts them from wishful thinking into action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-sunnarborg/the-act-of-speaking-our-intentions-aloud-shifts-them-from-wishful/) [Michael Thomas Sunnarborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-sunnarborg/) > [America was born of revolt, flourished in dissent, became great through experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/america-was-born-of-revolt-flourished-in-dissent-became-great-through/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [Cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them… for really new ideas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/cities-need-old-buildings-so-badly-it-is-probably-impossible-for/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [As a child there was no place for adventure or experimentation. I guess that kind of freedom started in high school with punk rock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcnairy/as-a-child-there-was-no-place-for-adventure-or-experimentation-i/) [Mark McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcnairy/) > [“Play and experimentation loosens our grip on life and allows for more chance luck to surprise us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hyde-stevens/play-and-experimentation-loosens-our-grip-on-life-and-allows-for-more/) [Elizabeth Hyde Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hyde-stevens/) > [“There is a time and place for electromagnetic shielding and I regard it as a last resort due to the long term biological problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-is-a-time-and-place-for-electromagnetic-shielding-and-i-regard/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The amateur doesn't appreciate the need for experimentation. He wants his experts to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner-2/the-amateur-doesn-t-appreciate-the-need-for-experimentation-he-wants/) [B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner-2/) ## More by Myles Horton > [I think if I had to put a finger on what I consider a good education, a good radical education, it wouldn't be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/i-think-if-i-had-to-put-a-finger-on-what-i-consider-a-good-education/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [Any decent society has to be built on trust and love and the intelligent use of information and feelings. Education involves being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/any-decent-society-has-to-be-built-on-trust-and-love-and-the/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [“Now I've been criticized for advocating that people push their boundaries because sometimes people get caught. Sometimes people get fired. Sometimes people lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/now-i-ve-been-criticized-for-advocating-that-people-push-their/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [“Now I have very little respect for the electoral system in the United States. I could have respected it in the early days, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/now-i-have-very-little-respect-for-the-electoral-system-in-the-united/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [I feel that all knowledge should be in the free-trade zone. Your knowledge, my knowledge, everybody's knowledge should be made use of. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/i-feel-that-all-knowledge-should-be-in-the-free-trade-zone-your/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [“There's no science that can't be used for good or for evil. Science could be used by whoever has the power to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/there-s-no-science-that-can-t-be-used-for-good-or-for-evil-science/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [Instead of thinking that you put pieces together that will add up to a whole, I think you have to start with the premise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/instead-of-thinking-that-you-put-pieces-together-that-will-add-up-to/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [If you only try to do the things where you win, then you'll never try to do anything worth doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/if-you-only-try-to-do-the-things-where-you-win-then-you-ll-never-try/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [“I don't know what to do, and if I did know what to do I wouldn't tell you, because if I had to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/i-don-t-know-what-to-do-and-if-i-did-know-what-to-do-i-wouldn-t-tell/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [I also knew that if people have a position on something and you try to argue them into changing it, you’re going to strengthen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/i-also-knew-that-if-people-have-a-position-on-something-and-you-try/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [When people criticize me for not having any respect for existing structures and institutions, I protest. I say I give institutions and structures and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/when-people-criticize-me-for-not-having-any-respect-for-existing/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [“No one is charismatic. Someone becomes charismatic in history, socially. The question for me is once again the problem of humility. If the leader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/no-one-is-charismatic-someone-becomes-charismatic-in-history-socially/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [“The critic said, but don't you feel awkward about biting the hand that feeds you? I said no, I enjoy just gnawing it up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/the-critic-said-but-don-t-you-feel-awkward-about-biting-the-hand-that/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [You can't be a revolutionary, you can't want to change society if you don't love people, there's no point in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/you-can-t-be-a-revolutionary-you-can-t-want-to-change-society-if-you/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [Nothing will change until we change - until we throw off our dependence and act for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/nothing-will-change-until-we-change-until-we-throw-off-our-dependence/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) [Explore all 19 Myles Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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