--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music is a complete evocation – like a…" description: "\"“Music is a complete evocation – like a smell. It can bring an entire memory and feeling back to you in a rush. Much more complete than even a photogra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/anton-szandor-lavey-2894_music_music-is-a-complete-evocation-like-a-sme_2679380.jpg" --- # Music is a complete evocation – like a smell. It can bring… ![“Music is a complete evocation – like a smell. It can bring an entire memory and feeling back to you in a rush. Much more complete than even a photograph. You allow yourself a certain visual distance with photos – not music. It envelopes you – there’s no way to escape it. It’s a great test of…” quote by Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/anton-szandor-lavey-2894_music_music-is-a-complete-evocation-like-a-sme_2679380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/anton-szandor-lavey-2894_music_music-is-a-complete-evocation-like-a-sme_2679380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d0/anton-szandor-lavey-2894_music_music-is-a-complete-evocation-like-a-sme_2679380.jpg) > ““Music is a complete evocation – like a smell. It can bring an entire memory and feeling back to you in a rush. Much more complete than even a photograph. You allow yourself a certain visual distance with photos – not music. It envelopes you – there’s no way to escape it. It’s a great test of sensitivity – the degree of reaction to music. I use it all the time. I call it my ‘Music Test.’ People today don’t want to hear the truth. They’re really afraid of tranquility and silence – they’re afraid they might begin to understand their own motivations too well. They keep a steady stream of noise going to protect themselves, to build a wall against the truth. Like African natives, beating on their drums, rattling their gourds, shaking the bells to scare off evil spirits. As long as there’s enough noise, there’s nothing to fear – or hear. But they will listen. Times are changing.”” [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music triggers vivid, immersive memories and emotions, surpassing visual media, and reveals personal truths when one listens deeply. **In simple terms:** Music evokes strong memories and feelings. Key Takeaway Listen deeply to uncover hidden truths. Themes memory emotion truth music silence Mood introspective melancholic Type artistic psychological When to use this quote - creative work - therapy sessions - personal reflection - meditation - stress relief Key Concepts psychology sensory perception self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does silence affect self‑knowledge? - When does music become a distraction? A Different Perspective Noise can also drown out important signals, leading to avoidance of discomfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tranquility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tranquility/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“High above the noise and fear mongering of critics and cynics softly speaks your true self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/high-above-the-noise-and-fear-mongering-of-critics-and-cynics-softly/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) > [Sleep. To lie down and shut out the noise, the fear, the unceasing misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/sleep-to-lie-down-and-shut-out-the-noise-the-fear-the-unceasing-misery/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [People make music to get a reaction. Music is communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/people-make-music-to-get-a-reaction-music-is-communication/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [I like any reaction I can get with my music. Just anything to get people to think. I mean if you can get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/i-like-any-reaction-i-can-get-with-my-music-just-anything-to-get-2/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I like any reaction I can get with my music. Just anything to get people to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/i-like-any-reaction-i-can-get-with-my-music-just-anything-to-get/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [To see the positive reaction to my music makes me feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardi-b/to-see-the-positive-reaction-to-my-music-makes-me-feel-good/) [Cardi B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardi-b/) > [You've got the words to change a nation But you're biting your tongue You've spent a life time stuck in silence Afraid you'll say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ve-got-the-words-to-change-a-nation-but-you-re-biting-your-tongue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“you've got the words to change a nation but your biting your tongue, you've spent a lifetime in silence afraid that you'll say something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeli-sande/you-ve-got-the-words-to-change-a-nation-but-your-biting-your-tongue/) [Emeli Sande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeli-sande/) > [You've got the words to change a nation yet your biting your tongue. You spent a lifetime stuck in silence afraid you'll say something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ve-got-the-words-to-change-a-nation-yet-your-biting-your-tongue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many people with mental illness suffer in silence, afraid to seek help for fear of victimisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciana-berger/many-people-with-mental-illness-suffer-in-silence-afraid-to-seek-help/) [Luciana Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciana-berger/) > [“Silence embeds thoughts better than speeches. If you are afraid of silence, you are afraid of your thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rossana-condoleo/silence-embeds-thoughts-better-than-speeches-if-you-are-afraid-of/) [Rossana Condoleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rossana-condoleo/) > [Death was like an unpleasant neighbor. You didn’t talk about him for fear he might hear you and decide to pay a visit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/death-was-like-an-unpleasant-neighbor-you-didn-t-talk-about-him-for/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Fear can wash away your dreams and fill up all the corners of your heart. You can drown in your fear. Do you hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-radish/fear-can-wash-away-your-dreams-and-fill-up-all-the-corners-of-your/) [Kris Radish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-radish/) > [I think people who agree with Donald Trump have repeatedly made the case that he should be able to say whatever he wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-aydin/i-think-people-who-agree-with-donald-trump-have-repeatedly-made-the/) [Andrew Aydin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-aydin/) > [At school I was a zero now I'm every boys hero and they fear it. you can hear it when that little fucka's reciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-the-creator/at-school-i-was-a-zero-now-i-m-every-boys-hero-and-they-fear-it-you/) [Tyler The Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-the-creator/) ## More by Anton Szandor LaVey > [There are many who would take my time. I shun them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/there-are-many-who-would-take-my-time-i-shun-them/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [After an inferior man has been taught a doctrine of superiority he will remain as inferior as he was before his lesson. He will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/after-an-inferior-man-has-been-taught-a-doctrine-of-superiority-he/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [“Satanists hear these, and similar statements, all the time; and they agree wholeheartedly. But, if the world has changed so much, why continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/satanists-hear-these-and-similar-statements-all-the-time-and-they/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [I have a passion for big cats, I like big snakes. There is something about snakes that is so wise, they have this uncanny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/i-have-a-passion-for-big-cats-i-like-big-snakes-there-is-something/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [The truth alone has never set anyone free. It is only DOUBT which will bring about mental emancipation. Without the wonderful element of doubt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/the-truth-alone-has-never-set-anyone-free-it-is-only-doubt-which-will/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [A Satanist practices the motto, If a man smite thee on one cheek, smash him on the other! Let no wrong go unredressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/a-satanist-practices-the-motto-if-a-man-smite-thee-on-one-cheek-smash/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [Satanists are encouraged to indulge in the seven deadly sins, as they need hurt no one; they were only invented by the Christian Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/satanists-are-encouraged-to-indulge-in-the-seven-deadly-sins-as-they/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [The only thing Christianity ever contributed to Satanism was the name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/the-only-thing-christianity-ever-contributed-to-satanism-was-the-name/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [Don't let that little pyramid with the bright eye fool you. That's to draw your attention away from the real thing: the big trapezoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/don-t-let-that-little-pyramid-with-the-bright-eye-fool-you-that-s-to/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [The true test of anyone's worth as a living creature is how much he can utilize what he has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/the-true-test-of-anyone-s-worth-as-a-living-creature-is-how-much-he/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [I don't drink much anymore, because it's supposedly not good for me. I still have gallons of it around though. I smell the cork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-because-it-s-supposedly-not-good-for-me-i/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [You cannot love everyone; it is ridiculous to think you can. If you love everyone and everything you lose your natural powers of selection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/you-cannot-love-everyone-it-is-ridiculous-to-think-you-can-if-you/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [“Blessed are those that believe in what is best for them, for never shall their minds be terrorized- Cursed are the "lambs of God,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/blessed-are-those-that-believe-in-what-is-best-for-them-for-never/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [In this arid wilderness of steel and stone I raise up my voice that you may hear. To the East and to the West…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/in-this-arid-wilderness-of-steel-and-stone-i-raise-up-my-voice-that/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [“It’s not a crime to wish for other worlds. You’ll get taxed for it but they can’t throw you in jail for creating your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/it-s-not-a-crime-to-wish-for-other-worlds-you-ll-get-taxed-for-it-but/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) [Explore all 145 Anton Szandor LaVey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) Hubert Laws > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Music is a complete evocation – like a smell. It can bring an entire memory and feeling back to you in a rush. Much more complete than even a photograph. You allow yourself a certain visual distance with photos – not music. It envelopes you – there’s no way to escape it. It’s a great test of sensitivity – the degree of reaction to music. I use it all the time. I call it my ‘Music Test.’ People today don’t want to hear the truth. They’re really afraid of tranquility and silence – they’re afraid they might begin to understand their own motivations too well. They keep a steady stream of noise going to protect themselves, to build a wall against the truth. Like African natives, beating on their drums, rattling their gourds, shaking the bells to scare off evil spirits. As long as there’s enough noise, there’s nothing to fear – or hear. But they will listen. 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