--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The patterns are simple, but followed…" description: "\"The patterns are simple, but followed together, they make for a whole that is wiser than the sum of its parts. Go for a walk; cultivate hunches; write ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/steven-johnson-9014_art_the-patterns-are-simple-but-followed-tog_1809783.png" --- # The patterns are simple, but followed together, they make… ![“The patterns are simple, but followed together, they make for a whole that is wiser than the sum of its parts. Go for a walk; cultivate hunches; write everything down, but keep your folders messy; embrace serendipity; make generative mistakes; take on multiple hobbies; frequent coffeehouses and…” quote by Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/steven-johnson-9014_art_the-patterns-are-simple-but-followed-tog_1809783.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/steven-johnson-9014_art_the-patterns-are-simple-but-followed-tog_1809783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/steven-johnson-9014_art_the-patterns-are-simple-but-followed-tog_1809783.png) > “The patterns are simple, but followed together, they make for a whole that is wiser than the sum of its parts. Go for a walk; cultivate hunches; write everything down, but keep your folders messy; embrace serendipity; make generative mistakes; take on multiple hobbies; frequent coffeehouses and other liquid networks; follow the links; let others build on your ideas; borrow, recycle; reinvent. Build a tangled bank.” [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Combining simple, diverse practices and open collaboration creates collective intelligence that exceeds individual effort. **In simple terms:** Diverse habits and collaboration boost collective wisdom. Key Takeaway Cultivate varied habits and share ideas openly. Themes creativity collaboration networking innovation learning Mood enthusiastic curious Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - team projects - community workshops - creative retreats - co-working spaces Key Concepts systems thinking emergent properties interdisciplinary knowledge spillover Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance structure with serendipity? - What habits most spark your creative connections? A Different Perspective May become chaotic without intentional organization and focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Cultivate Hunches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultivate-hunches-2103840/) [Embrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embrace/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Folders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folders/) [Hobbies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobbies/) [Hunches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunches/) [Hunches Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunches-write-2103843/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Links](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/links/) [Liquid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liquid/) [Messy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messy/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Multiple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multiple/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Patterns Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns-simple-2103841/) [Serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serendipity/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple Followed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-followed-2103842/) [Sum Of Its Parts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sum-of-its-parts/) [Tangled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tangled/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Wiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiser/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > ['A Fair Maiden' existed in notes and sketches for perhaps a year. 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I thought that was pretty incredible because I hadn't worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/when-i-got-onto-set-with-him-we-were-given-a-folder-of-storyboards-i/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [I'm always writing ideas down and then I stick em in my pocket and put em in that folder so I don't lose them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-williams/i-m-always-writing-ideas-down-and-then-i-stick-em-in-my-pocket-and/) [Lucinda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-williams/) ## More by Steven Johnson > [Most new movements start this way: hundreds or thousands of individuals and groups, working in different fields and different locations, start thinking about change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-johnson/most-new-movements-start-this-way-hundreds-or-thousands-of/) [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) > [“Edison invented the lightbulb the way Steve Jobs invented the MP3 player: he wasn’t the first, but he was the first to make something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-johnson/edison-invented-the-lightbulb-the-way-steve-jobs-invented-the-mp3/) [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) > [“Early risers strolling along the Thames would see the toshers wading through the muck of low tide, dressed almost comically in flowing velveteen coats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-johnson/early-risers-strolling-along-the-thames-would-see-the-toshers-wading/) [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) > [“Build a tangled bank.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-johnson/build-a-tangled-bank/) [Steven Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-johnson/) > [If we didn't have genetic mutations, we wouldn't have us. 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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. 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