Don Marquis on Ideas

“ Ideas pull the trigger, but instinct loads the gun.”
— Don Marquis

(via ashleysimko)

4 Comments leave a comment below

  1. Can’t help but wonder if the quote would work better like so:

    “Ideas load the gun, but instinct pulls the trigger.”

  2. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

  3. yes totally!!! i feel the same, way, the important thing is that it means we got it :)

  4. If your gun is unloaded and you are under attack, knowing how to the load the gun may not be enough if you are in a panicked rush or ill-prepared. All the knowledge and experience in doing so simply is no replacement for being able to carry out the act in a cool, calm and collected manner.

    In other words, what Marquis is really saying here, is all the bright ideas in the world don’t mean a thing if they can not be brought into being without the pro genitor of action, which requires a special character.

    It is taken from Marquis’ “The Almost Perfect State” which was written in 1927 as a series of sharp criticisms of the Progressive Era and actually predicts many of the events that unfolded in the 15 years that ensued.

    Marquis is/was considered a prominent, witty Progressive Era author, but has fallen out of favor largely because he was quite critical of the movement, and his quotes are often mis-represented.