--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't have a really good idea until…" description: "\"You don't have a really good idea until you combine two little ideas.\" — Twyla Tharp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dad/twyla-tharp-1069_combine_you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until_2034639.png" --- # You don't have a really good idea until you combine two… ![“You don't have a really good idea until you combine two little ideas.” quote by Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dad/twyla-tharp-1069_combine_you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until_2034639.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dad/twyla-tharp-1069_combine_you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until_2034639.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dad/twyla-tharp-1069_combine_you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until_2034639.png) > “You don't have a really good idea until you combine two little ideas.” [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innovative ideas emerge by merging smaller concepts into a larger one. **In simple terms:** Combine ideas to create something new. Key Takeaway Experiment with blending concepts. Themes creativity innovation collaboration problem solving Mood curious optimistic Type creative practical When to use this quote - product development - writing - teaching Key Concepts idea synthesis design thinking artistic process Questions to Reflect On - What small ideas could you merge today? - How do you ensure the blend adds value? A Different Perspective Combining ideas can dilute originality if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Combine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combine/) [Combine Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combine-little-3755313/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Idea Combine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-combine-3755312/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Little Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-ideas-2432346/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [I print giclees for artists and photographers for a livelihood. My original idea was to somehow combine the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-lambert/i-print-giclees-for-artists-and-photographers-for-a-livelihood-my/) [Donald Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-lambert/) > [Without the little ideas, there are no big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/without-the-little-ideas-there-are-no-big-ideas/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I've had so many little ideas I've written down here and there. Some ideas I've got reams of notes for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-ve-had-so-many-little-ideas-i-ve-written-down-here-and-there-some/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [If you write, good ideas must come welling up into you so that you have something to write. If good ideas do not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/if-you-write-good-ideas-must-come-welling-up-into-you-so-that-you/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [Big ideas are little ideas that no-one killed too soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/big-ideas-are-little-ideas-that-no-one-killed-too-soon/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Little ideas can pop into one's head at any time, and if I'm being reasonably efficient I've got it close enough to hand, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/little-ideas-can-pop-into-one-s-head-at-any-time-and-if-i-m-being/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [But that initial, comet-blazing-across-the-sky, Big Idea is only the beginning. Each book is composed of a mosaic of thousands of little ideas, ideas that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/but-that-initial-comet-blazing-across-the-sky-big-idea-is-only-the/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [All day long you write little ideas on the piano and the guitar, but sometimes all you have to do is come in, set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-granduciel/all-day-long-you-write-little-ideas-on-the-piano-and-the-guitar-but/) [Adam Granduciel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-granduciel/) > [I was planning on writing a detailed review of several books on web security tonight, but the Obama collapse has superseded my best-laid plans.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-foster-johnson/i-was-planning-on-writing-a-detailed-review-of-several-books-on-web/) [Charles Foster Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-foster-johnson/) > [Government likes committees... a lot. Committees kill all the really good ideas and generally all the really bad ideas. They produce middle-ground mush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/government-likes-committees-a-lot-committees-kill-all-the-really-good/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [There are plenty of good ideas, if only they can be backed with the power of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/there-are-plenty-of-good-ideas-if-only-they-can-be-backed-with-the/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Violence is what people do when they run out of good ideas. It's attractive because it's simple, it's direct, it's almost always available as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/violence-is-what-people-do-when-they-run-out-of-good-ideas-it-s/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [Good ideas and innovations must be driven into existence by courage and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyman-rickover/good-ideas-and-innovations-must-be-driven-into-existence-by-courage/) [Hyman Rickover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyman-rickover/) > [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/) [Ebbe Skovdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebbe-skovdahl/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) ## More by Twyla Tharp > [“A lot of habitually creative people have preparation rituals linked to the setting in which they choose to start their day. By putting themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/a-lot-of-habitually-creative-people-have-preparation-rituals-linked/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I have learned over the years that you should never save for two meetings what you can accomplish in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-have-learned-over-the-years-that-you-should-never-save-for-two/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I always find that the best collaborations are when you work with people that know what they're doing, and you leave them alone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-always-find-that-the-best-collaborations-are-when-you-work-with/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I don't mean this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I don't really think of pop art and serious art as being that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-don-t-mean-this-but-i-m-going-to-say-it-anyway-i-don-t-really-think/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [The art of these Fifties movies was in sustaining forever the moment before sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/the-art-of-these-fifties-movies-was-in-sustaining-forever-the-moment/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [This is not a pleasant route for many young people to consider. You have to be either hopelessly passionate, or very stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/this-is-not-a-pleasant-route-for-many-young-people-to-consider-you/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I often say that in making dances I can make a world where I think things are done morally, done democratically, done honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-often-say-that-in-making-dances-i-can-make-a-world-where-i-think/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I had received my first establishment grants in response to applications filed the year before. To the pages of baffling forms I had simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-had-received-my-first-establishment-grants-in-response-to/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I find the aesthetics of the 20th century hopelessly barren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-find-the-aesthetics-of-the-20th-century-hopelessly-barren/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I don't think that scheduling is uncreative. I think that structure is required for creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-don-t-think-that-scheduling-is-uncreative-i-think-that-structure-is/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I have always felt one of the things dance should do - its business being so clearly physical - is challenge the culture's gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-have-always-felt-one-of-the-things-dance-should-do-its-business/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [There really is nothing I ever had access to that I didn't appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/there-really-is-nothing-i-ever-had-access-to-that-i-didn-t-appreciate/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Destiny, quite often, is a determined parent. Mozart was hardly some naive prodigy who sat down at the keyboard and, with God whispering in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/destiny-quite-often-is-a-determined-parent-mozart-was-hardly-some/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [When it all comes together, a creative life has the nourishing power we normally associate with food, love and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/when-it-all-comes-together-a-creative-life-has-the-nourishing-power/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Things change all the time, so why do people make such a philosophical to-do that things are constantly in transition?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/things-change-all-the-time-so-why-do-people-make-such-a-philosophical/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) [Explore all 298 Twyla Tharp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## More Combine quotes > [The complexity increases exponentially when you try and combine two companies that both need to be restructured in their own right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/the-complexity-increases-exponentially-when-you-try-and-combine-two/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Let Time and Chance combine, combine! Let Time and Chance combine! The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-time-and-chance-combine-combine-let-time-and-chance-combine-the/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“to combine both, but if you can’t, they should have at least one of these:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anderson/to-combine-both-but-if-you-can-t-they-should-have-at-least-one-of/) [Mary Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anderson/) > [Invention is not enough. Tesla invented the electric power we use, but he struggled to get it out to people. You have to combine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/invention-is-not-enough-tesla-invented-the-electric-power-we-use-but/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/) > [In this world, there are things you can only do alone, and things you can only do with somebody else. It's important to combine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-this-world-there-are-things-you-can-only-do-alone-and-things-you/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I take my vacation on the combine and tractor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-take-my-vacation-on-the-combine-and-tractor/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [Culture is mix. Culture means a mix of things from other sources. And my town, Istanbul, was this kind of mix. Istanbul, in fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/culture-is-mix-culture-means-a-mix-of-things-from-other-sources-and/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [Combine science and humanities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/combine-science-and-humanities/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The good point is when you combine excitement and calm together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyoto-machida/the-good-point-is-when-you-combine-excitement-and-calm-together/) [Lyoto Machida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyoto-machida/) > [I want to develop a small make-up line myself. I want to combine all the things that I love and just create them the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hart/i-want-to-develop-a-small-make-up-line-myself-i-want-to-combine-all/) [Jessica Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hart/) > [A government capable of controlling the whole, and bringing its force to a point, is one of the prerequisites for national liberty. We combine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-government-capable-of-controlling-the-whole-and-bringing-its-force/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [There's still a lot I need to do as a player, as a musician, as a sound creator. I have commissioned 170 pieces: that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-glennie/there-s-still-a-lot-i-need-to-do-as-a-player-as-a-musician-as-a-sound/) [Evelyn Glennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-glennie/) > [I really pride myself in being able to combine soft and hard characteristics. If I do a leather jacket, then it will be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-kelly/i-really-pride-myself-in-being-able-to-combine-soft-and-hard/) [Bridget Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-kelly/) > [It is important to be passionate, but it is also important to combine the heart and the head. I have made mistakes in both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/it-is-important-to-be-passionate-but-it-is-also-important-to-combine/) [Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/) > [Going to the Combine, I had a lot of eyes on me, high praise on me, so I had to perform well at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donte-divincenzo/going-to-the-combine-i-had-a-lot-of-eyes-on-me-high-praise-on-me-so-i/) [Donte DiVincenzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donte-divincenzo/) [Browse all 124 Combine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combine/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You don't have a really good idea until you combine two little ideas.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Twyla Tharp" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until-you-combine-two-little-ideas/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Combine" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until-you-combine-two-little-ideas/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dad/twyla-tharp-1069_combine_you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until_2034639.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dad/twyla-tharp-1069_combine_you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until_2034639.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dad/twyla-tharp-1069_combine_you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until_2034639.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You don't have a really good idea until you combine two little ideas.” — Twyla Tharp", "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": "Twyla Tharp", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You don't have a really good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until-you-combine-two-little-ideas/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/you-don-t-have-a-really-good-idea-until-you-combine-two-little-ideas/#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 } } ] } ```