John Ambrose Fleming Quotes

Knowledge is the stuff from which new ideas are made. Thus, the real key to being creative lies in what you do with your knowledge.

I am not overly impressed by the great names and reputations of those who might be trying to beat me to an invention. It's their 'ideas' that appeal to me. I am quite correctly described as 'more of a sponge than an inventor

"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.

Creativity has a lot to do with the main idea. Inspiration is what comes when you are dealing with the idea. But inspiration won't invite what's not there to begin with.

Peter had a genius for imitation; but he lacked true genius, which is creative and makes all from nothing.

Invention consists in the capacity of seizing on the capabilities of a subject, and in the power of moulding and fashioning ideas suggested to it.

It's only those exceptional and rare individuals who have brilliant ideas delivered to them by the muse, complete and gift wrapped. The rest of us have to work at it.

The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies.

Creativity is the process of having original ideas that have value

Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born.

Nothing in the whole world felt as good as being able to make something from a sudden idea.

If we want a better original idea, we must generate our own before we screen others' suggestions.

We have got to abandon the sense of amazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything.

Brian Eno developed systems to keep himself on edge and to keep himself in a position where he's generating ideas.

It's not enough to tell people to be creative; they need to know how, and what to create.

I pick up inspiration from everywhere and it all manages to keep stored in my brain somewhere.

As a creative person, you want to start with a blank canvas.

I would consider myself an inventor at heart, or reinventor.

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.

As I get on and films take four years to complete, I tend to have a hankering for very short projects so you can move on to the next idea. It's the ideas I'm interested in. What comes out of your head.

You can't rush inspiration.

I would worry if I wasn't coming up with ideas, if I wasn't inspired.

Ideas do not exist apart from the men and women who create them.

If you do come up with a new idea, in 4 seconds it will belong to somebody else.

I'm always looking for the creative spark. Always.