--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art is the act of navigating without a map." description: "\"Art is the act of navigating without a map.\" — Seth Godin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/seth-godin-152_art_art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-m_1376397.png" --- # Art is the act of navigating without a map. ![“Art is the act of navigating without a map.” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/seth-godin-152_art_art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-m_1376397.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/seth-godin-152_art_art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-m_1376397.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/seth-godin-152_art_art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-m_1376397.png) > “Art is the act of navigating without a map.” [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creativity involves exploring unknown territories without predefined plans. **In simple terms:** Create by navigating without a map. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in creation. Themes creativity exploration uncertainty Mood inspirational experimental Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - artistic projects - problem solving Key Concepts design thinking innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle ambiguity? - What tools help you navigate creatively? A Different Perspective Lack of structure may cause confusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Navigating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-navigating-4755499/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-is/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Maps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maps/) [Navigating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navigating-1442824/) [Navigating Map](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navigating-map-1442821/) ## Related quotes > [Here's the truth you have to wrestle with: the reason that art (writing, engaging, leading, all of it) is valuable is precisely why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/here-s-the-truth-you-have-to-wrestle-with-the-reason-that-art-writing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The reason that art (writing, engaging, and all of it) is valuable is precisely why I cant tell you how to do it. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhatsprincess/the-reason-that-art-writing-engaging-and-all-of-it-is-valuable-is/) [ZhatsPrincess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhatsprincess/) > [“Maybe, rather than crying out at the waves, I could begin navigating them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/maybe-rather-than-crying-out-at-the-waves-i-could-begin-navigating/) [Guideposts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guideposts/) > [I spent my life navigating systems built upon me - a black child in America - not making it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/i-spent-my-life-navigating-systems-built-upon-me-a-black-child-in/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [“Man is adept at navigating the globe and beyond - yet doubt finding his own destiny”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gino-norris/man-is-adept-at-navigating-the-globe-and-beyond-yet-doubt-finding-his/) [Gino Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gino-norris/) > [“With regard to navigating relationship's highways and bi-ways - avoid changing lanes without first giving a signal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/with-regard-to-navigating-relationship-s-highways-and-bi-ways-avoid/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [Just like navigating in the open sea, triangulating the information you collect from media with your doctor's advice and some common sense will help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/just-like-navigating-in-the-open-sea-triangulating-the-information/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [“Sekarang dunia tidak lagi menjadi dunia dua kutub, maka istilah kita sebut, navigating in turbulence water. Ada badai, ada topan, banyak karang, dan ini,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sbyudhoyono/sekarang-dunia-tidak-lagi-menjadi-dunia-dua-kutub-maka-istilah-kita/) [SBYudhoyono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sbyudhoyono/) > [Try this experiment, closing your eyes and navigating with your ears. It's eerie because walls, you can actually hear your footstep maybe bounce off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-spooky/try-this-experiment-closing-your-eyes-and-navigating-with-your-ears/) [DJ Spooky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-spooky/) > [Seizing new ground, making connections between people or ideas, working without a map-these are works of art, and if you do them, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/seizing-new-ground-making-connections-between-people-or-ideas-working/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been...frighten ed enough to hold it back. It's time to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/every-day-i-meet-people-who-have-so-much-to-give-but-have-been/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [It's time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map. Stop settling for what's good enough and start creating art that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/it-s-time-to-stop-complying-with-the-system-and-draw-your-own-map/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Human nature is to need a map. If you’re brave enough to draw one, people will follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/human-nature-is-to-need-a-map-if-you-re-brave-enough-to-draw-one/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The minute there's a map, there is no art. Paint by numbers is not art. Paint by numbers is a mechanical activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-minute-there-s-a-map-there-is-no-art-paint-by-numbers-is-not-art/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Art is what we call...the thing an artist does. It's not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/art-is-what-we-call-the-thing-an-artist-does-it-s-not-the-medium-or/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More by Seth Godin > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Be relentlessly generous, without focusing on when it will come back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/be-relentlessly-generous-without-focusing-on-when-it-will-come-back/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-public-square-is-more-public-than-ever-but-minds-are-rarely/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Making an average pitch to average people, or having an average gala for average people isn't going to scale anymore. You've got to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/making-an-average-pitch-to-average-people-or-having-an-average-gala/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Life is actually far better than it is in the movies. And it takes longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/life-is-actually-far-better-than-it-is-in-the-movies-and-it-takes/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you're a marketer who doesn't know how to invent, design, influence, adapt, and ultimately discard products, then you're no longer a marketer. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-re-a-marketer-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-invent-design-influence/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Explore all 1,110 Seth Godin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Art is the act of navigating without a map.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seth Godin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-map/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-map/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/seth-godin-152_art_art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-m_1376397.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/seth-godin-152_art_art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-m_1376397.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53e/seth-godin-152_art_art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-m_1376397.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Art is the act of navigating without a map.” — Seth Godin", "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": "Seth Godin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Art is the act of navigating...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-map/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/art-is-the-act-of-navigating-without-a-map/#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 } } ] } ```