What does the proverb "Necessity is the mother of invention" fundamentally suggest about creation?

An urgent need or requirement compels people to invent something to fulfill that need.

The core meaning of the proverb establishes a direct causal link between human ingenuity and a state of lack or requirement. It posits that when current circumstances present an inescapable situation where established methods fail or are unavailable, the pressure generated by this constraint forces the conception and development of a new method. This process highlights that the most fundamental and unavoidable pressures are often the catalysts for the most significant and creative outcomes, serving as the primary instigator for technological leaps by demanding solutions to bridge the gap between the current inadequate state and a necessary desired outcome. Innovation, in this context, is seen as a direct, reactive response to hardship rather than a pursuit undertaken in times of ease.