Charles H. Townes Quotes

Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things.

The most important voices in American politics often belong to the outsiders, whose who … might stand as a landscape painter from a distance to cast fresh lights

Big ideas come from forward thinking people who challenge the norm, think outside the box, and invent the world they see inside rather than submitting to the limitations of current dilemmas

I see people as the nucleus of a great idea that hasn't come to be yet.

I often try to think about, What sounds like a bad idea, but if you find the right plan of attack, it's actually a really good idea? I spend a lot of time really trying to systematically tackle problems from different angles.

One thing has always been true: That book or that person who can give me an idea or a new slant on an old idea is my friend.

Ideas come from everywhere - they come from what you see and hear and imagine.

If you have an idea that's going to make a big difference to people's lives, and other people are not doing it, you know, just say "screw it," do it and get on with it, and give it a go.

"Where do you get your ideas?" That's the one question I'm genuinely sick of being asked, and also genuinely fascinated by. What fascinates me is not that people ask the question, but what kind of answer are they really looking for? Because if I tell them the truth, which is "I make them up," they seem very disappointed. They want to know about the trek I do once a year to the mountain.

A new idea comes suddenly and in a rather intuitive way, but intuition is nothing but the outcome of earlier intellectual experience.

They enjoy thinking. They enjoy being creative. They enjoy having ideas. Most people do not enjoy thinking at all.

Ideas that most people derided as ridiculous have produced the best outcomes. Don't do the obvious thing.

The sudden hunch, the creative leap of mind that "sees" in a flash how to solve a problem in a simple way, is something quite different from general intelligence.

Those that regularly come into contact with people having diverse interests and viewpoints are more likely to come up with innovative ideas.

The pioneer scientist must have "a vivid intuitive imagination, for new ideas are not generated by deduction, but by artistically creative imagination."

Creativity is the process of having original ideas that have value

Any leader who asks the right questions of the right people has the potential to discover and develop great ideas.

[Topher Grace] is thought about what he's going to do and he has a lot of ideas. So there's that.

I am rather like a travelling salesman. I deal in ideas. I do much more for people than just paint them pictures.

The brain is a commodity used to fertilize ideas.

Ideas are a dime a dozen. People who implement them are priceless.

I think the critical thing is the product or service that you're trying to raise money for. And probably the best description of that, people should say when they hear, "This is what I want to do. This is what I want to bring to the market." They should say, "Gee! That's a great idea" or "Gee! Why hasn't somebody else thought of that before? Well, that's an incredible idea!" In other words, the more a person is delighted, or astonished, or happy with your product, or service, or idea, the more happy they are to put up money for it.

It is surprising that people do not believe that there is imagination in science. It is a very interesting kind of imagination, unlike that of the artist. The great difficulty is in trying to imagine something that you have never seen, that is consistent in every detail with what has already been seen, and that is different from what has been thought of; furthermore, it must be definite and not a vague proposition. That is indeed difficult.

Our best ideas come from clerks and stockboys.