--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people wait for the muse to turn up…" description: "\"Most people wait for the muse to turn up. That's terribly unreliable. I have to sit down and pursue the muse by attempting to work.\" — Nick Cave" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/nick-cave-1153_attempting_most-people-wait-for-the-muse-to-turn-up_838331.jpg" --- # Most people wait for the muse to turn up. That's terribly… ![“Most people wait for the muse to turn up. That's terribly unreliable. I have to sit down and pursue the muse by attempting to work.” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/nick-cave-1153_attempting_most-people-wait-for-the-muse-to-turn-up_838331.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/nick-cave-1153_attempting_most-people-wait-for-the-muse-to-turn-up_838331.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/nick-cave-1153_attempting_most-people-wait-for-the-muse-to-turn-up_838331.jpg) > “Most people wait for the muse to turn up. That's terribly unreliable. I have to sit down and pursue the muse by attempting to work.” [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Waiting for inspiration is unreliable; one must actively create work to summon the muse. **In simple terms:** Don't wait for ideas, work to generate them. Key Takeaway Take initiative to create. Themes creativity discipline motivation Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - writing - music composition - entrepreneurship - daily practice Key Concepts creative process self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What habits help you summon ideas? - How do you balance waiting and working? A Different Perspective Creative blocks can persist despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muse/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [People who observe no limits in attempting to get work done aren't nearly as smart as they think. Hard work can be done by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/people-who-observe-no-limits-in-attempting-to-get-work-done-aren-t/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [I think I approach all of my writing in the same way. I mean, it's my job, and I'm committed to it. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-cooper/i-think-i-approach-all-of-my-writing-in-the-same-way-i-mean-it-s-my/) [T Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-cooper/) > [Don't wait for the muse. As I've said, he's a hardheaded guy who's not susceptible to a lot of creative fluttering. This isn't the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/don-t-wait-for-the-muse-as-i-ve-said-he-s-a-hardheaded-guy-who-s-not/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I'm not a big fan of inspiration. I'm too old to sit and wait for the muse to give me a little kiss... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-inspiration-i-m-too-old-to-sit-and-wait-for-the/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [Sometimes I just don't have time to wait for the muse to come, so I've developed things to force the muse to come back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/sometimes-i-just-don-t-have-time-to-wait-for-the-muse-to-come-so-i-ve/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [Don't wait for the muse. She has a lousy work ethic. Writers just write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/don-t-wait-for-the-muse-she-has-a-lousy-work-ethic-writers-just-write/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [One reason I don't suffer Writer's Block is that I don't wait on the muse, I summon it at need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/one-reason-i-don-t-suffer-writer-s-block-is-that-i-don-t-wait-on-the/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [A writer needs to write, period. He or she can't wait for the muse, shouldn't need peace and quiet, and isn't entitled to perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/a-writer-needs-to-write-period-he-or-she-can-t-wait-for-the-muse/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [You always need that spark of imagination. Sometimes I'm midway through a book before it happens. However, I don't wait for the muse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/you-always-need-that-spark-of-imagination-sometimes-i-m-midway/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I learned to produce whether I wanted to or not. It would be easy to say oh, I have writer's block, oh, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-learned-to-produce-whether-i-wanted-to-or-not-it-would-be-easy-to/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [You're going to be unemployed if you really think you just have to sit around and wait for the muse to land on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-re-going-to-be-unemployed-if-you-really-think-you-just-have-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Don't wait for the muse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/don-t-wait-for-the-muse/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Rehearsals and screening rooms are often unreliable because they can't provide the chemistry between an audience and what appears on the stage or screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/rehearsals-and-screening-rooms-are-often-unreliable-because-they-can/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [“I argue that the Jesus of the Gospels is essentially a myth. The Gospels are largely fiction. They were created around the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-elleg-rd/i-argue-that-the-jesus-of-the-gospels-is-essentially-a-myth-the/) Alvar Ellegård > [I don't like working all hours of the night and having an unreliable working pattern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-don-t-like-working-all-hours-of-the-night-and-having-an-unreliable/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) ## More by Nick Cave > [Texting is apocalyptic on some level. It's a reduction of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/texting-is-apocalyptic-on-some-level-it-s-a-reduction-of-things/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“And I know why our friendship must be kept a secret. Or they will kill You like they killed You in the Bible. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/and-i-know-why-our-friendship-must-be-kept-a-secret-or-they-will-kill/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I want to write songs that are so sad, the kind of sad where you take someone's little finger and break it in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-want-to-write-songs-that-are-so-sad-the-kind-of-sad-where-you-take/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“Through these days Bunny made increasingly frequent and protracted visits to the bathroom, beating off with a single-minded savagery intense even by Bunny's standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/through-these-days-bunny-made-increasingly-frequent-and-protracted/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Personally I find the story of Christ incredibly moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/personally-i-find-the-story-of-christ-incredibly-moving/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [ That's what we \[outsiders\] feel America is really about - the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right - when it's probably something… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/that-s-what-we-outsiders-feel-america-is-really-about-the-kind-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-relationship-with-my-muse-is-a-delicate-one-at-the-best-of-times/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I'm kind of old-school and love nothing more than sitting, opening a book, and reading it. But I also love listening to audio books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-m-kind-of-old-school-and-love-nothing-more-than-sitting-opening-a/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Early on I realized when you write a song about someone, it flatters them on some level, and gives you a lot of room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/early-on-i-realized-when-you-write-a-song-about-someone-it-flatters/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [My father was a teacher and my mother also worked in the school, so the family has a background in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-father-was-a-teacher-and-my-mother-also-worked-in-the-school-so/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I think it's an essential fact for any performer or artist to fail as poignantly as they can succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-think-it-s-an-essential-fact-for-any-performer-or-artist-to-fail-as/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [To my undying shame, I do read reviews. I don't read them all, but I like to get some kind of idea how things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/to-my-undying-shame-i-do-read-reviews-i-don-t-read-them-all-but-i/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Brother, be a brother, fill this tiny cup of mine. And please, sir, make it whiskey: I have no head for wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/brother-be-a-brother-fill-this-tiny-cup-of-mine-and-please-sir-make/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [When you've been initiated, you can stand in the world differently. And I think it is up to all of us, we can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/when-you-ve-been-initiated-you-can-stand-in-the-world-differently-and/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Polly Jean, I love you. I love the texture of your skin, the taste of your saliva, the softness of your ears. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/polly-jean-i-love-you-i-love-the-texture-of-your-skin-the-taste-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) [Explore all 280 Nick Cave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most people wait for the muse to turn up. That's terribly unreliable. 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