Those who make most important breakthroughs and are most productive read more of the old literature

At least one study in the field of physics found that those who make the most important breakthroughs and are the most productive of new ideas read more of the old literature than their less creative colleagues.

From An Interview with E.Paul Torrance : About Creativity – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233971371_An_Interview_with_EPaul_Torrance_About_Creativity