"The best way to have a good idea is to get a lot of ideas"
Linus Carl Pauling (1901-1994) was a quantum theorist, explorer of chemical bonds, an anti-nuclear campaigner and a two-time winner of the Nobel Prize - in Chemistry and also the Nobel Peace Prize.
"The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas" is true for scientific and practical innovation, also problem solving, and artistic creation as well.
For example, in an interesting study into artistic creativity a university graduate class in ceramics was divided into two parts.
The first group was told to take a whole semester and focus on creating their best, most beautiful or innovative work.
The second group was told to spend the semester makeing as many pieces as possible.
Which group do you think produced the most beautiful and innovative work?
Hint - the answer is in Linus Pauling's quote.
