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About this quote

What does it mean?
Efficiency creates order, but irregular paths often hold creative potential.
In plain terms
Straight roads come from improvement, but crooked roads show genius.
What can you take from it?
Value the imperfect path as a source of creativity.

Where it applies

  • problem solving
  • artistic process
  • career paths

Putting it to work

  • explore unconventional routes
  • question standard improvements

Questions to consider

  • When did a detour lead to a breakthrough?
  • Do you fear inefficiency in your work?

Another view

Crooked roads can also just represent inefficiency or error.

More from William Blake

  1. Exuberance is Beauty

    Permalink to quote #78
  2. Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believed.

    Permalink to quote #80
  3. When thou seest an Eagle, thou seest a portion of Genius; lift up thy head!

    Permalink to quote #77

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