The habit of mind which leads to a search for relationships between facts becomes of the highest importance in the production of ideas.
James Webb YoungParticular bits of knowledge are nothing, because they are made up of what Dr. Robert Hutchins once called rapidly aging facts. Principles and method are everything.
James Webb YoungDo not make the mistake of holding your idea close to your chestโฆ Submit it to the criticism of the judicious.
James Webb YoungThus, words being symbols of ideas, we can collect ideas by collecting words. The fellow who said he tried reading the dictionary but couldn't get the hang of the story simply missed the point: namely, that it is a collection of short stories.
James Webb YoungDrop the whole subject and put it out of your mind and let your subconscious do its thing.
James Webb YoungEvery really good creative person in advertising has always had two noticeable characteristics. First, there was no subject he could not easily get interested in...Second, he was an extensive browser in all sorts of fields of information. For it is with the advertising man as with the cow: no browsing, no milk.
James Webb Young