--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Joy is the zest that you get out of using…" description: "\"Joy is the zest that you get out of using your talents, your understanding, the totality of your being, for great aims...That's the kind of feeling tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/rollo-may-1295_aim_joy-is-the-zest-that-you-get-out-of-usin_150272.jpg" --- # Joy is the zest that you get out of using your talents… ![“Joy is the zest that you get out of using your talents, your understanding, the totality of your being, for great aims...That's the kind of feeling that goes with creativity. That's why I say the courage to create. Creation does not come out of simply what you're born with. That must be united…” quote by Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/rollo-may-1295_aim_joy-is-the-zest-that-you-get-out-of-usin_150272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/rollo-may-1295_aim_joy-is-the-zest-that-you-get-out-of-usin_150272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/rollo-may-1295_aim_joy-is-the-zest-that-you-get-out-of-usin_150272.jpg) > “Joy is the zest that you get out of using your talents, your understanding, the totality of your being, for great aims...That's the kind of feeling that goes with creativity. That's why I say the courage to create. Creation does not come out of simply what you're born with. That must be united with your courage, both of which cause anxiety, but also great joy.” [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative joy arises when talent, understanding, and courage combine, despite anxiety, to pursue meaningful goals. **In simple terms:** Joy in creativity needs talent, understanding, and courage. Key Takeaway Cultivate courage to unleash creative potential. Themes creativity joy courage anxiety purpose Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic projects - personal development - educational programs Key Concepts existential psychology humanistic theory Questions to Reflect On - What anxieties limit your creative work? - How can you transform fear into creative energy? A Different Perspective Anxiety may hinder rather than motivate creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Great joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-joy/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Zest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zest/) ## Related quotes > [I've always really been interested in the Pygmalion myth and both what it has to say about creativity and what it has to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-ve-always-really-been-interested-in-the-pygmalion-myth-and-both/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I remain detached and distant, but it is under my eyes and my orders that the work of art must create itself. Then, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-klein/i-remain-detached-and-distant-but-it-is-under-my-eyes-and-my-orders/) [Yves Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-klein/) > [That is, when the mind ceases to create, then there is creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/that-is-when-the-mind-ceases-to-create-then-there-is-creation/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [To live is to express, and to express you have to create. Creation is never merely repetition. To live is to express oneself freely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-live-is-to-express-and-to-express-you-have-to-create-creation-is/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I think living is serious. Living well, accepting yourself, using your talents to the fullest, enjoying yourself, that's all serious and important...But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-think-living-is-serious-living-well-accepting-yourself-using-your/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [What I think we need to do is infuse everyday and every action with the kind of values we hope will be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/what-i-think-we-need-to-do-is-infuse-everyday-and-every-action-with/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Life is a journey. Part of that journey is not just using your talents, but trying to decide what is your gift and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burrus/life-is-a-journey-part-of-that-journey-is-not-just-using-your-talents/) [Daniel Burrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-burrus/) > [Emptiness is a symptom that you are not living creatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/emptiness-is-a-symptom-that-you-are-not-living-creatively/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [“Where does the road goes? Sometimes it is better not to ask this question and take a chance! This kind of courage can create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/where-does-the-road-goes-sometimes-it-is-better-not-to-ask-this/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The future awaits those with the courage to create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/the-future-awaits-those-with-the-courage-to-create-it/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Focus on your goal,trust on your instinct & live with courage.Create inspiring & achieveble goal that fire your imagination to a reality & create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/focus-on-your-goal-trust-on-your-instinct-live-with-courage-create/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [It takes vision and courage to create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-d-young/it-takes-vision-and-courage-to-create/) [Owen D. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-d-young/) > [It takes visions and courage to create. It takes faith and courage to prove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-d-young/it-takes-visions-and-courage-to-create-it-takes-faith-and-courage-to/) [Owen D. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-d-young/) > [“Isn't it amazing that we’ll cause ourselves more pain by thinking about, and avoiding something we’re afraid of, or something we know we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-murphy/isn-t-it-amazing-that-we-ll-cause-ourselves-more-pain-by-thinking/) [James A. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-murphy/) > [“I think it takes much greater courage to create things to be gone than to create things that will remain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christo-vladimirov-javacheff/i-think-it-takes-much-greater-courage-to-create-things-to-be-gone/) Christo Vladimirov Javacheff ## More by Rollo May > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Political freedom is to be cherished indeed. But there is no political freedom that is not indissolubly bound to the inner personal freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/political-freedom-is-to-be-cherished-indeed-but-there-is-no-political/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Joy is the effect which comes when we use our powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/joy-is-the-effect-which-comes-when-we-use-our-powers/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [In religion, it is not the sycophants or those who cling most faithfully to the status quo who are ultimately praised. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/in-religion-it-is-not-the-sycophants-or-those-who-cling-most/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [One of the few blessings of living in an age of anxiety is that we are forced to become aware of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/one-of-the-few-blessings-of-living-in-an-age-of-anxiety-is-that-we/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Intimacy requires courage because risk is inescapable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/intimacy-requires-courage-because-risk-is-inescapable/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Artists do not run away from non-being, but by encountering and wrestling with it, force it to produce being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/artists-do-not-run-away-from-non-being-but-by-encountering-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we do not experience it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/technology-is-the-knack-of-so-arranging-the-world-that-we-do-not/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [By the creative act, we are able to reach beyond our own death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/by-the-creative-act-we-are-able-to-reach-beyond-our-own-death/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [One must have at least a readiness to love the other person, broadly speaking, if one is to be able to understand him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/one-must-have-at-least-a-readiness-to-love-the-other-person-broadly/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Man is the "ethical animal" ethical in potentiality even if, unfortunately, not in actuality. His capacity for ethical judgment like freedom, reason and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/man-is-the-ethical-animal-ethical-in-potentiality-even-if/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Evil, in this system of ethics, is that which tears apart, shuts out the other person, raises barriers, sets people against each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/evil-in-this-system-of-ethics-is-that-which-tears-apart-shuts-out-the/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [We receive love — from our children as well as others — not in proportion to our demands or sacrifices or needs, but roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/we-receive-love-from-our-children-as-well-as-others-not-in-proportion/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/the-opposite-of-courage-in-our-society-is-not-cowardice-it-is/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [The personal freedom to think & feel & speak authentically & to be conscious of so doing is the quality that distinguishes us as human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/the-personal-freedom-to-think-feel-speak-authentically-to-be/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) [Explore all 259 Rollo May quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Joy is the zest that you get out of using your talents, your understanding, the totality of your being, for great aims...That's the kind of feeling that goes with creativity. That's why I say the courage to create. Creation does not come out of simply what you're born with. 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