--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Certainly, there are very few wholly…" description: "\"Certainly, there are very few wholly original ideas in the world; there are usually people coming to the same conclusions or carrying out experiments, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/shannon-lee-12926_conclusions_certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-orig_1824118.jpg" --- # Certainly, there are very few wholly original ideas in the… ![“Certainly, there are very few wholly original ideas in the world; there are usually people coming to the same conclusions or carrying out experiments, whether publicly or privately.” quote by Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/shannon-lee-12926_conclusions_certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-orig_1824118.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/shannon-lee-12926_conclusions_certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-orig_1824118.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/shannon-lee-12926_conclusions_certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-orig_1824118.jpg) > “Certainly, there are very few wholly original ideas in the world; there are usually people coming to the same conclusions or carrying out experiments, whether publicly or privately.” [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Original ideas are rare; most concepts arise independently or through shared experimentation. **In simple terms:** True originality is scarce; ideas often converge. Key Takeaway Embrace collaboration and build on existing knowledge. Themes creativity knowledge collaboration innovation Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research labs - startup brainstorming - academic publishing Key Concepts philosophy of science intellectual property convergent evolution Questions to Reflect On - How can we credit shared ideas? - When does similarity become plagiarism? A Different Perspective Originality claim can stifle openness and credit sharing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Original ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Express your ideas with the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchel-resnick/express-your-ideas-with-the-world/) [Mitchel Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchel-resnick/) > [I have some pretty forceful ideas about the world - obviously I do. But I suppose I can only really speak about them from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cusk/i-have-some-pretty-forceful-ideas-about-the-world-obviously-i-do-but/) [Rachel Cusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cusk/) > [I'm like Sergeant Schultz, I know nothing. We are trying to share ideas around the world. We don't just come up with a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wagoner/i-m-like-sergeant-schultz-i-know-nothing-we-are-trying-to-share-ideas/) [Rick Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wagoner/) > [When you put your ideas in the world, then, and only then, do you know if they're real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/when-you-put-your-ideas-in-the-world-then-and-only-then-do-you-know/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [What's important is to give your ideas to the world if you love the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/what-s-important-is-to-give-your-ideas-to-the-world-if-you-love-the/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [“When you're ten, the worst ideas in the world can somehow seem like the greatest ideas ever imagined. That's why my friends and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-mcfarr/when-you-re-ten-the-worst-ideas-in-the-world-can-somehow-seem-like/) Justin McFarr > [We're exposed to ideas everywhere. The world is full of ideas. I think that television is a pretty powerful medium in that regard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/we-re-exposed-to-ideas-everywhere-the-world-is-full-of-ideas-i-think/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [You may live in an unknown small village, but if you have big ideas, the world will come and find you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-may-live-in-an-unknown-small-village-but-if-you-have-big-ideas/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [We can have all of the best ideas in the world, but if we do not have a system to get our tasks completed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-clark/we-can-have-all-of-the-best-ideas-in-the-world-but-if-we-do-not-have/) [Clay Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-clark/) > [Some movies, I think, present ideas of the world that just don't help people with their lives. They just present things that are fleeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/some-movies-i-think-present-ideas-of-the-world-that-just-don-t-help/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [The best ideas in the world will accomplish nothing if you leave them on paper. Talk about them. Debate, discuss, argue. Put them into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-stirtz/the-best-ideas-in-the-world-will-accomplish-nothing-if-you-leave-them/) [Kevin Stirtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-stirtz/) > [Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/storytelling-is-the-most-powerful-way-to-put-ideas-into-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel as if my mission is to write, to see, to observe, and I feel lazy if I'm not reaching conclusions. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-feel-as-if-my-mission-is-to-write-to-see-to-observe-and-i-feel-lazy/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [It surprises me how quickly the press likes to reach conclusions about my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sussanne-khan/it-surprises-me-how-quickly-the-press-likes-to-reach-conclusions/) [Sussanne Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sussanne-khan/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) ## More by Shannon Lee > [I lost my father when I was four, so maybe that was always in the background. Losing my brother kicked it into overdrive. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/i-lost-my-father-when-i-was-four-so-maybe-that-was-always-in-the/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [My father talked about training as being more about the human spirit than just about your muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/my-father-talked-about-training-as-being-more-about-the-human-spirit/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [I don't think 'Enter The Dragon' should ever be remade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/i-don-t-think-enter-the-dragon-should-ever-be-remade/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [It is much easier to imitate something else that you know is accepted and loved than it is to look inside and follow your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/it-is-much-easier-to-imitate-something-else-that-you-know-is-accepted/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [My dad didn't see limitations in himself or in other people. He did what he did his way and left behind an extremely unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/my-dad-didn-t-see-limitations-in-himself-or-in-other-people-he-did/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [The tenets of Jeet Kune Do are simplicity, directness, and freedom, and it's meant to be a style that is efficient and non-telegraphic; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/the-tenets-of-jeet-kune-do-are-simplicity-directness-and-freedom-and/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [I always thought that a film about how my father's life was shaped in his early years in Hong Kong would be a worthwhile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/i-always-thought-that-a-film-about-how-my-father-s-life-was-shaped-in/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [I have a degree in vocal performance, I'm a classically trained singer, and I studied musical theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/i-have-a-degree-in-vocal-performance-i-m-a-classically-trained-singer/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [My father was an entertainer, and he knew what he was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/my-father-was-an-entertainer-and-he-knew-what-he-was-doing/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [If I can learn how to rely on my own strength, I can see the answers to my problems usually lie right there, within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/if-i-can-learn-how-to-rely-on-my-own-strength-i-can-see-the-answers/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [My father was a rather active guy, and he was often engaged in something if not physically, then mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/my-father-was-a-rather-active-guy-and-he-was-often-engaged-in/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [There's so much I want to do. But after all I've been through, I realize nothing is more important to me than family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/there-s-so-much-i-want-to-do-but-after-all-i-ve-been-through-i/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [I've dedicated a lot of my life to running the Bruce Lee businesses and continuing his legacy. Some people say I'm doing that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/i-ve-dedicated-a-lot-of-my-life-to-running-the-bruce-lee-businesses/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [Perception is a powerful tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/perception-is-a-powerful-tool/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) > [Please don't confuse love and logic ... They aren't even remotely related.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/please-don-t-confuse-love-and-logic-they-aren-t-even-remotely-related/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) [Explore all 52 Shannon Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) ## More Conclusions quotes > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [It surprises me how quickly the press likes to reach conclusions about my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sussanne-khan/it-surprises-me-how-quickly-the-press-likes-to-reach-conclusions/) [Sussanne Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sussanne-khan/) > [I feel as if my mission is to write, to see, to observe, and I feel lazy if I'm not reaching conclusions. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-feel-as-if-my-mission-is-to-write-to-see-to-observe-and-i-feel-lazy/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [Enough research will tend to support your conclusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bloch/enough-research-will-tend-to-support-your-conclusions/) [Arthur Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bloch/) > [Science fiction rarely is about scientists doing real science, in its slowness, its vagueness, the sort of tedious quality of getting out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/science-fiction-rarely-is-about-scientists-doing-real-science-in-its/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [I don't want happy-face conclusions. I want the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-don-t-want-happy-face-conclusions-i-want-the-truth/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [“And why?’ He pauses. ‘I did it because you are the epitome of ordinariness, Ed. And if a guy like you can stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/and-why-he-pauses-i-did-it-because-you-are-the-epitome-of/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [We are not certain, we are never certain. If we were we could reach some conclusions, and we could, at last, make others take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-are-not-certain-we-are-never-certain-if-we-were-we-could-reach/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Logic matters. It leads us from simple ideas to surprising conclusions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-e-landsburg/logic-matters-it-leads-us-from-simple-ideas-to-surprising-conclusions/) [Steven E. Landsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-e-landsburg/) > [I try not to make snap judgments. I never, ever make conclusions about products I've never tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/i-try-not-to-make-snap-judgments-i-never-ever-make-conclusions-about/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [People make conclusions about somebody before they actually get to know someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-reed/people-make-conclusions-about-somebody-before-they-actually-get-to/) [Patrick Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-reed/) > [Don't be so quick to jump from conclusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king-aka-the-covert-comic-2/don-t-be-so-quick-to-jump-from-conclusions/) John Alejandro King Aka 'The Covert Comic > [“the brain is a machine for jumping to conclusions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-brain-is-a-machine-for-jumping-to-conclusions/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [We are the sum total of the decisions we have made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-the-sum-total-of-the-decisions-we-have-made/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some call-in moderators are neutral and courteous. Then there's Rush Limbaugh, who is funny and pompous and a scapegoater and hatemonger. His popularity could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/some-call-in-moderators-are-neutral-and-courteous-then-there-s-rush/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) Browse all 108 Conclusions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Certainly, there are very few wholly original ideas in the world; there are usually people coming to the same conclusions or carrying out experiments, whether publicly or privately.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shannon Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-original-ideas-in-the-world-there/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conclusions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-original-ideas-in-the-world-there/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/shannon-lee-12926_conclusions_certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-orig_1824118.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/shannon-lee-12926_conclusions_certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-orig_1824118.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/shannon-lee-12926_conclusions_certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-orig_1824118.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Certainly, there are very few wholly original ideas in the world; there are usually people coming to the…” — Shannon Lee", "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": "Shannon Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Certainly, there are very few wholly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-original-ideas-in-the-world-there/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/certainly-there-are-very-few-wholly-original-ideas-in-the-world-there/#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 } } ] } ```