--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Inspiration can show up almost any time…" description: "\"Inspiration can show up almost any time, though I have yet to see anyone scratching out melodic ideas on a restaurant napkin as legend would have us be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/william-p-perry-65053_believe_inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time_2494463.jpg" --- # Inspiration can show up almost any time, though I have yet… ![“Inspiration can show up almost any time, though I have yet to see anyone scratching out melodic ideas on a restaurant napkin as legend would have us believe. I think inspiration comes from concentration, and early on I learned about Mark Twain's habit of leaving for his study after breakfast and…” quote by William P. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/william-p-perry-65053_believe_inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time_2494463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/william-p-perry-65053_believe_inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time_2494463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/william-p-perry-65053_believe_inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time_2494463.jpg) > “Inspiration can show up almost any time, though I have yet to see anyone scratching out melodic ideas on a restaurant napkin as legend would have us believe. I think inspiration comes from concentration, and early on I learned about Mark Twain's habit of leaving for his study after breakfast and not reappearing until the end of the day, ready to read to his family what he had just written. That set a good example for me, although I didn't copy his habit of taking twelve cigars along.” [William P. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-perry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inspiration often appears unexpectedly; disciplined routine like Mark Twain’s can foster creativity **In simple terms:** Routine helps spark creative ideas Key Takeaway Set consistent habits to invite inspiration Themes creativity discipline habit formation Mood reflective motivational Type quote advice When to use this quote - writing - artistic work - daily routines Key Concepts creative process inspiration triggers Questions to Reflect On - What routine best fuels your ideas? - Can spontaneity coexist with discipline? A Different Perspective Inspiration may still be elusive despite routine ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Breakfast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakfast/) [Cigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigar/) [Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Good examples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-examples/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspiration Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration-comes/) [Inspiration Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration-time-999067/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Legends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legends/) [Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark/) [Napkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/napkins/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Restaurants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurants/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [The end of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-end-of-the-day/) [Think Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-inspiration-999066/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Twain Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twain-habit-999068/) [Twelve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twelve/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [I really do think inspiration comes from day-to-day life. I think there's things that pique our interest - not necessarily aha! moments - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-kay/i-really-do-think-inspiration-comes-from-day-to-day-life-i-think/) [Phil Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-kay/) > [Other than the obvious, like Cher and Diana Ross, I actually find a lot of inspiration from time periods. So it's not necessarily people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zendaya/other-than-the-obvious-like-cher-and-diana-ross-i-actually-find-a-lot/) [Zendaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zendaya/) > [If I waited for inspiration every time I sat down to write a song I probably would be a plumber today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mann/if-i-waited-for-inspiration-every-time-i-sat-down-to-write-a-song-i/) [Barry Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mann/) > [Inspiration is never genuine if it is known as inspiration at the time. True inspiration always steals on a person; its importance not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/inspiration-is-never-genuine-if-it-is-known-as-inspiration-at-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [The time u will take others lectures as an inspiration .. your time of success will start (m)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby/the-time-u-will-take-others-lectures-as-an-inspiration-your-time-of/) [Robby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby/) > [Inspiration is there all the time. For everyone whose mind is not clouded over with thoughts whether they realize it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/inspiration-is-there-all-the-time-for-everyone-whose-mind-is-not/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [I kind of took inspiration from my time in Paris. That was kind of the real time when I discovered European fashion. It's stuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-palermo/i-kind-of-took-inspiration-from-my-time-in-paris-that-was-kind-of-the/) [Olivia Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-palermo/) > [I think inspiration is always around; it's just a question of whether or not you're noticing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-inspiration-is-always-around-it-s-just-a-question-of-whether/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A lot of people think inspiration means magic. But really, inspiration means to put life into something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi/a-lot-of-people-think-inspiration-means-magic-but-really-inspiration/) [Avi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi/) > [I think some of my inspiration came from just being around music. My family was into music. My uncle had his own band and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly/i-think-some-of-my-inspiration-came-from-just-being-around-music-my/) [Nelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly/) > [I think I get inspiration from places where I see nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimin/i-think-i-get-inspiration-from-places-where-i-see-nature/) [Jimin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimin/) > [A lot of our songs are based in reality but imagined or using fictional characters as a way to write about something. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/a-lot-of-our-songs-are-based-in-reality-but-imagined-or-using/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [All of my role models - Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham - were leaders and that's the sort of person I like to think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/all-of-my-role-models-gerrard-lampard-and-beckham-were-leaders-and/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) > [I think that's where you get your inspiration from. Your favorite things that you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murray/i-think-that-s-where-you-get-your-inspiration-from-your-favorite/) [James Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murray/) > [“I think of inspiration as desire infused with spirit and topped with an almost reckless optimism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-white/i-think-of-inspiration-as-desire-infused-with-spirit-and-topped-with/) [Fred White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-white/) ## More by William P. Perry > [Composing for concert performance is a somewhat lonely occupation, but composing a film score is highly collaborative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-perry/composing-for-concert-performance-is-a-somewhat-lonely-occupation-but/) [William P. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-perry/) > [I like having deadlines... a film release date or a concert premiere date. It channels one's energy into doing often remarkable work that oceans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-perry/i-like-having-deadlines-a-film-release-date-or-a-concert-premiere/) [William P. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-perry/) > [A scene is never completed, but simply abandoned when the search for perfection is no longer producing positive results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-perry/a-scene-is-never-completed-but-simply-abandoned-when-the-search-for/) [William P. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-perry/) [Explore all 4 William P. Perry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-perry/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Inspiration can show up almost any time, though I have yet to see anyone scratching out melodic ideas on a restaurant napkin as legend would have us believe. I think inspiration comes from concentration, and early on I learned about Mark Twain's habit of leaving for his study after breakfast and not reappearing until the end of the day, ready to read to his family what he had just written. That set a good example for me, although I didn't copy his habit of taking twelve cigars along.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William P. Perry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-perry/inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time-though-i-have-yet-to-see/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-perry/inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time-though-i-have-yet-to-see/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/william-p-perry-65053_believe_inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time_2494463.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/william-p-perry-65053_believe_inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time_2494463.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/william-p-perry-65053_believe_inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time_2494463.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Inspiration can show up almost any time, though I have yet to see anyone scratching out melodic ideas on a…” — William P. Perry", "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": "William P. Perry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-perry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Inspiration can show up almost any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-perry/inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time-though-i-have-yet-to-see/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-perry/inspiration-can-show-up-almost-any-time-though-i-have-yet-to-see/#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 } } ] } ```