---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody believes in innovation until…"
description: "\"Everybody believes in innovation until they see it. Then they think, 'Oh, no; that'll never work. It's too different.'\" — Nolan Bushnell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/nolan-bushnell-5525_believe_everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-t_2134767.png"
---

#  Everybody believes in innovation until they see it. Then…

![“Everybody believes in innovation until they see it. Then they think, 'Oh, no; that'll never work. It's too different.'” quote by Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/nolan-bushnell-5525_believe_everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-t_2134767.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/nolan-bushnell-5525_believe_everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-t_2134767.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/nolan-bushnell-5525_believe_everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-t_2134767.png)

> “Everybody believes in innovation until they see it. Then they think, 'Oh, no; that'll never work. It's too different.'”

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People support innovation in theory but resist when it challenges familiar norms, fearing disruption.

**In simple terms:** Innovation is praised until it feels too different.

Key Takeaway

Embrace change and test new ideas.

Themes

innovation resistance change

Mood

cautious optimistic

Type

business psychological

When to use this quote

- product launches
- technology rollouts
- market entry strategies

Key Concepts

psychology of adoption risk perception

Questions to Reflect On

- What strategies reduce fear of new technology?
- How can innovators build trust early?

A Different Perspective

People may reject beneficial innovations due to fear of the unknown.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believes Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believes-innovation-4416834/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Everybody Believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody-believes-244165/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Innovation Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation-think-661695/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-different/) [Working it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-it/)

## Related quotes

> [There is a big push that we all are engaged in, in wanting to have the newest in innovation - and I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-viola/there-is-a-big-push-that-we-all-are-engaged-in-in-wanting-to-have-the/)

[Bill Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-viola/)

> [We think Medicare Advantage is a key part of healthcare and is bringing some of the innovation - I think a lot of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brady/we-think-medicare-advantage-is-a-key-part-of-healthcare-and-is/)

[Kevin Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brady/)

> [When you are only one vendor, there is a very low rate of innovation. You think the old architecture is just fine, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-levine/when-you-are-only-one-vendor-there-is-a-very-low-rate-of-innovation/)

[Peter Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-levine/)

> [“The reason Apple resonates with people is that there’s a deep current of humanity in our innovation. I think great artists and great engineers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/the-reason-apple-resonates-with-people-is-that-there-s-a-deep-current/)

[Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/)

> [At the very core of RIM is the innovation. We always think ahead. We always think forward. We sometimes think the unthinkable. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorsten-heins/at-the-very-core-of-rim-is-the-innovation-we-always-think-ahead-we/)

[Thorsten Heins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorsten-heins/)

> [The beauty industry is always led by innovation. When you think about over the past three or four years, some of the best innovation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-horowitz/the-beauty-industry-is-always-led-by-innovation-when-you-think-about/)

[Bradley Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-horowitz/)

> [Don’t think innovation, think usefulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/don-t-think-innovation-think-usefulness/)

[Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/)

> [In the same way that you're driven in your business to keep innovating - Facebook is a wonderful example of constant innovation - think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/in-the-same-way-that-you-re-driven-in-your-business-to-keep/)

[Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/)

> [The secret of innovation is to see what all see but think what none think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-secret-of-innovation-is-to-see-what-all-see-but-think-what-none/)

[Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/)

> [“When everybody uses the same oracle, and everybody believes the oracle, the oracle turns into a sovereign. So Waze must think for us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/when-everybody-uses-the-same-oracle-and-everybody-believes-the-oracle/)

[Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/)

> [Dollar bills have absolutely no value except in our collective imagination, but everybody believes in the dollar bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/dollar-bills-have-absolutely-no-value-except-in-our-collective/)

[Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/)

> [Nothing should be taken for granted, even if everybody believes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/nothing-should-be-taken-for-granted-even-if-everybody-believes-it/)

[Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/)

> [You know, everybody believes in free speech until you start questioning them about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/you-know-everybody-believes-in-free-speech-until-you-start/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [It is easier to argue that something nobody believes in actually exists than it is to argue that something everybody believes in is unreal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/it-is-easier-to-argue-that-something-nobody-believes-in-actually/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [ I think what everybody believes and agrees with, and to be frank myself, is that the current approach \[to the drug trade\] is not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-think-what-everybody-believes-and-agrees-with-and-to-be-frank/)

[Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/)

## More by Nolan Bushnell

> [Some of the best projects to ever come out of Atari or Chuck E. Cheese's were from high school dropouts, college dropouts. One guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/some-of-the-best-projects-to-ever-come-out-of-atari-or-chuck-e-cheese/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [I guess I'd like to be known for being an innovator, fostering creativity, thinking outside the box. You know, keeping people playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-guess-i-d-like-to-be-known-for-being-an-innovator-fostering/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [I've always been a tech-head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-ve-always-been-a-tech-head/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [In 1980, Atari was bringing in around two billion dollars in revenue and Chuck E. Cheese's some five hundred million. I still didn't feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/in-1980-atari-was-bringing-in-around-two-billion-dollars-in-revenue/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [I believe that in games, when you're talking about pitting my wits and my brain against your wits and your brain, that simplicity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-believe-that-in-games-when-you-re-talking-about-pitting-my-wits-and/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [The subtle generational cues that make one thing cool and another uncool aren't always obvious to a parent. My children are my dinner-table sounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/the-subtle-generational-cues-that-make-one-thing-cool-and-another/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [The truly creative people tend to be outliers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/the-truly-creative-people-tend-to-be-outliers/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [I'm a big believer in the Wii. I love the physicality of the Wii controller, and how you can get the feeling of throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-m-a-big-believer-in-the-wii-i-love-the-physicality-of-the-wii/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [Women were very, very good at 'Pong'. It was part of the dating scene. The number of people who told me they met their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/women-were-very-very-good-at-pong-it-was-part-of-the-dating-scene-the/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [Learning ballroom dancing is great for your brain. But it only works for three to six months. After that, you've got all the benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/learning-ballroom-dancing-is-great-for-your-brain-but-it-only-works/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [Walk to work, even if it's four miles. Ride a bike to work. Drive a different way. On your way there, try to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/walk-to-work-even-if-it-s-four-miles-ride-a-bike-to-work-drive-a/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [Hire for passion and intensity; there is training for everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/hire-for-passion-and-intensity-there-is-training-for-everything-else/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [When I was running Atari, violence against humanoid figures was not allowed. We'd let you shoot at a tank... but we drew the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/when-i-was-running-atari-violence-against-humanoid-figures-was-not/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [You wanna build your IQ higher in the next two years? Be uncomfortable. That means, learn something where you have a beginner's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/you-wanna-build-your-iq-higher-in-the-next-two-years-be-uncomfortable/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

> [People hate to and will not read instructions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/people-hate-to-and-will-not-read-instructions/)

[Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

[Explore all 100 Nolan Bushnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [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/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

[Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Everybody believes in innovation until they see it. Then they think, 'Oh, no; that'll never work. It's too different.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nolan Bushnell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-they-see-it-then-they-think-oh/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-they-see-it-then-they-think-oh/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/nolan-bushnell-5525_believe_everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-t_2134767.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/nolan-bushnell-5525_believe_everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-t_2134767.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef3/nolan-bushnell-5525_believe_everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-t_2134767.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Everybody believes in innovation until they see it. Then they think, 'Oh, no; that'll never work. It's too…” — Nolan Bushnell",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Nolan Bushnell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Everybody believes in innovation until they...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-they-see-it-then-they-think-oh/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-they-see-it-then-they-think-oh/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
