Tessa Thompson Quotes

I don't vocalise things that don't deserve attention.

I am a believer in discipline; it takes a lot to do well. You need discipline for those little excursions into the chaotic that make life interesting.

Learn to say 'no' to the good so you can say 'yes' to the best.

No one who cannot limit himself has ever been able to write.

Always do one thing less than you think you can do.

What you don't do is as important as what you do.

I think it's just as important what you say no to as what you say yes to.

I have disciplined myself when I'm working. When I discovered art, I realized that one could keep that search going within creation. But I also realize that in order to create the art, you have to stay, you can't go too far.

I'm as proud of what we don't do as I am of what we do.

We are the most focused company that I know of or have read of or have any knowledge of. We say no to good ideas every day. We say no to great ideas in order to keep the amount of things we focus on very small in number so that we can put enormous energy behind the ones we do choose.....It's not just saying yes to the right products, it's saying no to many products that are good ideas, but just not nearly as good as the other ones.

There is but one art, to omit.

He who cannot limit himself will never know how to write.

I didn't want to do the whole, get the hottest person thing. I wanted to make sure every record felt right.

Knowing what you can not do is more important than knowing what you can do. In fact, that's good taste.

Courage is not always about action. It takes courage to do nothing rather than do something that you do not believe in or understand.

Without freedom, no art; art lives only on the restraints it imposes on itself, and dies of all others.

Notable talents are not necessarily connected with discretion.

I never look at other people's work. My mind has to be completely focused on my own illusions.

Only when a man will not do some things is he capable of doing great things.

You can only do so many things great, and you should cast aside everything else.

It's not what you play but what you leave out that makes the difference.

The most difficult thing about painting is the self-discipline. When I finish a job, I give myself a few days, but then I have to discipline myself quite fiercely if I want to do some painting that's worthwhile. Otherwise, you're just doodling. It's much easier when you're just told what you have to do.

It's a funny thing: people often ask how I discipline myself to write. I can't begin to understand the question. For me, the discipline is turning off the computer and leaving my desk to do something else.

My best attribute is knowing when not to answer stupid questions.

If you want to be a legitimate artist, it's more important what you say no to.