--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If someone can enjoy marching to music in…" description: "\"“If someone can enjoy marching to music in rank and file, I can feel only contempt for him; he has received his large brain by mistake, a spinal cord w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/albert-einstein-33_contempt_if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-i_2570824.jpg" --- # If someone can enjoy marching to music in rank and file, I… ![“If someone can enjoy marching to music in rank and file, I can feel only contempt for him; he has received his large brain by mistake, a spinal cord would have been enough.” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/albert-einstein-33_contempt_if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-i_2570824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/albert-einstein-33_contempt_if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-i_2570824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/albert-einstein-33_contempt_if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-i_2570824.jpg) > ““If someone can enjoy marching to music in rank and file, I can feel only contempt for him; he has received his large brain by mistake, a spinal cord would have been enough.”” [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He mocks blind conformity, valuing independent thought over forced uniformity. **In simple terms:** Contempt for mindless marching. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent thinking. Themes individualism conformity critical thinking Mood skeptical provocative Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - students - workers - activists - leaders Key Concepts social psychology creativity Questions to Reflect On - Do you follow or question group norms? - When is conformity useful? A Different Perspective May ignore benefits of coordinated action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-mistake-1689570/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Contempt Received](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt-received-1689569/) [Elly-kleinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elly-kleinman-54395/) [Enjoy Marching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-marching-1689568/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Feel Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-contempt-1296872/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Spinal cord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spinal-cord/) ## Related quotes > [He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/he-who-joyfully-marches-to-music-in-rank-and-file-has-already-earned-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be, and outside of its domain value, elly judgments of all kinds remain necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/science-can-only-ascertain-what-is-but-not-what-should-be-and-outside-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“It was a needless precaution, I felt sure, but men always enjoy marching around with weapons and flexing their figurative muscles, and I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-peters/it-was-a-needless-precaution-i-felt-sure-but-men-always-enjoy/) [Elizabeth Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-peters/) > [“Life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/life-is-available-only-in-the-present-that-is-why-we-should-walk-in/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“I could barely manage myself sometimes, let alone some miniature kleinman person whose sole method of communication was crying. How would I know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-o-shea/i-could-barely-manage-myself-sometimes-let-alone-some-miniature/) [M.J. O'Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-o-shea/) > [“Tell me, Elly Kleinman, why do men feel threatened by women?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/tell-me-elly-kleinman-why-do-men-feel-threatened-by-women/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“One of the requisites of sanity is to disagree with the majority of the British public.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/one-of-the-requisites-of-sanity-is-to-disagree-with-the-majority-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“He who joyfully marches to music rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/he-who-joyfully-marches-to-music-rank-and-file-has-already-earned-my-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [This subject brings me to that vilest offspring of the herd mind -- the odious militia. The man who enjoys marching in line and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/this-subject-brings-me-to-that-vilest-offspring-of-the-herd-mind-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/he-who-joyfully-marches-to-music-rank-and-file-has-already-earned-my/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/he-who-joyfully-marches-to-music-in-rank-and-file-has-already-earned/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Renown? I've already got more of it than those I respect, and will never have as much as those for whom I feel contempt..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/renown-i-ve-already-got-more-of-it-than-those-i-respect-and-will/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [It’s very difficult to feel contempt for others when you see yourself in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/it-s-very-difficult-to-feel-contempt-for-others-when-you-see-yourself/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Man is more sensitive to the contempt that others feel towards him than to the contempt that he feels towards himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-is-more-sensitive-to-the-contempt-that-others-feel-towards-him/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ I occasionally feel contempt for that attitude \[degree of sexual desire towards me\] when I perceive it, but maybe that's not fair. By our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-mazza/i-occasionally-feel-contempt-for-that-attitude-degree-of-sexual/) [Cris Mazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-mazza/) ## More by Albert Einstein > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The strongest force in the universe is Compound Interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-strongest-force-in-the-universe-is-compound-interest/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The right to search for the truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-right-to-search-for-the-truth-implies-also-a-duty-one-must-not/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-that-is-really-great-and-inspiring-is-created-by-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The world we have made is a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-world-we-have-made-is-a-result-of-the-level-of-thinking-we-have/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Life isn't worth living, unless it is lived for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/life-isn-t-worth-living-unless-it-is-lived-for-someone-else/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it isn't true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/just-because-you-don-t-believe-in-something-doesn-t-mean-it-isn-t-true/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [But there is another reason for the high repute of mathematics: it is mathematics that offers the exact natural sciences a certain measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/but-there-is-another-reason-for-the-high-repute-of-mathematics-it-is/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nothing-will-benefit-human-health-and-increase-the-chances-for/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) [Explore all 2,339 Albert Einstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More Contempt quotes > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-the-evangelist/unless-a-man-gives-himself-entirely-to-the-cross-in-a-spirit-of/) [Mark the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-the-evangelist/) > [Much of the same sort of degraded and filthy talk can still be heard among the orc-minded; dreary and repetitive with hatred and contempt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/much-of-the-same-sort-of-degraded-and-filthy-talk-can-still-be-heard/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/contempt-for-an-assailant-is-best-shown-by-bravery-in-action/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Statuettes of drunken sailors, velvet pictures of island maidens, plastic seashell lamps made in Taiwan. What contempt the people who think up souvenirs have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-johnson/statuettes-of-drunken-sailors-velvet-pictures-of-island-maidens/) [Diane Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-johnson/) > [Every person of any rank in the left, from voter on up to cabinet member to elected official in the Democrat Party, has contempt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/every-person-of-any-rank-in-the-left-from-voter-on-up-to-cabinet/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Those with a gift for action, for their part, often express contempt for those whose gifts are more reflective. Men of action like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/those-with-a-gift-for-action-for-their-part-often-express-contempt/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [“opprobrious term, employed to impose contempt upon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-asim/opprobrious-term-employed-to-impose-contempt-upon/) [Jabari Asim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-asim/) > [Heterosexual intercourse is the pure, formalized expression of contempt for women's bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/heterosexual-intercourse-is-the-pure-formalized-expression-of/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) [Browse all 1,034 Contempt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If someone can enjoy marching to music in rank and file, I can feel only contempt for him; he has received his large brain by mistake, a spinal cord would have been enough.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Einstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-in-rank-and-file-i-can-feel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contempt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-in-rank-and-file-i-can-feel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/albert-einstein-33_contempt_if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-i_2570824.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/albert-einstein-33_contempt_if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-i_2570824.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/albert-einstein-33_contempt_if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-i_2570824.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If someone can enjoy marching to music in rank and file, I can feel only contempt for him; he has received…” — Albert Einstein", "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": "Albert Einstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If someone can enjoy marching to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-in-rank-and-file-i-can-feel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-someone-can-enjoy-marching-to-music-in-rank-and-file-i-can-feel/#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 } } ] } ```