--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, being an innovator doesn't mean…" description: "\"For me, being an innovator doesn't mean being more intelligent, more rich, it's not a word, it's an action.\" — Ornette Coleman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/ornette-coleman-12578_action_for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-b_2653595.jpg" --- # For me, being an innovator doesn't mean being more… ![“For me, being an innovator doesn't mean being more intelligent, more rich, it's not a word, it's an action.” quote by Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/ornette-coleman-12578_action_for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-b_2653595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/ornette-coleman-12578_action_for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-b_2653595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/ornette-coleman-12578_action_for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-b_2653595.jpg) > “For me, being an innovator doesn't mean being more intelligent, more rich, it's not a word, it's an action.” [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innovation is defined by action, not by intelligence or wealth; it’s about doing. **In simple terms:** Innovation is about doing, not just thinking. Key Takeaway Act to innovate. Themes innovation action identity Mood inspirational assertive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - artistic creation - scientific research Key Concepts creativity agency Questions to Reflect On - What actions define you as an innovator? - How can you act without expertise? A Different Perspective May downplay the role of knowledge and resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Innovator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovator/) [Innovators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovators/) ## Related quotes > [Being an entrepreneur doesn't make you a rich tycoon and being an innovator doesn't mean that you're successful. It just means that you're interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/being-an-entrepreneur-doesn-t-make-you-a-rich-tycoon-and-being-an/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [“Do not ask intelligent rich people what car they driver, but what books they read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/do-not-ask-intelligent-rich-people-what-car-they-driver-but-what/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [“I am an intellectual. This does not mean I am intelligent, but that ideas are more important to me than people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sheehan/i-am-an-intellectual-this-does-not-mean-i-am-intelligent-but-that/) [George Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sheehan/) > [What is it with all of these young, single white women? Overeducated- doesn't mean intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-is-it-with-all-of-these-young-single-white-women-overeducated/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The intelligent poor individual was a much finer observer than the intelligent rich one. The poor individual looks around him at every step, listens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/the-intelligent-poor-individual-was-a-much-finer-observer-than-the/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“Yet in 2012, he returned. Plenty of the speechwriters were livid. The club was the embodiment of everything we had promised to change. Was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-litt/yet-in-2012-he-returned-plenty-of-the-speechwriters-were-livid-the/) [David Litt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-litt/) > [“Rich is my word for someone who can afford to make choices, who has enough resources to do more than merely survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/rich-is-my-word-for-someone-who-can-afford-to-make-choices-who-has/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Sir, money, money, the most charming of all things; money, which will say more in one moment than the most elegant lover can in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/sir-money-money-the-most-charming-of-all-things-money-which-will-say/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-ought-to-be-remembered-that-there-is-nothing-more-difficult-to/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [So, it's a very, you know - maybe we're wrong in - you know, we go around thinking the innovator is the person who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/so-it-s-a-very-you-know-maybe-we-re-wrong-in-you-know-we-go-around/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The definition of art has to shift whenever an innovator appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hoving/the-definition-of-art-has-to-shift-whenever-an-innovator-appears/) [Thomas Hoving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hoving/) > [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/) > [What's the DNA of a marketer? We call it the 4-I's: instigator, implementer, innovator, and integrator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-comstock/what-s-the-dna-of-a-marketer-we-call-it-the-4-i-s-instigator/) [Beth Comstock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-comstock/) > [My father was an innovator. He's the first person who sang and set Rumi's poetry into music 35 years, 40 years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafez-nazeri/my-father-was-an-innovator-he-s-the-first-person-who-sang-and-set/) [Hafez Nazeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafez-nazeri/) > [What counts alone is the innovator, the dissenter, the harbinger of things unheard of, the man who rejects the traditional standards and aims at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/what-counts-alone-is-the-innovator-the-dissenter-the-harbinger-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More by Ornette Coleman > [Jerry Garcia was one of the original American icons. He played naturally and beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/jerry-garcia-was-one-of-the-original-american-icons-he-played/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [That's why I haven't been so anxious. But now, lots of people write and say, 'I want to find out what you're doing.' So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/that-s-why-i-haven-t-been-so-anxious-but-now-lots-of-people-write-and/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [No one has to learn to spell to talk, right? You see a little kid holding a conversation with an adult. He probably doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/no-one-has-to-learn-to-spell-to-talk-right-you-see-a-little-kid/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-ve-never-had-a-relationship-with-a-record-executive-i-always-went/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Music has many uses and I think the most perfected use that music has is one of a healing quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/music-has-many-uses-and-i-think-the-most-perfected-use-that-music-has/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Musicians tell me, if what I'm doing is right, they should never have gone to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/musicians-tell-me-if-what-i-m-doing-is-right-they-should-never-have/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I'm interested in music, not in my image. If someone plays something fantastic, that I could never have thought of, it makes me happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-m-interested-in-music-not-in-my-image-if-someone-plays-something/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [When I have them working together, it's like a beautiful kaleidoscope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/when-i-have-them-working-together-it-s-like-a-beautiful-kaleidoscope/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/it-was-when-i-found-out-i-could-make-mistakes-that-i-knew-i-was-on-to/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [After I left Texas and went to California, I had a hard time getting anyone to play anything that I was writing, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/after-i-left-texas-and-went-to-california-i-had-a-hard-time-getting/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I think that those elements - light and sound - are beyond democratic. They're into the creative part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-think-that-those-elements-light-and-sound-are-beyond-democratic/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I don't really live like a musician myself. I think music is just something that I do, but I'd like to be doing lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-don-t-really-live-like-a-musician-myself-i-think-music-is-just/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it-but-first-you-have-to-do-it/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I remember once I read a book on mental illness and there was a nurse that had gotten sick. Do you know what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-remember-once-i-read-a-book-on-mental-illness-and-there-was-a-nurse/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Most of my relationships have been like that - with record companies. I've never had a legitimate business relationship with a company. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/most-of-my-relationships-have-been-like-that-with-record-companies-i/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) [Explore all 54 Ornette Coleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For me, being an innovator doesn't mean being more intelligent, more rich, it's not a word, it's an action.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ornette Coleman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-being-more-intelligent-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-being-more-intelligent-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/ornette-coleman-12578_action_for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-b_2653595.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/ornette-coleman-12578_action_for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-b_2653595.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/ornette-coleman-12578_action_for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-b_2653595.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For me, being an innovator doesn't mean being more intelligent, more rich, it's not a word, it's an action.” — Ornette Coleman", "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": "Ornette Coleman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For me, being an innovator doesn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-being-more-intelligent-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/for-me-being-an-innovator-doesn-t-mean-being-more-intelligent-more/#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 } } ] } ```