Quote

The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.

Austin Kleon

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Austin Kleon
Age: 41
Born: 1983
Born: June 16
Author
Musician
Visual Artist
Writer
Ohio
United States
Ideas
Good
Collect
Influenced
Choose

More quotes by Austin Kleon

Image
Find the most talented person in the room, and if it's not you, go stand next to him. Hang out with him. Try to be helpful. If you ever find that you're the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room.
Austin Kleon
Image
So go on, get angry. But keep your mouth shut and go do your work.
Austin Kleon
Image
If we're free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing, and we can embrace influence instead of running from it.
Austin Kleon
Image
The artist is a collector. Not a hoarder, mind you, there's a difference: Hoarders collect indiscriminately, artists collect selectively. They only collect things that they really love.
Austin Kleon
Image
We're always being told 'find your voice.' When I was younger, I never really knew what this meant. I used to worry a lot about voice, wondering if I had my own. But now I realize that the only way to find your voice is to use it. It's hardwired, built into you. Talk about the things you love. Your voice will follow.
Austin Kleon
Image
If you’re worried about giving your secrets away, you can share your dots without connecting them.
Austin Kleon
Image
Unless you are actually a ninja, a guru, or a rock star, don't ever use any of those terms in your bio. Ever.
Austin Kleon
Image
Enjoy your obscurity while it lasts.
Austin Kleon
Image
Be boring. (It’s the only way to get work done.)
Austin Kleon
Image
Amateurs know that contributing something is better than contributing nothing.
Austin Kleon
Image
The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others.
Austin Kleon
Image
Become a documentarian of what you do.
Austin Kleon
Image
There’s an economic theory out there that if you take the incomes of your five closest friends and average them, the resulting number will be pretty close to your own income. I think the same thing is true of idea incomes. You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.
Austin Kleon
Image
The people who get what they’re after are very often the ones who just stick around long enough.
Austin Kleon
Image
Your brain gets too comfortable in your everyday surroundings. You need to make it uncomfortable. You need to spend some time in another land, among people that do things differently than you. Travel makes the world look new, and when the world looks new, our brains work harder.
Austin Kleon
Image
You can't find your voice if you don't use it.
Austin Kleon
Image
When people give advice, they're really just talking to themselves in the past.
Austin Kleon
Image
Nothing is more paralyzing than the idea of limitless possibilities.
Austin Kleon
Image
Inertia is the death of creativity
Austin Kleon
Image
Every artist gets asked the question, 'Where do you get your ideas?' The honest artist answers, 'I steal them.'
Austin Kleon