Steven Johnson Quotes

Because we imagine, we can have invention and technology. It's actually play, not necessity, that is the mother of invention.

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but play is certainly the father.

Science fiction is any idea that occurs in the head and doesn't exist yet, but soon will, and will change everything for everybody, and nothing will ever be the same again. As soon as you have an idea that changes some small part of the world you are writing science fiction. It is always the art of the possible, never the impossible.

We seem to forget that innovation doesn't just come from equations or new kinds of chemicals, it comes from a human place. Innovation in the sciences is always linked in some way, either directly or indirectly, to a human experience.

Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics.

Invention breeds invention.

What makes our world so fascinating is that continuously there are novel and creative ideas spurring people to leave old ways and try something new.

You'll find the future wherever people are having the most fun.

The future will bring new possibilities and ideas - and new terms for them.

Every time you think all the technology that had been created already, all you have to do is look around and then there's someone new who's born with a new idea.

The fun is in always building something. After it's built, you play with it awhile and then you're through. You see, we never do the same thing twice around here. We're always opening up new doors.

Humans test their brand new wings and invent new possibilities using new-fangled things not with grim determination, but with play.

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.

I've always been a great believer that you have to keep producing new things in order to keep life interesting - not only for ourselves, but for the audience as well. That's really always been our principle and way of working.

I think there's always room for more innovation and new things.

I think I've always been slightly addicted to not repeating myself. When you're doing something the first time around, it's often the best time. I think 'Blank Project' is about carrying on. Its that thing where you're making something because you have to, but you don't know how or why.

We will always have more to discover, more to invent, more to understand and that's much closer to art and literature than any science.

The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.

Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.

As I see it, whoever's doing the inventing is also doing most of the learning - and probably having most of the fun.

Without imagination we can go nowhere. And imagination is not restricted to the arts. Every scientist I have met who has been a success has had to imagine.

To me, innovations are the wheel, fire, language, movable type. There are not 3 million innovations; there are 3 million inventions.

What is now proved was once only imagined.

Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.

An interest in ideas is a sign of human life. People are fascinated by what the future is going to be - and the future is going to be an accumulation of ideas.