--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is not ultimate breakthrough; what…" description: "\"There is not ultimate breakthrough; what we find in the development of a creative life is an open-ended series of provisional breakthroughs. In this jo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/stephen-nachmanovitch-10483_breakthrough_there-is-not-ultimate-breakthrough-what_910419.png" --- # There is not ultimate breakthrough; what we find in the… ![“There is not ultimate breakthrough; what we find in the development of a creative life is an open-ended series of provisional breakthroughs. In this journey there is no endpoint, because it is the journey into the soul.” quote by Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/stephen-nachmanovitch-10483_breakthrough_there-is-not-ultimate-breakthrough-what_910419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/stephen-nachmanovitch-10483_breakthrough_there-is-not-ultimate-breakthrough-what_910419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/stephen-nachmanovitch-10483_breakthrough_there-is-not-ultimate-breakthrough-what_910419.png) > “There is not ultimate breakthrough; what we find in the development of a creative life is an open-ended series of provisional breakthroughs. In this journey there is no endpoint, because it is the journey into the soul.” [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative life is a series of temporary breakthroughs, never a final destination, focusing on continual growth. **In simple terms:** Creative progress is ongoing, not a single final achievement. Key Takeaway Embrace each provisional breakthrough as part of the journey. Themes creativity growth process Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic practice - research - personal development - teaching creativity Key Concepts provisional breakthroughs open-ended development self-discovery Questions to Reflect On - What provisional breakthrough have you experienced recently? - How do you sustain momentum after a breakthrough? A Different Perspective Breakthroughs can be fleeting and may not lead to lasting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breakthrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough/) [Breakthroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthroughs/) [Breakthroughs Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthroughs-journey-1328309/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-life/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Provisional Breakthroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provisional-breakthroughs-1328311/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Ultimate Breakthrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-breakthrough-1328310/) ## Related quotes > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [We are a caring nation, and our values should also guide us on how we harness the gifts of science. New medical breakthroughs bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-are-a-caring-nation-and-our-values-should-also-guide-us-on-how-we/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Father God, we thank you for your grace and your mercy, for allowing us to be together under your covenant and God we thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/father-god-we-thank-you-for-your-grace-and-your-mercy-for-allowing-us/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [One of the great breakthroughs of evolution theory is that you start with simple things and they will grow into complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/one-of-the-great-breakthroughs-of-evolution-theory-is-that-you-start/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [From the theft of confidential cables to 21st century protest movements, to development breakthroughs that have the potential to change millions of lives, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/from-the-theft-of-confidential-cables-to-21st-century-protest/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [My fascination is broadly with biology and the fact that our increased understanding of biology allows for breakthroughs in a broad set of diseases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/my-fascination-is-broadly-with-biology-and-the-fact-that-our/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Psychological breakdowns are actually breakthroughs to enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-laing/psychological-breakdowns-are-actually-breakthroughs-to-enlightenment/) [R. D. Laing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-laing/) > [Maybe it's wrong when we remember breakthroughs to our own being as something that occurs in discrete, extraordinary moments. Maybe falling in love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-h-eg/maybe-it-s-wrong-when-we-remember-breakthroughs-to-our-own-being-as/) [Peter Høeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-h-eg/) > [There are riches to be found simply by capturing the value released through others' disruptive breakthroughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-samit/there-are-riches-to-be-found-simply-by-capturing-the-value-released/) [Jay Samit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-samit/) > [“Breakdowns create breakthroughs. Breakthroughs create more breakthroughs. More breakthroughs create friction because idiots be jealous or don’t get it or protect their little corner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/breakdowns-create-breakthroughs-breakthroughs-create-more/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [Big breakthroughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/big-breakthroughs-happen-when-what-is-suddenly-possible-meets-what-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [There are no drive-thru breakthroughs. Breakthroughs take time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-are-no-drive-thru-breakthroughs-breakthroughs-take-time/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We can be creative and generate new breakthroughs, if we're willing to work with ideas from the pool of history - both distant and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-dawson/we-can-be-creative-and-generate-new-breakthroughs-if-we-re-willing-to/) [Doug Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-dawson/) > [Historic changes and challenges. Breakthroughs in human knowledge and opportunity. And yet, for vast numbers across the globe, the daily realities have not altered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historic-changes-and-challenges-breakthroughs-in-human-knowledge-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I found that the breakthroughs for me, as I went through school, came through sexuality, explorations of consciousness, reading, loving, friends, time in nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-found-that-the-breakthroughs-for-me-as-i-went-through-school-came/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Stephen Nachmanovitch > [Improvisation is intuition in action, a way to discover the muse and learn to respond to her call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/improvisation-is-intuition-in-action-a-way-to-discover-the-muse-and/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Writing, playing, composing, painting, reading, listening, looking-all require that we submit to being swept away by Eros, to a transformation of self of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/writing-playing-composing-painting-reading-listening-looking-all/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Play cannot be defined, because in play all definitions slither, dance, combine, break apart, and recombine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/play-cannot-be-defined-because-in-play-all-definitions-slither-dance/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Play enables us to rearrange our capacities and our very identity so that they can be used in unforeseen ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/play-enables-us-to-rearrange-our-capacities-and-our-very-identity-so/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [If we are transparent, with nothing to hide, the gap between language and being disappears. Then the Muse can speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/if-we-are-transparent-with-nothing-to-hide-the-gap-between-language/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Many musicians are fabulously skilled at playing the black dots on the printed page, but mystified by how the dots got there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/many-musicians-are-fabulously-skilled-at-playing-the-black-dots-on/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [In the art of teaching, we recognize that ideas and insights need to cook over a period of time. Sometimes the student who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/in-the-art-of-teaching-we-recognize-that-ideas-and-insights-need-to/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Every moment of life is unique-a kiss, a sunset, a dance, a joke. None will ever recur in quite the same way. Each happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/every-moment-of-life-is-unique-a-kiss-a-sunset-a-dance-a-joke-none/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Every attempt we make is imperfect; yet each one of those imperfect attempts is an occasion for a delight unlike anything else on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/every-attempt-we-make-is-imperfect-yet-each-one-of-those-imperfect/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [An improviser does not operate from a formless vacuum, but from three billion years of organic evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/an-improviser-does-not-operate-from-a-formless-vacuum-but-from-three/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Creative work is play. It is free speculation using materials of ones chosen form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/creative-work-is-play-it-is-free-speculation-using-materials-of-ones/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Brahms once remarked that the mark of an artist is how much he throws away. Nature, the great creator, is always throwing things away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/brahms-once-remarked-that-the-mark-of-an-artist-is-how-much-he-throws/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [If the art is created with the whole person, then the work will come out whole. Education must teach, reach, and vibrate the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/if-the-art-is-created-with-the-whole-person-then-the-work-will-come/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Play, creativity, art, spontaneity, all these experiences are their own rewards and are blocked when we perform for reward or punishment, profit or loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/play-creativity-art-spontaneity-all-these-experiences-are-their-own/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Technique itself springs from play, because we can acquire technique only by the practice of practice, by persistently experimenting and playing with our tools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/technique-itself-springs-from-play-because-we-can-acquire-technique/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) [Explore all 64 Stephen Nachmanovitch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) ## More Breakthrough quotes > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [The hardware and the software used in the Breakthrough project will be compatible with other telescopes around the world, so they too can search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuri-milner/the-hardware-and-the-software-used-in-the-breakthrough-project-will/) [Yuri Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuri-milner/) > [Just like the breakthroughs, the bad stuff always takes you by surprise. (121)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-giles/just-like-the-breakthroughs-the-bad-stuff-always-takes-you-by/) [Gail Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-giles/) > [There are just moments when all the stars are aligned for breakthrough products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sculley/there-are-just-moments-when-all-the-stars-are-aligned-for/) [John Sculley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sculley/) > [The founder of any branch must be more ingenious than the common man. However, if his achievement is not carried on by disciples of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-founder-of-any-branch-must-be-more-ingenious-than-the-common-man/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Brokenness is often the road to breakthrough. Hang in there. Your time is coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/brokenness-is-often-the-road-to-breakthrough-hang-in-there-your-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Historic changes and challenges. Breakthroughs in human knowledge and opportunity. And yet, for vast numbers across the globe, the daily realities have not altered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historic-changes-and-challenges-breakthroughs-in-human-knowledge-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obama is hardly the first president to seek rapprochement with our adversaries and reconciliation with our enemies, of course. But his determination to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-hayes/obama-is-hardly-the-first-president-to-seek-rapprochement-with-our/) [Stephen F. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-hayes/) > [... when things get rough, a breakthrough is just on the other side of the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/when-things-get-rough-a-breakthrough-is-just-on-the-other-side-of-the/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/tonight-after-a-breakthrough-year-for-america-our-economy-is-growing/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Opposition is just proof that you're close to a major breakthrough keepgoing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run-2/opposition-is-just-proof-that-you-re-close-to-a-major-breakthrough/) [Rev Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run-2/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“A reset isn't going backwards; it's clearing the path to move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rivera/a-reset-isn-t-going-backwards-it-s-clearing-the-path-to-move-forward/) [Alex Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rivera/) > [The consensus we arrived with States for amending the Constitution to implement GST is a major breakthrough. This alone has the potential to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-consensus-we-arrived-with-states-for-amending-the-constitution-to/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Conceivably, blockchains could rely on a number of standards above the Internet's existing standards to allow a smooth bridging from one layer to another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mougayar/conceivably-blockchains-could-rely-on-a-number-of-standards-above-the/) [William Mougayar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mougayar/) [Browse all 507 Breakthrough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is not ultimate breakthrough; what we find in the development of a creative life is an open-ended series of provisional breakthroughs. 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