--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First forget inspiration. Habit is more…" description: "\"First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/octavia-butler-8606_brilliant_first-forget-inspiration-habit-is-more-d_34129.jpg" --- # First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit… ![“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice.” quote by Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/octavia-butler-8606_brilliant_first-forget-inspiration-habit-is-more-d_34129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/octavia-butler-8606_brilliant_first-forget-inspiration-habit-is-more-d_34129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d52/octavia-butler-8606_brilliant_first-forget-inspiration-habit-is-more-d_34129.jpg) > “First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is persistence in practice.” [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Habit provides reliable, continuous effort that outlasts fleeting inspiration, ensuring completion and refinement of work. **In simple terms:** Habit sustains effort beyond inspiration. Key Takeaway Consistency beats occasional bursts. Themes discipline productivity creativity perseverance self‑efficacy Mood determined steady focused Type advice motivational philosophical When to use this quote - writing a novel - learning a new skill - maintaining a fitness routine - daily journaling - project management Key Concepts habit formation motivation workflow craftsmanship Practical Applications - Establishing a writing schedule - Creating a habit tracker for skill practice Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn inspiration into a habit? - What routines could replace reliance on motivation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Dependable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependable/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habit Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-persistence-435782/) [Habit Sustain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-sustain-435780/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspiration Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration-habit-435779/) [Inspired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/) [Inspired Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired-habit-435781/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Polish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polish/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/first-forget-inspiration-habit-is-more-dependable-habit-will-sustain-2/) [Octavia E. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-e-butler/) > [Forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/forget-inspiration-habit-is-more-dependable/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Your persistence is, in fact, the true measure of your belief in yourself and your ability to succeed. Each time that you persist in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/your-persistence-is-in-fact-the-true-measure-of-your-belief-in/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The habit of persistence is the habit of victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-kaufman/the-habit-of-persistence-is-the-habit-of-victory/) [Herbert Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-kaufman/) > [I therefore took this opportunity and also began to consider the possibility that the Earth moved. Although it seemed an absurd opinion, nevertheless, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/i-therefore-took-this-opportunity-and-also-began-to-consider-the/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [Ain't no glory made from being dependable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esi-edugyan/ain-t-no-glory-made-from-being-dependable/) [Esi Edugyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esi-edugyan/) > [“My Macbook is my new boyfriend, except that he's dependable and meets all my demands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-zafra/my-macbook-is-my-new-boyfriend-except-that-he-s-dependable-and-meets/) [Jessica Zafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-zafra/) > [In the East, we have developed a science: if you cannot find a soul mate, you can create one. And that science is Tantra.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/in-the-east-we-have-developed-a-science-if-you-cannot-find-a-soul/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Do what you have to do... before you do what you want to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-cureton/do-what-you-have-to-do-before-you-do-what-you-want-to-do/) [Katrina Cureton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-cureton/) > [I wonder if being dependable is actually a bit of a downfall...I feel like I've been taken for granted by some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wonder-if-being-dependable-is-actually-a-bit-of-a-downfall-i-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a world gone bad, a bear - even a bear standing on its head - is a comforting, uncomplicated, dependable hunk of sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/in-a-world-gone-bad-a-bear-even-a-bear-standing-on-its-head-is-a/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [“Dependable men can be relied upon to keep away when things are going well, but will come to your aid without fail when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-bennett/dependable-men-can-be-relied-upon-to-keep-away-when-things-are-going/) [Alexander Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-bennett/) > [Being dependable is one of the greatest attributes you can have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-dependable-is-one-of-the-greatest-attributes-you-can-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The specific goals we set for ourselves are almost always subsidiary to our long range intentions. A good parent, a good neighbour, a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/the-specific-goals-we-set-for-ourselves-are-almost-always-subsidiary/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [In war and in peace, in prosperity and times of economic hardship, America has no better friend or more dependable ally than the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-susman/in-war-and-in-peace-in-prosperity-and-times-of-economic-hardship/) [Louis Susman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-susman/) ## More by Octavia Butler > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Life is getting better, but that won't stop a war if politicians and business people decide it's to their advantage to have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/life-is-getting-better-but-that-won-t-stop-a-war-if-politicians-and/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I talked to members of my family, and did some personal research that didn't really have anything to do with the time and place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/i-talked-to-members-of-my-family-and-did-some-personal-research-that/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Belief initiates and guides action - or it does nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/belief-initiates-and-guides-action-or-it-does-nothing/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Ignorance Protects itself, And protected, Ignorance grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/ignorance-protects-itself-and-protected-ignorance-grows/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [But my problem with fantasy, and horror, and related genres, is that sometimes the problems are illogical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/but-my-problem-with-fantasy-and-horror-and-related-genres-is-that/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [“In order to rise From its own ashes A phoenix First Must Burn. Earthseed: The Books of the Living Lauren Oya Olamina”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/in-order-to-rise-from-its-own-ashes-a-phoenix-first-must-burn/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I'm a fifty-three-year-old writer who can remember being a ten-year-old writer and who expects someday to be an eighty-year-old writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/i-m-a-fifty-three-year-old-writer-who-can-remember-being-a-ten-year/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I'm me, and I'm here, and I'm writing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/i-m-me-and-i-m-here-and-i-m-writing/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Most of what I do is science fiction. Some of the things I do are fantasy. I don't like the labels, they're marketing tools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/most-of-what-i-do-is-science-fiction-some-of-the-things-i-do-are/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [The only black people you found were occasional characters or characters who were so feeble-witted that they couldn't manage anything, anyway. I wrote myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-only-black-people-you-found-were-occasional-characters-or/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [He was like me - a kindred spirit crazy enough to keep on trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/he-was-like-me-a-kindred-spirit-crazy-enough-to-keep-on-trying/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/to-be-led-by-a-fool-is-to-be-led-by-the-opportunists-who-control-the/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Helpless lust and unreasoning anxiety were just part of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/helpless-lust-and-unreasoning-anxiety-were-just-part-of-growing-up/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [Change is the one unavoidable, irresistible, ongoing reality of the universe. To us, that makes it the most powerful reality, and just another word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/change-is-the-one-unavoidable-irresistible-ongoing-reality-of-the/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) [Explore all 79 Octavia Butler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) ## 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. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' is a movie that I just find flawless. Jack Nicholson... I just saw 'The Shining' again the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/one-flew-over-the-cuckoo-s-nest-is-a-movie-that-i-just-find-flawless/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) > [“You deicde, and you make our night what you want. Brilliant and ours. Stupid and theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-phillips/you-deicde-and-you-make-our-night-what-you-want-brilliant-and-ours/) [Arthur Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-phillips/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. 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He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/) [Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/) [Browse all 2,403 Brilliant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won't. 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