John Cleese Quotes

The creative process is mysterious; a conversation, a ride in the car, or a melody can trigger something.

I get inspired at different times and in different ways.

My ideas tend to arise out of nowhere when I'm not intentionally trying to think of something.

In general, I don't know when inspiration will pop up.

Typically my ideas come to me in the most inane ways possible. I had the initial idea for 'Quantum Conundrum' while I was walking down the street to get breakfast. People are like, 'Whoa, what's your inspiration, is it something amazing?' No, I was just really hungry.

I need, sometimes, individuals to spark an idea so that I can take off running.

You never know where inspiration is going to come from.

Not all ideas are like a twinkling star in the sky, and you get inspired to make a record the next day.

Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea.

I have a good idea every two years. Give me a topic, I will give you the idea!

A lot of people think inspiration means magic. But really, inspiration means to put life into something.

You don't go to the library and walk along and pick out a topic. You are riding the bus, or shopping at Safeway, and all of a sudden the idea comes to you.

My good ideas are shy. But if they see that I treat the stupid ideas with respect, they come forward.

I sometimes don't try to invent something. I wait for some kind of a direction - and it happens. I get an angle, for instance, and it just appears, and I say, 'Oh my God - that's it!'

Creativity is a spark. It can be excruciating when we're rubbing two rocks together and getting nothing. And it can be intensely satisfying when the flame catches and a new idea sweeps around the world.

Inspiration strikes at very funny times.

I guess some people are brilliant enough to be brilliant on their own and never doubt anything and come up with fabulous things. But I think it's good to get into arguments with people and have them say, 'That sucks' or 'You're crazy' or 'That's cheesy' or 'What do you think of this?'

When you stop thinking about something, the idea comes to you. It seems to work.

All ideas grow out of other ideas.

When you come up with a good idea, you don't have to do a whole lot. The idea does it for you.

I think we always move from imitation to assimilation to innovation, but I can't name you 20 people outside those we've already recognized who ever got to point three: innovation.

I do not 'get' ideas; ideas get me.

Inspiration doesn't really work like that - you're not looking out for it. Inspiration is something that tends to capture you rather than you capture it.

My joking answer to this question is that I leave a bowl of milk out on the back porch every night for the Idea Fairy. In the morning, the milk is gone and there's a brand-new shiny idea by the bowl.

The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.