--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, an idea is just an idea. There…" description: "\"You know, an idea is just an idea. There seems to... the kind of epiphanies that you have, like the little sudden bursts of light, they're very small a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/nick-cave-1153_behinds_you-know-an-idea-is-just-an-idea-there-s_2445036.jpg" --- # You know, an idea is just an idea. There seems to... the… ![“You know, an idea is just an idea. There seems to... the kind of epiphanies that you have, like the little sudden bursts of light, they're very small and they're very short and it's the pursuit of the idea that's the important thing. . . . I know a lot of people who have way better ideas than I do…” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/nick-cave-1153_behinds_you-know-an-idea-is-just-an-idea-there-s_2445036.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/nick-cave-1153_behinds_you-know-an-idea-is-just-an-idea-there-s_2445036.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/nick-cave-1153_behinds_you-know-an-idea-is-just-an-idea-there-s_2445036.jpg) > “You know, an idea is just an idea. There seems to... the kind of epiphanies that you have, like the little sudden bursts of light, they're very small and they're very short and it's the pursuit of the idea that's the important thing. . . . I know a lot of people who have way better ideas than I do that-much more frequently than I do that just can't sit down and actually do it. Ideas are such are a little overrated really; it's the work behind the idea that's the important thing.” [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. Ideas are fleeting and abundant, but lasting impact comes from disciplined effort and execution. **In simple terms:** Ideas are cheap; work matters. Key Takeaway Prioritize action over endless brainstorming. Themes creativity discipline productivity Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - writing sessions - project development - personal goals Key Concepts epiphanies execution overrated ideas Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which ideas to act on? - What habits help you move from thought to deed? A Different Perspective Not all ideas are worth pursuing; execution can be constrained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-ideas-520264/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Epiphany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epiphany/) [Idea Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-important-357735/) [Idea Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-kind-520265/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Frequently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-frequently-520263/) [Ideas Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-little-520262/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Overrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overrated/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Actually ideas are everywhere. It's the paperwork, that is, sitting down and thinking them into a coherent story, trying to find just the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-saberhagen/actually-ideas-are-everywhere-it-s-the-paperwork-that-is-sitting-down/) [Fred Saberhagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-saberhagen/) > [Exchange ideas frequently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/exchange-ideas-frequently/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [A copious manner of expression gives strength and weight to our ideas, which frequently make impression upon the mind, as iron does upon solid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-melmoth/a-copious-manner-of-expression-gives-strength-and-weight-to-our-ideas/) [William Melmoth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-melmoth/) > [My poems often start with an idea, some kind of inspiration. I don't expect anything. Every now and then something like "The One Truth"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-schultz/my-poems-often-start-with-an-idea-some-kind-of-inspiration-i-don-t/) [Philip Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-schultz/) > [I'm a very idea-first kind of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-torres/i-m-a-very-idea-first-kind-of-person/) [Julio Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-torres/) > [Working on a new idea is kind of like getting married. Then a new idea comes along and you think, 'Man, I'd really like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/working-on-a-new-idea-is-kind-of-like-getting-married-then-a-new-idea/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [What kind of idea are you? Are you the kind that compromises, does deals, accomodates itself to society, aims to find a niche, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/what-kind-of-idea-are-you-are-you-the-kind-that-compromises-does/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I liked the idea of being the kind of woman who'd go to the Gobi desert pregnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-levy/i-liked-the-idea-of-being-the-kind-of-woman-who-d-go-to-the-gobi/) [Ariel Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-levy/) > [If first of all you have a wrong idea, then it's kind of wasting time. No matter how hard that you try with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/if-first-of-all-you-have-a-wrong-idea-then-it-s-kind-of-wasting-time/) [Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/) > [“Maybe the key is that Big Ideas are Little Ideas but told in Big Ways?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-goldberg-sloan/maybe-the-key-is-that-big-ideas-are-little-ideas-but-told-in-big-ways/) [Holly Goldberg Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-goldberg-sloan/) > [Big ideas are little ideas that no-one killed too soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/big-ideas-are-little-ideas-that-no-one-killed-too-soon/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Like so many men he had found that he had only one or two ideas - that his little collection of pamphlets now in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/like-so-many-men-he-had-found-that-he-had-only-one-or-two-ideas-that/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Let’s set the bar for ideas a little higher than not terrible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sternbergh/let-s-set-the-bar-for-ideas-a-little-higher-than-not-terrible/) [Adam Sternbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sternbergh/) > [You have to work with the ideas and give them a little push.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gramm/you-have-to-work-with-the-ideas-and-give-them-a-little-push/) [Lou Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gramm/) > [But I've got ideas. I keep my little notebook, I've always got that with me. Hopefully there's more stuff than nonsense in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/but-i-ve-got-ideas-i-keep-my-little-notebook-i-ve-always-got-that/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) ## 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 Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) [Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, an idea is just an idea. There seems to... the kind of epiphanies that you have, like the little sudden bursts of light, they're very small and they're very short and it's the pursuit of the idea that's the important thing. . . . I know a lot of people who have way better ideas than I do that-much more frequently than I do that just can't sit down and actually do it. 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