--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I see my body as an instrument, rather…" description: "\"I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament.\" — Alanis Morissette" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/alanis-morissette-1074_body_i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-th_2743377.jpg" --- # I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament. ![“I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament.” quote by Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/alanis-morissette-1074_body_i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-th_2743377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/alanis-morissette-1074_body_i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-th_2743377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/alanis-morissette-1074_body_i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-th_2743377.jpg) > “I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament.” [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Viewing the body as a functional tool emphasizes utility over aesthetic value. **In simple terms:** Treat your body like a tool, not a decoration. Key Takeaway Prioritize health and capability over appearance. Themes body image self‑esteem functionality health empowerment Mood contemplative motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - gym training - performance arts - daily routines - medical recovery - creative work Key Concepts instrumentality self‑acceptance mind‑body connection Questions to Reflect On - In what ways does seeing your body as an instrument affect your confidence? - How can you balance function and aesthetic enjoyment? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on function may ignore emotional aspects of self‑expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) ## Related quotes > [The body is the instrument of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-body-is-the-instrument-of-the-soul/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The earth forms the body of an instrument, across which strings are stretched and are tuned by a divine hand. We must try once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-murray-schafer/the-earth-forms-the-body-of-an-instrument-across-which-strings-are/) [R. Murray Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-murray-schafer/) > [The body is an instrument which only gives off music when it is used as a body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-body-is-an-instrument-which-only-gives-off-music-when-it-is-used/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [When you act, your whole body is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bronson/when-you-act-your-whole-body-is-the-instrument/) [Charles Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bronson/) > [My body is an instrument for me to use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-beart/my-body-is-an-instrument-for-me-to-use/) [Emmanuelle Beart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-beart/) > [As an actor, your body is an instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-martin/as-an-actor-your-body-is-an-instrument/) [Stacy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-martin/) > [The body is the instrument of our hold on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-body-is-the-instrument-of-our-hold-on-the-world/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [I think there is no better way to invite a human being to view their body differently than by inviting them to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-think-there-is-no-better-way-to-invite-a-human-being-to-view-their/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [A well trained body is a beautiful instrument on which to play the melody of the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-yee/a-well-trained-body-is-a-beautiful-instrument-on-which-to-play-the/) [Rodney Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-yee/) > [The human body is an instrument for the production of art in the life of the human soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-human-body-is-an-instrument-for-the-production-of-art-in-the-life/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [My mother was a dancer, so I like to use the body as part of the instrument of acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/my-mother-was-a-dancer-so-i-like-to-use-the-body-as-part-of-the/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [When you have a sense of yourself in space, in your movement, in your muscles, you can express yourself through your body, your instrument.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-virtue/when-you-have-a-sense-of-yourself-in-space-in-your-movement-in-your/) [Tessa Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-virtue/) > [The body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature, the body. I don't leap and jump anymore. I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-body-is-your-instrument-in-dance-but-your-art-is-outside-that/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [I used to think of my body as an instrument, of pleasure, or a means of transportation, or an implement for the accomplishment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-used-to-think-of-my-body-as-an-instrument-of-pleasure-or-a-means-of/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature, the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-body-is-your-instrument-in-dance-but-your-art-is-outside-that-2/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) ## More by Alanis Morissette > [It's when someone has an agenda of their own for the record that it doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/it-s-when-someone-has-an-agenda-of-their-own-for-the-record-that-it/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [If someone hates or loves something, then right on. I can't rob them of that. I'm not going to try and change their mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/if-someone-hates-or-loves-something-then-right-on-i-can-t-rob-them-of/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I didn't have high self-esteem when I was a teen-ager, as I think most teen-agers don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-didn-t-have-high-self-esteem-when-i-was-a-teen-ager-as-i-think-most/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I sabotage myself for fear of what my bigness could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-sabotage-myself-for-fear-of-what-my-bigness-could-do/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that turned into me thinking I had to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-was-taught-from-a-young-age-that-i-had-to-serve-so-that-turned-into/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Peace of mind for five minutes, that's what I crave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/peace-of-mind-for-five-minutes-that-s-what-i-crave/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Don't be surprised if I Love you for aLL that you are, I couLdn't heLp it, it's aLL your fauLt..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/don-t-be-surprised-if-i-love-you-for-all-that-you-are-i-couldn-t-help/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [My main objective with every album is to capture a moment in time, which usually makes the whole process very relaxing. I only discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/my-main-objective-with-every-album-is-to-capture-a-moment-in-time/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you When you think everything's okay and everything's going right And life has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/well-life-has-a-funny-way-of-sneaking-up-on-you-when-you-think/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I don't like it when my lips steal the show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-don-t-like-it-when-my-lips-steal-the-show/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [For four to six months at a time, I would barely eat. I lived on a diet of Melba toast, carrots, and black coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/for-four-to-six-months-at-a-time-i-would-barely-eat-i-lived-on-a-diet/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I salute you for your courage, and I applaud your perseverance, and I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-salute-you-for-your-courage-and-i-applaud-your-perseverance-and-i/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Freedom lies at the heart of my willingness to lose everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/freedom-lies-at-the-heart-of-my-willingness-to-lose-everything/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [I would never judge someone's intrigue with the spoils of fame, because I went through that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-would-never-judge-someone-s-intrigue-with-the-spoils-of-fame/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [In 1995, I was thrust into the role of reluctant, flag-waving feminist and emotionally-focused artist/advocate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/in-1995-i-was-thrust-into-the-role-of-reluctant-flag-waving-feminist/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) [Explore all 297 Alanis Morissette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alanis Morissette" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-than-an-ornament/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-than-an-ornament/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/alanis-morissette-1074_body_i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-th_2743377.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/alanis-morissette-1074_body_i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-th_2743377.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b97/alanis-morissette-1074_body_i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-th_2743377.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament.” — Alanis Morissette", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alanis Morissette", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I see my body as an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-than-an-ornament/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-see-my-body-as-an-instrument-rather-than-an-ornament/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```