--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of us don't invent ideas. We take…" description: "\"Most of us don't invent ideas. We take the best ideas from someone else.\" — Sam Walton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/sam-walton-4376_best_most-of-us-don-t-invent-ideas-we-take-th_3098441.jpg" --- # Most of us don't invent ideas. We take the best ideas from… ![“Most of us don't invent ideas. We take the best ideas from someone else.” quote by Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/sam-walton-4376_best_most-of-us-don-t-invent-ideas-we-take-th_3098441.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/sam-walton-4376_best_most-of-us-don-t-invent-ideas-we-take-th_3098441.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/sam-walton-4376_best_most-of-us-don-t-invent-ideas-we-take-th_3098441.jpg) > “Most of us don't invent ideas. We take the best ideas from someone else.” [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas are often borrowed; originality builds on existing concepts rather than inventing from scratch. **In simple terms:** We usually adapt others' ideas. Key Takeaway Build on existing ideas. Themes creativity innovation learning Mood analytical inspirational Type business philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - product development - education - artistic creation Key Concepts knowledge transfer collaboration incremental improvement Questions to Reflect On - What can you add to existing ideas? - How do you credit original sources? A Different Perspective Risk of stagnation if copying without adding value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) ## Related quotes > [I probably have traveled and walked into more variety stores than anybody in America. I am just trying to get ideas, any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-probably-have-traveled-and-walked-into-more-variety-stores-than-2/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [I'm motivated. The spirit hits me and I just keep going and don't stop. The more I play, the more I can invent, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-hampton/i-m-motivated-the-spirit-hits-me-and-i-just-keep-going-and-don-t-stop/) [Lionel Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-hampton/) > [I guess I always have sort of general ideas, but the best stuff would be the stuff that comes to you in the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-guess-i-always-have-sort-of-general-ideas-but-the-best-stuff-would/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [Do not let yourself be contaminated by others' ideas of what is best for you. Cast aside the shackles of destructive thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-greene/do-not-let-yourself-be-contaminated-by-others-ideas-of-what-is-best/) [Kai Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-greene/) > [It is not simply the brightest who have the best ideas; it is those who are best at harvesting ideas from others. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pentland/it-is-not-simply-the-brightest-who-have-the-best-ideas-it-is-those/) Alex Pentland > [I'd still say that visiting the stores and listening to our folks was one of the most valuable uses of my time as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-d-still-say-that-visiting-the-stores-and-listening-to-our-folks-was/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Our best ideas come from clerks and stockboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/our-best-ideas-come-from-clerks-and-stockboys/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Some of the best ideas come sort of out of nowhere and when you're not expecting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/some-of-the-best-ideas-come-sort-of-out-of-nowhere-and-when-you-re/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [My best ideas come to me at unexpected moments, like when I'm reading children's books to my kids (the pictures inspire me), shopping, driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/my-best-ideas-come-to-me-at-unexpected-moments-like-when-i-m-reading/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [“The best ideas outrun me. That’s why I write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/durga-chew-bose/the-best-ideas-outrun-me-that-s-why-i-write/) [Durga Chew-Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/durga-chew-bose/) > [I do not believe that the best ideas come from Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-messam/i-do-not-believe-that-the-best-ideas-come-from-washington/) [Wayne Messam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-messam/) > [Sometimes the best ideas will come in the least inspiring places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-droga/sometimes-the-best-ideas-will-come-in-the-least-inspiring-places/) [David Droga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-droga/) > [Bargaining makes you come up with the best ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/bargaining-makes-you-come-up-with-the-best-ideas/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [All the old fellows stole our best ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-goudy/all-the-old-fellows-stole-our-best-ideas/) [Frederic Goudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-goudy/) > [All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/all-the-best-ideas-come-out-of-the-process-they-come-out-of-the-work/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) ## More by Sam Walton > [It is unhealthy to marinate in your own press clippings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/it-is-unhealthy-to-marinate-in-your-own-press-clippings/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Loosen up, and everybody around you will loosen up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/loosen-up-and-everybody-around-you-will-loosen-up/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [All of us profit from being corrected - if we're corrected in a positive way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/all-of-us-profit-from-being-corrected-if-we-re-corrected-in-a/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [The secret of successful retailing is to give your customers what they want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/the-secret-of-successful-retailing-is-to-give-your-customers-what/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [If I had to single out one element in my life that has made a difference for me, it would be a passion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/if-i-had-to-single-out-one-element-in-my-life-that-has-made-a/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [We're all working together; that's the secret. 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