Parable of the Pottery Class

The Parable of the Pottery Class is a well-known story that illustrates the power of practice and iteration over perfectionism. It originates from the book Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

The Story:

A ceramics teacher divided his class into two groups. One group was graded solely on the quantity of pots they produced, while the other group was graded on the quality of a single pot.

• The quantity group was instructed to make as many pots as possible—weighting their total output at the end of the semester.

• The quality group was tasked with creating just one perfect pot.

The Result:

By the end of the semester, the students in the quantity group produced the highest-quality pots—not just in volume, but also in craftsmanship. They improved through constant practice, experimentation, and learning from mistakes. Meanwhile, the quality group spent too much time theorizing and planning, resulting in inferior work.

The Lesson:

• Practice leads to mastery. Repetition and doing the work help refine skills faster than overanalyzing.

• Failure is a teacher. Making mistakes and iterating lead to better outcomes than trying to be perfect from the start.

• Action beats overthinking. Creativity and skill develop through hands-on experience, not just planning.

This principle applies beyond pottery—to writing, programming, business, and any creative field. The more you do, the better you become.