"Do what you haven't done is the key, I think"
About this Quote
The phrasing is tellingly plain, almost tossed off: “the key, I think.” That little hedge is classic craftsman modesty, but it’s also a quiet flex. Scott doesn’t sell genius; he sells process. The subtext is that originality isn’t a lightning strike, it’s a discipline of self-disruption. You avoid becoming a tribute band to your own greatest hits by engineering unfamiliarity: new genres, new tools, new collaborators, new rhythms. In an industry that rewards repeatable IP and punishes risk, the line doubles as a subtle rebuke. If you keep doing what works, you end up making the safe version of yourself, which is just another kind of sequel.
Context matters, too: Scott’s often discussed in terms of hits and “director’s cuts,” the myth of the auteur wrestling with studios and legacy. This quote shrugs at legacy. It’s a reminder that the most cinematic way to stay alive is to keep moving the camera somewhere you haven’t aimed it yet.
Quote Details
| Topic | Embrace Change |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Scott, Ridley. (2026, January 15). Do what you haven't done is the key, I think. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/do-what-you-havent-done-is-the-key-i-think-21957/
Chicago Style
Scott, Ridley. "Do what you haven't done is the key, I think." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/do-what-you-havent-done-is-the-key-i-think-21957/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Do what you haven't done is the key, I think." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/do-what-you-havent-done-is-the-key-i-think-21957/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.









