--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people have great ideas maybe once…" description: "\"Some people have great ideas maybe once or twice in their life, and then they discover electricity or fire or outer space or something. I mean, the kin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/neil-gaiman-29_brilliant_some-people-have-great-ideas-maybe-once_790812.jpg" --- # Some people have great ideas maybe once or twice in their… ![“Some people have great ideas maybe once or twice in their life, and then they discover electricity or fire or outer space or something. I mean, the kind of brilliant ideas that change the whole world. Some people never have them at all... I get them two or three times a week.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/neil-gaiman-29_brilliant_some-people-have-great-ideas-maybe-once_790812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/neil-gaiman-29_brilliant_some-people-have-great-ideas-maybe-once_790812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/neil-gaiman-29_brilliant_some-people-have-great-ideas-maybe-once_790812.jpg) > “Some people have great ideas maybe once or twice in their life, and then they discover electricity or fire or outer space or something. I mean, the kind of brilliant ideas that change the whole world. Some people never have them at all... I get them two or three times a week.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative brilliance is rare, but ordinary ideas can still spark breakthroughs; the speaker experiences frequent modest insights. **In simple terms:** Great ideas are rare; small ideas happen often. Key Takeaway Value everyday ideas while chasing big ones. Themes creativity innovation inspiration Mood hopeful curious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - brainstorming - research - product development Key Concepts genius idea generation Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture frequent small ideas? - When do you pursue a big, risky concept? A Different Perspective Not every idea will change the world, but each can be useful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Brilliant ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant-ideas/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Great idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-idea/) [Great ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Outer space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outer-space/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Since many things we see were once an idea, let us create good ideas today because they will be the realities of tomorrow! When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/since-many-things-we-see-were-once-an-idea-let-us-create-good-ideas/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/the-difficulty-lies-not-in-the-new-ideas-but-in-escaping-from-the-old/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [I was really interested in doing a martial arts movie, but maybe exploring ideas that maybe you wouldn't think to explore in a martial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-stearns/i-was-really-interested-in-doing-a-martial-arts-movie-but-maybe/) [Riley Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-stearns/) > [Maybe philosophy - I love talking about ideas. Or maybe art history. I was thinking about psychology, then I got really afraid because everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/maybe-philosophy-i-love-talking-about-ideas-or-maybe-art-history-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [Just like I described in health care, yeah, somebody comes in, they got new ideas, maybe ideas that are completely opposite of my ideas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/just-like-i-described-in-health-care-yeah-somebody-comes-in-they-got/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think that to be a good artist, you have to have ideas as well as manual skills. It's a blend of the two,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-mcmillen/i-think-that-to-be-a-good-artist-you-have-to-have-ideas-as-well-as/) [Michael C. McMillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-mcmillen/) > [When I'm trying to imagine something, I have a few elements, a few ideas, maybe a certain actor or actress I want to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/when-i-m-trying-to-imagine-something-i-have-a-few-elements-a-few/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [we can't be creative if we refuse to be confused. Change always starts with confusion; cherished interpretations must dissolve to make way for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/we-can-t-be-creative-if-we-refuse-to-be-confused-change-always-starts/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [With God's help, I've not had a drink in nine and a half years. That's my whole story right there. And because of that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/with-god-s-help-i-ve-not-had-a-drink-in-nine-and-a-half-years-that-s/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [Any leader who asks the right questions of the right people has the potential to discover and develop great ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/any-leader-who-asks-the-right-questions-of-the-right-people-has-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I often think of a quote from entrepreneur Jim Rohn: 'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-often-think-of-a-quote-from-entrepreneur-jim-rohn-you-are-the/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Most people who have kids are, "Hey, I want another me. I like me. I'm pretty cool, and I've got really great ideas, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/most-people-who-have-kids-are-hey-i-want-another-me-i-like-me-i-m/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [I do value my work awfully; but in reality only consider this: all this world of ours is nothing but a speck of mildew,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-do-value-my-work-awfully-but-in-reality-only-consider-this-all-this/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Great ideas behave like the Sun. Even in the middle of nowhere, they find people and shine on them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/great-ideas-behave-like-the-sun-even-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-they/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The realization that my problem was one that concerned all men, a problem of living and thinking, suddenly swept over me and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-realization-that-my-problem-was-one-that-concerned-all-men-a/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. 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If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Brilliant quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? 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He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [No matter how brilliant an actor is, there's always a point where they let you down, but that's all part of their journey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hale/no-matter-how-brilliant-an-actor-is-there-s-always-a-point-where-they/) [Amanda Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hale/) > [I enjoy working with Deborah Ann, I think she's brilliant. It's been a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-enjoy-working-with-deborah-ann-i-think-she-s-brilliant-it-s-been-a/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Gravity Falls' didn't just appear overnight - every spooky cave and moss covered tree was created by a team of brilliant artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/gravity-falls-didn-t-just-appear-overnight-every-spooky-cave-and-moss/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. 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