"I didn't think; I experimented"

Anthony Burgess’s declaration, “I didn’t think; I experimented,” conveys the primacy of action and exploration over abstract contemplation. Rather than paralyzing himself in indecision or endless rumination, Burgess champions a method of creation and discovery grounded in direct engagement with the world. Experimentation, as he presents it, becomes a way of uncovering truths and possibilities that pure thought alone might never present. This mode of operation suggests an almost scientific curiosity applied to life and art, where outcomes are not always predictable, and surprises, both failures and breakthroughs, are not only possible but welcomed.

Such an approach reflects courage, a willingness to venture into the unknown without guarantees, trusting in the process rather than obsessively controlling outcomes. For a writer and creator like Burgess, this manner of working probably permitted originality to flourish. Rather than following pre-established formulas or excessive self-analysis, he gives himself license to try, fail, and discover. It’s as if he sees thought, at least at the initial stage, as potentially restrictive, imposing prior judgments or limits inherited from tradition, while experimentation brings a fresh, unburdened perspective.

Within this mode, error becomes not a source of shame, but a valuable component of evolution. Each experiment, regardless of its success, accrues real learning and advancement. This mirrors the artistic process, where iteration and revision serve as engines for growth. Burgess’s admission further suggests humility, a recognition that, despite intelligence or planning, real understanding often arises organically through doing. It is a philosophy aligned with the adventurous spirit, reminiscent of artists and scientists alike who, in the absence of completely reliable guides, forge new paths by trial and error.

Ultimately, the statement serves as an invitation to embrace uncertainty, to favor doing over overthinking, and to grant oneself the freedom necessary for all true innovation.