Creativity Quote by Scott Berkun
““Einstein said, “ Imagination is more important than knowledge,” but you’d be hard-pressed to find schools or corporations that invest in people with those priorities. The systems of education and professional life, similar by design, push the idea-finding habits of fun and play to the corners of our minds, training us out of our creativity.[117] We reward conformance of mind, not independent thought, in our systems — from school to college to the workplace to the home — yet we wonder why so few are willing to take creative risks.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Myths of Innovation by Scott Berkun, 2010
Education and workplaces prioritize conformity, stifling imagination and creative risk‑taking.
In simple terms: Systems reward sameness, limiting creative growth.
Key Takeaway
Encourage play and curiosity to foster innovation.
Themes
education
creativity
conformity
risk
innovation
systems
Mood
critical
hopeful
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- classroom design
- corporate training
- product development
- personal growth
Key Concepts
learning theory
organizational culture
creative thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you embed imagination into daily work?
- What incentives can shift focus from conformity to creativity?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched systems is slow and meets resistance.
![“Human beings, who are almost unique [among animals] in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” — Douglas Adams” quote by Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b7c/scott-berkun-12409_ability-to-learn_human-beings-who-are-almost-unique-among_74918.jpg)
![“When I'm the speaker, I know that special moment [just before speaking] is the only time I will have the entire audience's full attention. Unless an alien spaceship crash-lands on stage midway through the talk, the silence before I begin is the most powerful moment I have. What defines how well…” quote by Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/426/scott-berkun-12409_aliens_when-i-m-the-speaker-i-know-that-special_210194.jpg)
