scientific giants as Albert Einstein agree that knowledge is basic to good creative thinking but that it not enough, that this knowledge must be digested and eventually emerge in the form of fresh, new combinations and relationships.

1. an idea is nothing more nor less than a combination of old elements (15)

2. the capacity to bring old elements into new combinations depends largely on the ability to see relationships (16)

3. in a third stage you make absolutely no effort of a direct nature. You drop the whole subject and put the problem out of your mind as completely as you can. Turn the problem over to your unconscious mind and let it work while you sleep and turn to whatever stimulates your imagination and emotions (32)

4. out of nowhere the idea will appear. it will come to you when you are least expecting it. This is the way ideas come: after you have stopped straining for them and have passed through a period of rest and relaxation from the search. (36)

5. Submit your idea to the criticism of others. Good ideas have expanding qualities. They stimulate those who see them to add them (39)