Draw, draw, hundreds of drawings. Try to remain humble. Smartness kills everything.

Draw, draw, hundreds of drawings. Try to remain humble. Smartness kills everything.

Sherwood Anderson

The quote “Draw, draw, hundreds of drawings. Try to remain humble. Smartness kills everything.” emphasizes the importance of practice and humility in the creative process. At its core, it suggests that consistent effort—symbolized by “drawing”—is crucial for improvement and mastery in any skill. The phrase “hundreds of drawings” implies that repetition and perseverance lead to growth; the more you create, the better you become.

The second part of the quote highlights humility as a vital mindset for anyone pursuing personal or artistic development. Being humble allows individuals to remain open to learning from others, accepting criticism, and recognizing their limitations rather than becoming overly confident or arrogant about their abilities.

The final phrase warns against the dangers of overthinking or intellectualizing creativity with “smartness.” This could mean that being too focused on being clever can stifle spontaneity and authentic expression. Over-analyzing one’s work might lead to paralysis by analysis—a situation where fear of imperfection prevents creation altogether.

In today’s world, this philosophy can be applied broadly across various domains:

1. **Creative Professions**: Artists, writers, musicians—anyone in a creative field can benefit from producing work consistently without self-judgment initially. Embracing experimentation allows for breakthroughs that would otherwise be stifled by perfectionism.

2. **Personal Development**: In personal growth journeys (like learning new skills), it’s essential to engage in regular practice while keeping a humble outlook toward progress. Recognizing that everyone has room for improvement fosters resilience against setbacks.

3. **Workplace Environments**: In professional settings where innovation is valued, teams should encourage an atmosphere where ideas can flow freely without fear of harsh judgment (which might come from perceived intelligence). This openness often leads to more innovative thinking and collaboration.

4. **Learning Mindset**: Approaching challenges with curiosity rather than ego encourages lifelong learning—a critical trait in an ever-evolving world where adaptability is key.

Overall, this quote serves as a reminder that achieving mastery takes time and continuous effort while maintaining humility enhances our capacity for growth—and sometimes simplicity trumps complexity when engaging creatively with life’s challenges.

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