--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An idea starts to be interesting when you…" description: "\"An idea starts to be interesting when you get scared of taking it to its logical conclusion.\" — Nassim Nicholas Taleb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/nassim-nicholas-taleb-352_conclusion_an-idea-starts-to-be-interesting-when-yo_1165434.png" --- # An idea starts to be interesting when you get scared of… ![“An idea starts to be interesting when you get scared of taking it to its logical conclusion.” quote by Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/nassim-nicholas-taleb-352_conclusion_an-idea-starts-to-be-interesting-when-yo_1165434.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/nassim-nicholas-taleb-352_conclusion_an-idea-starts-to-be-interesting-when-yo_1165434.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/nassim-nicholas-taleb-352_conclusion_an-idea-starts-to-be-interesting-when-yo_1165434.png) > “An idea starts to be interesting when you get scared of taking it to its logical conclusion.” [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas become compelling when they challenge comfort zones and force confronting unsettling logical ends. **In simple terms:** Ideas feel exciting when they scare you. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to discover truth. Themes risk curiosity growth Mood intrigued anxious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - research - creative writing - personal development Key Concepts philosophy psychology decision theory Questions to Reflect On - What logical conclusion are you avoiding? - How can fear be a guide? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze progress if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ## Related quotes > [When you start to think of the arts as not this thing that is going to get you somewhere in terms of becoming an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/when-you-start-to-think-of-the-arts-as-not-this-thing-that-is-going/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Money never starts an idea. It is always the idea that starts the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-laughlin/money-never-starts-an-idea-it-is-always-the-idea-that-starts-the-money/) Owen Laughlin > [I often have an idea and it starts splintering off into a whole lot of directions; I'm interested in exploring every single one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/i-often-have-an-idea-and-it-starts-splintering-off-into-a-whole-lot/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Every great idea starts out as a blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/every-great-idea-starts-out-as-a-blasphemy/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I may have a story idea but everything starts moving when I am able to see my characters clearly. They then organically lead or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanika-dhillon/i-may-have-a-story-idea-but-everything-starts-moving-when-i-am-able/) [Kanika Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanika-dhillon/) > [No one can have an idea once he starts really listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/no-one-can-have-an-idea-once-he-starts-really-listening/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [As an actor, I am never scared of taking on a new project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/as-an-actor-i-am-never-scared-of-taking-on-a-new-project/) [Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/) > [Life is full of risks, and often, you have to take them. Just don't be scared of taking one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manisha-koirala/life-is-full-of-risks-and-often-you-have-to-take-them-just-don-t-be/) [Manisha Koirala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manisha-koirala/) > [I still get scared every time I go out. I get scared taking off; I get scared on the wave, falling, everything. But, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-john-florence/i-still-get-scared-every-time-i-go-out-i-get-scared-taking-off-i-get/) [John John Florence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-john-florence/) > [The staging for 'Monsters' is all about me getting free. In the beginning I'm like tied, in a dark place... until I am scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saara-aalto/the-staging-for-monsters-is-all-about-me-getting-free-in-the/) [Saara Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saara-aalto/) > [Taking the first step is always the most difficult but once you take it everything else falls in place and you begin to wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-the-first-step-is-always-the-most-difficult-but-once-you-take/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“If you're not scared you're not taking a chance. If you're not taking a chance, what are you doing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mosby/if-you-re-not-scared-you-re-not-taking-a-chance-if-you-re-not-taking/) Ted Mosby > [“If you’re not scared then you’re not taking a chance. If you’re not taking a chance then what the hell are you doing anyway?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mosby/if-you-re-not-scared-then-you-re-not-taking-a-chance-if-you-re-not/) Ted Mosby > [“You’re right. I’m shit scared of taking the risk of feeling the fullness of how much I love you.” His mouth stopped working, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/you-re-right-i-m-shit-scared-of-taking-the-risk-of-feeling-the/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“We often are so scared of taking that leap of faith either to connect with people, or to allow ourselves to be ourselves without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-aman/we-often-are-so-scared-of-taking-that-leap-of-faith-either-to-connect/) [Jodi Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-aman/) ## More by Nassim Nicholas Taleb > [To become a philosopher, start by walking very slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/to-become-a-philosopher-start-by-walking-very-slowly/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Wittgenstein's ruler: Unless you have confidence in the ruler's reliability, if you use a ruler to measure a table you may also be using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/wittgenstein-s-ruler-unless-you-have-confidence-in-the-ruler-s/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [In politics we face the choice between warmongering, nation-state loving, big-business agents on one hand; and risk-blind, top-down, epistemic arrogant big servants of large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/in-politics-we-face-the-choice-between-warmongering-nation-state/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [My nightmare scenario is that the government saves Citibank once again, as well as the other banks, and business resumes as usual. Then, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/my-nightmare-scenario-is-that-the-government-saves-citibank-once/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [You know, children philosophize more than adults - and they are critical of adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/you-know-children-philosophize-more-than-adults-and-they-are-critical/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“One needs to go out and buy a lottery ticket in order to win. 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I'm not going to be part of just coming to quick conclusions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-m-not-going-to-be-part-of-looking-at-information-only-partially-i-m/) [Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. 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If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [Every study on chocolate is pointing to the same conclusion: there is something in chocolate that is really good for us. That something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/every-study-on-chocolate-is-pointing-to-the-same-conclusion-there-is/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [I have come to the definite conclusion that musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/i-have-come-to-the-definite-conclusion-that-musical-ability-is-not-an/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [Study how a society uses its land, and you can come to pretty reliable conclusions as to what its future will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/study-how-a-society-uses-its-land-and-you-can-come-to-pretty-reliable/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That's what politics is. It's the story of what's happening, what does it mean, what's the conclusion, who are the interesting characters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/that-s-what-politics-is-it-s-the-story-of-what-s-happening-what-does/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [To each eye, perhaps, the outlines of a great civilization present a different picture. 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