--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I began to invent something new: a way to…" description: "\"“I began to invent something new: a way to hang together without pretending I was whole”\" — Shelley Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/shelley-jackson-48136_quote_i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to_1944298.jpg" --- # I began to invent something new: a way to hang together… ![“I began to invent something new: a way to hang together without pretending I was whole” quote by Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/shelley-jackson-48136_quote_i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to_1944298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/shelley-jackson-48136_quote_i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to_1944298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/shelley-jackson-48136_quote_i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to_1944298.jpg) > ““I began to invent something new: a way to hang together without pretending I was whole”” [Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating something new involves embracing incompleteness and collaboration rather than pretending wholeness. **In simple terms:** Innovation requires honest collaboration, not false wholeness. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability to co‑create authentic work. Themes creativity collaboration authenticity vulnerability Mood inspirational thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - team projects - artistic workshops - product development Key Concepts Postmodern literature self‑reflexivity Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster honest teamwork? - What benefits arise from acknowledging incompleteness? A Different Perspective Fear of imperfection may hinder collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Began Invent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/began-invent-3117775/) [Hang Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hang-pretending-3117776/) [Invent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent/) [Invent New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent-new-1150799/) [Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretending/) ## Related quotes > [Remove what is unfitting in your life, keep the rest and invent something new for that which you remove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/remove-what-is-unfitting-in-your-life-keep-the-rest-and-invent/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Invent a new language anyone can understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/invent-a-new-language-anyone-can-understand/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [“We'll invent new ways of being together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/we-ll-invent-new-ways-of-being-together/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [We like to invent new disciplines or look at new problems, and invent bandwagons rather than jump on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pattie-maes/we-like-to-invent-new-disciplines-or-look-at-new-problems-and-invent/) [Pattie Maes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pattie-maes/) > [If you're not satisfied with your life, it's time to invent a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wells-lawrence/if-you-re-not-satisfied-with-your-life-it-s-time-to-invent-a-new-one/) [Mary Wells Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wells-lawrence/) > [It would be really great if someone would invent a new Internet with the specific purpose of not making money off of it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/it-would-be-really-great-if-someone-would-invent-a-new-internet-with/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I wish we could launch a ground-breaking competition that motivates kids to invent new ideas in sustainable living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-burtynsky/i-wish-we-could-launch-a-ground-breaking-competition-that-motivates/) [Edward Burtynsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-burtynsky/) > [We discover and invent new ways of finding out the same old things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-hartley/we-discover-and-invent-new-ways-of-finding-out-the-same-old-things/) [Hal Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-hartley/) > [The characteristic of great innovators and great companies is they see a space that others do not. They don't just listen to what people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/the-characteristic-of-great-innovators-and-great-companies-is-they/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [“In order to create something new, to invent a new product or idea, you need to anticipate where things are headed. That requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-rogers/in-order-to-create-something-new-to-invent-a-new-product-or-idea-you/) [Joshua Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-rogers/) > [You wan't to invent new ideas, not new rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-heath/you-wan-t-to-invent-new-ideas-not-new-rules/) [Dan Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-heath/) > [It's hard to invent a new thing, and it's just as hard to invent another new thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/it-s-hard-to-invent-a-new-thing-and-it-s-just-as-hard-to-invent/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [“One of the largest problems in getting a new design accepted by an established manufacturer is not just the ‘not invented here’ syndrome, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-m-barrett/one-of-the-largest-problems-in-getting-a-new-design-accepted-by-an/) [Paul M. Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-m-barrett/) > [If you're trying to invent something new, you're going to reach a lot of discouraging points, and most people give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/if-you-re-trying-to-invent-something-new-you-re-going-to-reach-a-lot/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Invent new drugs, that's what you should be doing... fight to get new weirder ones... and weirder establishments to do them in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/invent-new-drugs-that-s-what-you-should-be-doing-fight-to-get-new/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) ## More by Shelley Jackson > [“Not that pain is the worst thing in the universe. Interesting things happen when you adapt pain for your own. This thing you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/not-that-pain-is-the-worst-thing-in-the-universe-interesting-things/) [Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) > [“Nobody can remember when the sperm became large enough to see, but we agree on this: once that point was reached, every generation topped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/nobody-can-remember-when-the-sperm-became-large-enough-to-see-but-we/) [Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) > [“There is nothing so bracing as planning a murder. I recommend it to the weak-willed and those with a leaky sense of self. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/there-is-nothing-so-bracing-as-planning-a-murder-i-recommend-it-to/) [Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) > [“It is a terrible thing when it is the substitute that is sent to find a new life, a sign that a person yearns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/it-is-a-terrible-thing-when-it-is-the-substitute-that-is-sent-to-find/) [Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) > [“I patch together a living language out of reanimated parts, like Frankenstein, and feel no disgust at scrabbling in the charnel house. Each of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/i-patch-together-a-living-language-out-of-reanimated-parts-like/) [Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) > [“Cut nerves left lying on the threshing floors drift and roll and wind up all aligned with the earth's magnetic field, like iron filings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/cut-nerves-left-lying-on-the-threshing-floors-drift-and-roll-and-wind/) [Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) > [“Feathers needed, swan preferred.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/feathers-needed-swan-preferred/) [Shelley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) [Explore all 8 Shelley Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/) ## More Invent quotes > [My wish for humanity is to invent a way to communicate between us and whatever comes next. And in the end that we the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/my-wish-for-humanity-is-to-invent-a-way-to-communicate-between-us-and/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [When you have a large amount of the workforce being laid off, some of them have no other choice but to go out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/when-you-have-a-large-amount-of-the-workforce-being-laid-off-some-of/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [“Being a pioneer can be damn lonely, too early, no money, tough, endless, stupid,” Samwer said. “And that healed us. Since then, we basically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sennett/being-a-pioneer-can-be-damn-lonely-too-early-no-money-tough-endless/) [Frank Sennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sennett/) > [You can't invent something you have no epistemological access to. In a way, it's all recombination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/you-can-t-invent-something-you-have-no-epistemological-access-to-in-a/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > ['The New Yorker' didn't invent the magazine cartoon, but it did really establish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/the-new-yorker-didn-t-invent-the-magazine-cartoon-but-it-did-really/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [The function of the artist is to invent, not to chronicle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-invent-not-to-chronicle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [You will never win fame and fortune unless you invent big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/you-will-never-win-fame-and-fortune-unless-you-invent-big-ideas/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [“China it! Why invent the wheel when it has already been invented!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/china-it-why-invent-the-wheel-when-it-has-already-been-invented/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [I don't think we have very good records about what they were thinking except, as I pointed out earlier today, that they did invent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/i-don-t-think-we-have-very-good-records-about-what-they-were-thinking/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [It gives me confidence to know that what I'm writing has a veracity of its own without me having to invent it. When I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/it-gives-me-confidence-to-know-that-what-i-m-writing-has-a-veracity/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [What you dont see with your eyes, dont invent with your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-you-dont-see-with-your-eyes-dont-invent-with-your-mouth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The answer, The answer, my friend, is not yours to invent or create. It will be decided for you. It is outside you. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-answer-the-answer-my-friend-is-not-yours-to-invent-or-create-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [You can only really invent something if you connect yourself to the real world - whatever that means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lindbergh/you-can-only-really-invent-something-if-you-connect-yourself-to-the/) [Peter Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lindbergh/) > [Remove what is unfitting in your life, keep the rest and invent something new for that which you remove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/remove-what-is-unfitting-in-your-life-keep-the-rest-and-invent/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You young people yourselves are capable of performing anything. Our inventors can invent in a high level. Our innovators can innovate in a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruhollah-khomeini/you-young-people-yourselves-are-capable-of-performing-anything-our/) [Ruhollah Khomeini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruhollah-khomeini/) [Browse all 393 Invent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I began to invent something new: a way to hang together without pretending I was whole”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shelley Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to-hang-together-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Invent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to-hang-together-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/shelley-jackson-48136_quote_i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to_1944298.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/shelley-jackson-48136_quote_i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to_1944298.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e93/shelley-jackson-48136_quote_i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to_1944298.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I began to invent something new: a way to hang together without pretending I was whole” — Shelley Jackson", "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": "Shelley Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I began to invent something new:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to-hang-together-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-jackson/i-began-to-invent-something-new-a-way-to-hang-together-without/#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 } } ] } ```