--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot afford to be idle. To act on a…" description: "\"We cannot afford to be idle. To act on a bad idea is better than to not act at all. Because the worth of the idea never becomes apparent until you do i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/nick-cave-1153_bad-idea_we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-to-act-on-a_2802712.jpg" --- # We cannot afford to be idle. To act on a bad idea is… ![“We cannot afford to be idle. To act on a bad idea is better than to not act at all. Because the worth of the idea never becomes apparent until you do it. Sometimes this idea can be the smallest thing in the world, a little flame that you hunch over and cup with your hand, and pray will not be…” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/nick-cave-1153_bad-idea_we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-to-act-on-a_2802712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/nick-cave-1153_bad-idea_we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-to-act-on-a_2802712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/nick-cave-1153_bad-idea_we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-to-act-on-a_2802712.jpg) > “We cannot afford to be idle. To act on a bad idea is better than to not act at all. Because the worth of the idea never becomes apparent until you do it. Sometimes this idea can be the smallest thing in the world, a little flame that you hunch over and cup with your hand, and pray will not be extinguished by all the storm that howls about it. If you could hold onto that flame, great things could construct around it, that are massive and powerful and world changing, all held up by the tiniest of ideas.” [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. Acting on even a small, imperfect idea is better than doing nothing, because execution reveals its value and can spark larger change. **In simple terms:** Take action on ideas, even if they seem tiny or flawed. Key Takeaway Act, don’t wait. Themes initiative risk creativity Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - starting a project - testing a hypothesis - launching a startup - creative brainstorming - personal habit formation Key Concepts innovation emergent potential Questions to Reflect On - What small idea could you nurture today? - How do you assess when to act versus wait? A Different Perspective Ideas may fail or be misdirected; not all actions lead to positive outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afford Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford-idle-525836/) [Bad idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-idea/) [Bad ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-ideas/) [Constructs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constructs/) [Cups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cups/) [Flames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flames/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Howl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/howl/) [Hunches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunches/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Idea Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-better-525835/) [Idea Smallest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-smallest-3460770/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) [Idle Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle-act-525838/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Massive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massive/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Smallest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smallest/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storm/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [All of our days are numbered. We cannot afford to be idle. To act on a bad idea is better than to not act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/all-of-our-days-are-numbered-we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-to-act-on-a/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [We should invest in people not ideas. A good idea is often destroyed by bad people and good people can always make a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/we-should-invest-in-people-not-ideas-a-good-idea-is-often-destroyed/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [It's not true that you should first think up an idea for a better world and only then "put it into practice," but, rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/it-s-not-true-that-you-should-first-think-up-an-idea-for-a-better/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Someone is out there looking to put you out of business. Someone is out there who thinks they have a better idea than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/someone-is-out-there-looking-to-put-you-out-of-business-someone-is/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [The more hooks an idea has, the better it will cling to memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/the-more-hooks-an-idea-has-the-better-it-will-cling-to-memory/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [There's no reason to assume that my idea of what's better would really be better. I resent it when other people try to inflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/there-s-no-reason-to-assume-that-my-idea-of-what-s-better-would/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [People are either funny or they're not, and you can't teach that - but you can teach people to work together to make an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/people-are-either-funny-or-they-re-not-and-you-can-t-teach-that-but/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [“Remember this when you're struggling for a big idea. You're much better off scratching for a small one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/remember-this-when-you-re-struggling-for-a-big-idea-you-re-much/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [If you're advertising on Facebook, the work you're doing should be made better by being on Facebook. You can't just be repurposing old TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-droga/if-you-re-advertising-on-facebook-the-work-you-re-doing-should-be/) [David Droga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-droga/) > [We talked a lot with the musician. And for now there are few options, and I give him few weeks to come and surprise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-besson/we-talked-a-lot-with-the-musician-and-for-now-there-are-few-options/) [Luc Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-besson/) > [It's a simple idea: We all do better when we work together and invest in our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/it-s-a-simple-idea-we-all-do-better-when-we-work-together-and-invest/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [“It's like the idea of him is better than the him of him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-s-like-the-idea-of-him-is-better-than-the-him-of-him/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [You have this idea that you'd better keep working otherwise people will forget. And that was dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/you-have-this-idea-that-you-d-better-keep-working-otherwise-people/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [If for instance, in a board meeting, if you have an idea, it better be a good idea, or you're not going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/if-for-instance-in-a-board-meeting-if-you-have-an-idea-it-better-be-a/) [Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/) > [Acting on a good idea is better than just having a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-half/acting-on-a-good-idea-is-better-than-just-having-a-good-idea/) [Robert Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-half/) ## 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 Bad idea quotes > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [One thing I know is that it is a bad idea to marry someone who had bad parents. If they hated their mother, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/one-thing-i-know-is-that-it-is-a-bad-idea-to-marry-someone-who-had/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [Government likes committees... a lot. Committees kill all the really good ideas and generally all the really bad ideas. They produce middle-ground mush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/government-likes-committees-a-lot-committees-kill-all-the-really-good/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [It's not a bad idea to call this Cthulhuism & Yog-Sothothery of mine "The Mythology of Hastur" - although it was really from Machen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/it-s-not-a-bad-idea-to-call-this-cthulhuism-yog-sothothery-of-mine/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [More than any other personality trait, my mother seemed to be ruled by anger and sadness. She seemed to hate being a mother. Watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrill-markoe/more-than-any-other-personality-trait-my-mother-seemed-to-be-ruled-by/) [Merrill Markoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrill-markoe/) > [“Sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to inflict my rantings on you, even though we are destined to spend the rest of our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/sorry-he-apologized-i-didn-t-mean-to-inflict-my-rantings-on-you-even/) [connie willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [“Jesus. Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, Phoenix, L.A., and Seattle, plus two small towns she'd never heard of in the Gulf Coast region. The unit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-hooper/jesus-chicago-kansas-city-denver-phoenix-l-a-and-seattle-plus-two/) [Kay Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-hooper/) > [“Civilization is an experiment, a very recent way of life in the human career, and it has a habit of walking into what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-wright/civilization-is-an-experiment-a-very-recent-way-of-life-in-the-human/) [Ronald Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-wright/) > [Idea-Advocacy Matrix highlights a couple of things: that good ideas need to be "sold" if they are ever going to see the light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/idea-advocacy-matrix-highlights-a-couple-of-things-that-good-ideas/) [John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/) > [“It is not a bad idea to get into the habbit of writing one's thoughts. It saves one having to bother anyone else with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-colegate/it-is-not-a-bad-idea-to-get-into-the-habbit-of-writing-one-s-thoughts/) [Isabel Colegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-colegate/) > [“Medical research has revealed that in about one-tenth of the population, the liver processes alcohol differently, releasing a chemical messenger that creates the craving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaylie-jones/medical-research-has-revealed-that-in-about-one-tenth-of-the/) [Kaylie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaylie-jones/) > [“Sometimes I have good ideas, sometimes I have bad ideas and sometimes I have colossally bad ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-cellier/sometimes-i-have-good-ideas-sometimes-i-have-bad-ideas-and-sometimes/) [Melanie Cellier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-cellier/) > [I have done conferences explaining that cloud is a bad idea. It's putting all your eggs in one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-demon-calce/i-have-done-conferences-explaining-that-cloud-is-a-bad-idea-it-s/) [Michael Demon Calce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-demon-calce/) > [Minimum sales prices for alcohol are a startlingly bad idea. As with excise duties, the effects are regressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/minimum-sales-prices-for-alcohol-are-a-startlingly-bad-idea-as-with/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) [Browse all 550 Bad idea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-idea/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We cannot afford to be idle. To act on a bad idea is better than to not act at all. Because the worth of the idea never becomes apparent until you do it. 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