--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came to realize that exaggerated…" description: "\"I came to realize that exaggerated concern about what others are doing can be foolish. It can paralyze effort, and stifle a good idea. One finds that i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/theodore-von-karman-44916_concern_i-came-to-realize-that-exaggerated-conce_463894.jpg" --- # I came to realize that exaggerated concern about what… ![“I came to realize that exaggerated concern about what others are doing can be foolish. It can paralyze effort, and stifle a good idea. One finds that in the history of science, almost every problem has been worked out by someone else. This should not discourage anyone from pursuing his own path.” quote by Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/theodore-von-karman-44916_concern_i-came-to-realize-that-exaggerated-conce_463894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/theodore-von-karman-44916_concern_i-came-to-realize-that-exaggerated-conce_463894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/theodore-von-karman-44916_concern_i-came-to-realize-that-exaggerated-conce_463894.jpg) > “I came to realize that exaggerated concern about what others are doing can be foolish. It can paralyze effort, and stifle a good idea. One finds that in the history of science, almost every problem has been worked out by someone else. This should not discourage anyone from pursuing his own path.” [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive worry about others' work can inhibit innovation; many breakthroughs are rediscoveries. **In simple terms:** Obsessing on others' ideas stalls progress. Key Takeaway Focus on your own path despite others' work. Themes innovation science originality confidence Mood inquisitive encouraging Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - research labs - startup development - academic pursuits - artistic creation - policy making Key Concepts independent thinking creative risk intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance learning from others with original work? - What mechanisms encourage healthy competition? A Different Perspective Collaboration can also be valuable; isolation may limit feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [History of science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-of-science/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [I think my concern is I know my voice, and I know the kinds of landscapes that interest me, so my primary concern is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-think-my-concern-is-i-know-my-voice-and-i-know-the-kinds-of/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Something in her brain that still remained calm told her that she was doing a very foolish thing indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/something-in-her-brain-that-still-remained-calm-told-her-that-she-was/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [If you don't risk doing something foolish, you'll never do anything special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/if-you-don-t-risk-doing-something-foolish-you-ll-never-do-anything/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [I am a man of passions, capable of and subject to doing more or less foolish things- which I happen to regret, more or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/i-am-a-man-of-passions-capable-of-and-subject-to-doing-more-or-less/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [We don't charge people for making a mistake or doing something foolish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-fattah/we-don-t-charge-people-for-making-a-mistake-or-doing-something-foolish/) [Chaka Fattah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-fattah/) > [“You are not doing something foolish, are you?" In fact, she was, but that didn't mean she had to stop glaring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/you-are-not-doing-something-foolish-are-you-in-fact-she-was-but-that/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [You ask whether I am going over to the history of science... no, I am not as old as that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-kelk-ingold/you-ask-whether-i-am-going-over-to-the-history-of-science-no-i-am-not/) Christopher Kelk Ingold > [“According to Thoth, because of the placement of the Great Pyramid on the Earth connecting into the Earth's huge geometrical field - specifically the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drunvalo-melchizedek/according-to-thoth-because-of-the-placement-of-the-great-pyramid-on/) [Drunvalo Melchizedek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drunvalo-melchizedek/) > [“And, if you'll investigate the history of science, my dear boy, I think you'll find that most of the really big ideas have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-if-you-ll-investigate-the-history-of-science-my-dear-boy-i-think/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The history of science is full of revolutionary advances that required small insights that anyone might have had, but that, in fact, only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-history-of-science-is-full-of-revolutionary-advances-that/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-history-of-science-like-the-history-of-all-human-ideas-is-a/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [The history of science knows scores of instances where an investigator was in the possession of all the important facts for a new theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mayr/the-history-of-science-knows-scores-of-instances-where-an/) [Ernst Mayr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mayr/) > [“The strength of the familiar electromagnetic force between two electrons, for example, is expressed in physics in terms of a constant known as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-livio/the-strength-of-the-familiar-electromagnetic-force-between-two/) Mario Livio > [Great is the power of steady misrepresentation; but the history of science shows that fortunately this power does not long endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/great-is-the-power-of-steady-misrepresentation-but-the-history-of/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [“This relationship, often called the Golden mean, has been discovered and rediscovered at various times in history as a unique proportion believed to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pile/this-relationship-often-called-the-golden-mean-has-been-discovered/) John Pile ## More by Theodore von Karman > [Some fear flutter because they do not understand it. And some fear it because they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/some-fear-flutter-because-they-do-not-understand-it-and-some-fear-it/) [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) > [Everyone knows it takes a woman nine months to have a baby. But you Americans think if you get nine women pregnant, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/everyone-knows-it-takes-a-woman-nine-months-to-have-a-baby-but-you/) [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) > [A scientist describes what is. An engineer creates what never was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/a-scientist-describes-what-is-an-engineer-creates-what-never-was/) [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) > [“Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/scientists-discover-the-world-that-exists-engineers-create-the-world/) [Theodore Von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) > [Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create the world that never has been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/scientists-study-the-world-as-it-is-engineers-create-the-world-that/) [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) > [I am quite pessimistic about ever achieving interstellar travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/i-am-quite-pessimistic-about-ever-achieving-interstellar-travel/) [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) > [Science is the study of what Is, Engineering builds what Will Be. The scientist merely explores that which exists, while the engineer creates what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/science-is-the-study-of-what-is-engineering-builds-what-will-be-the/) [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) > [This speaker reminds me of my childhood in Budapest. There were gypsy magicians who came to town to entertain us children. But as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-von-karman/this-speaker-reminds-me-of-my-childhood-in-budapest-there-were-gypsy/) [Theodore von Karman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) [Explore all 9 Theodore von Karman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-von-karman/) ## More Concern quotes > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I'm a vegetarian - I think there's a strong possibility, had I not become a vegetarian, I would not be working now. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Much has been said and continues to be said of what little concern the Turks had for the Acropolis treasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-mercouri/much-has-been-said-and-continues-to-be-said-of-what-little-concern/) [Melina Mercouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-mercouri/) Browse all 3,297 Concern quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came to realize that exaggerated concern about what others are doing can be foolish. It can paralyze effort, and stifle a good idea. One finds that in the history of science, almost every problem has been worked out by someone else. 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