Get All Access for $5/mo

Feeling Stuck? Here Are 34 Quotes on Creativity from the World's Most Inspirational Leaders. To be successful, you've got to think outside the box.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Anthony Harvey | Getty Images

To be successful as an entrepreneur, you've got to have a unique and different idea -- something that makes you stand out from the rest. Of course, discovering that one thing that makes you special is no easy task. That's why you've got to be creative and think outside the box.

Related: 12 Quotes on Failure From Super Successful Leaders Like Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban and More

Every successful leader or entrepreneur has used creativity to help them get to where they are today. In fact, creativity is a core component to anyone's success. Take a look at J.K. Rowling -- using creativity and imagination, she created a successful franchise full of witches and wizards. Or how about Steve Jobs? Without creatively thinking about the simplest, sleekest way to create products for consumers, Apple would have never been born.

From Jeff Bezos to Coco Chanel, check out these quotes on creativity from some of the most inspirational leaders today.

Mark Cuban

"Creating opportunities means looking where others are not." -- Mark Cuban

Thomas Edison

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." -- Thomas Edison

Barbara Corcoran

"Use your imagination to fill in the blanks." -- Barbara Corcoran

Richard Branson

"The most talented, thought-provoking, game-changing people are never normal." -- Richard Branson

Steve Jobs

"Stay hungry. Stay foolish." -- Steve Jobs

Related: 10 Inspiring Quotes From Billionaire Entrepreneur and Shark Tank Star Mark Cuban

Martha Stewart

"It's all about new techniques -- simplifying old techniques and consolidating steps. Making things go faster, but not worse." -- Martha Stewart

Steven Spielberg

"Replace fear with curiosity." -- Steven Spielberg

Elon Musk

"There's a tremendous bias against taking risks. Everyone is trying to optimize their ass-covering." -- Elon Musk

Alfred Hitchcock

"Ideas come from everything." -- Alfred Hitchcock

Larry Page

"If you're not doing some things that are crazy, then you're doing the wrong things." -- Larry Page

J.K. Rowling

"Many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all. They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are." -- J.K. Rowling

Related: 10 Barack Obama Quotes on Hard Work, Success, Motivation and More

Coco Chanel

"My life didn't please me, so I created my life." -- Coco Chanel

Andy Warhol

"Art is what you can get away with." -- Andy Warhol

Jeff Bezos

"One of the only ways to get out a tight box is to invent your way out." -- Jeff Bezos

Albert Einstein

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." -- Albert Einstein

Related: 11 Thomas Jefferson Quotes on Motivation, Mindset, Productivity and More

Warren Buffett

"Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks." -- Warren Buffett

Tim Ferriss

"Creativity is an infinite resource. The more you spend, the more you have." -- Tim Ferriss

Lady Gaga

"Ignore all the hatred and criticism. Live for what you create and die protecting it." -- Lady Gaga

Tony Robbins

"It's your unlimited power to create and to love that can make the biggest difference in the quality of your life." -- Tony Robbins

Jack Dorsey

"Expect the unexpected. And whenever possible, be the unexpected." -- Jack Dorsey

Steve Case

"All great ideas start as weird ideas. What now seems obvious, early on, is not obvious to anybody." -- Steve Case

Pope Francis

"Big cities bring together all the different ways which we human beings have discovered to express the meaning of life, wherever we may be." -- Pope Francis

Bill Gates

"Humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries, but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity." -- Bill Gates

Bruce Springsteen

"When it comes to luck, you make your own." -- Bruce Springsteen

Tim Cook

"You don't have to choose between doing good and doing well it's a false choice, today more than ever." -- Tim Cook

Daniel Lubetzky

"If you can find a purpose that defines you and imbues you with meaning, then channeling that passion and energy toward your business or vocation can be a source of new invincibility." -- Daniel Lubetzky

Paul Allen

"From technology to science to music to art, I'm inspired by those who've blurred the boundaries, who've looked at the possibilities and said, 'What if...?'" -- Paul Allen

Gary Vaynerchuk

"Your legacy is being written by yourself. Make the right decisions." -- Gary Vaynerchuk

Michael Jordan

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it." -- Michael Jordan

Ellen Degeneres

"We're all different people and we're allowed to be different from one another. If someone ever says you're weird, say thank you." -- Ellen Degeneres

Michael Dell

"Ideas are a commodity. Execution of them is not." -- Michael Dell

Daymond John

"A savvy entrepreneur will not always look for investment money first." -- Daymond John

Johnny Cash

"I start a lot more songs than I finish, because I realize when I get into them, they're no good. I don't throw them away, I just put them away, store them get them out of sight." -- Johnny Cash

Phil Knight

"Seek a calling, even if you don't know what that means, seek it. If you're following your calling, the fatigue will will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you've ever felt." -- Phil Knight

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

These Companies Offer the Best Work-Life Balance, According to Employees

The ranking is based on Glassdoor ratings and reviews.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Science & Technology

Use This Framework to Successfully Integrate AI Into Your Business Operations

Here's how to ensure both innovation and compliance when using AI in your organization.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.

Growing a Business

5 Effective Strategies to Boost Your Business's Online Presence

Boosting your online presence in 2025 is the key to success for businesses looking to grow. Working on your branding and reputation management is important to drive more sales and improve conversion.