--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As soon as things get difficult, I walk…" description: "\"“As soon as things get difficult, I walk away. That’s the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you. If you try t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/ray-bradbury-75_cats_as-soon-as-things-get-difficult-i-walk-a_2520211.jpg" --- # As soon as things get difficult, I walk away. That’s the… ![“As soon as things get difficult, I walk away. That’s the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you. If you try to approach a cat and pick it up, hell, it won’t let you do it. You’ve got to say, “Well, to hell with you.” And the cat says, “Wait a minute. He’s…” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/ray-bradbury-75_cats_as-soon-as-things-get-difficult-i-walk-a_2520211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/ray-bradbury-75_cats_as-soon-as-things-get-difficult-i-walk-a_2520211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/ray-bradbury-75_cats_as-soon-as-things-get-difficult-i-walk-a_2520211.jpg) > ““As soon as things get difficult, I walk away. That’s the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you. If you try to approach a cat and pick it up, hell, it won’t let you do it. You’ve got to say, “Well, to hell with you.” And the cat says, “Wait a minute. He’s not behaving the way most humans do.” Then the cat follows you out of curiosity: “Well, what’s wrong with you that you don’t love me?” Well, that’s what an idea is. See? You just say, “Well, hell, I don’t need depression. I don’t need worry. I don’t need to push.” The ideas will follow me. When they’re off-guard, and ready to be born, I’ll turn around and grab them. 1982”” [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creativity thrives when you let ideas come freely, not forcing them, and you approach them with playful defiance. **In simple terms:** Ideas follow when you stop chasing them. Key Takeaway Relax, observe, then capture ideas. Themes creativity playfulness patience mindset Mood curious determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - brainstorming - writing - artistic blocks - idea generation Key Concepts psychology of inspiration creative flow Questions to Reflect On - What habits help you let ideas arise? - How do you balance effort and ease? A Different Perspective Ideas may still resist if underlying anxiety isn’t addressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-cat-1242528/) [Cat Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-says-450983/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Ideas Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-follow-533294/) [Like Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-cats-234876/) ## Related quotes > [“That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you. If you try to approach a cat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you-2/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. 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You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I liked Cats as a kid, now its hard to say. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you. If you try to approach a cat and pick it up, hell, it won’t let you do it. You’ve got to say, “Well, to hell with you.” And the cat says, “Wait a minute. He’s not behaving the way most humans do.” Then the cat follows you out of curiosity: “Well, what’s wrong with you that you don’t love me?” Well, that’s what an idea is. See? You just say, “Well, hell, I don’t need depression. I don’t need worry. I don’t need to push.” The ideas will follow me. 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