--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Attack your instruments. Don't let them…" description: "\"Attack your instruments. Don't let them attack you.\" — Billie Joe Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_attack_attack-your-instruments-don-t-let-them-a_2824526.png" --- # Attack your instruments. Don't let them attack you. ![“Attack your instruments. Don't let them attack you.” quote by Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_attack_attack-your-instruments-don-t-let-them-a_2824526.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_attack_attack-your-instruments-don-t-let-them-a_2824526.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_attack_attack-your-instruments-don-t-let-them-a_2824526.png) > “Attack your instruments. Don't let them attack you.” [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages proactive control over one's tools, preventing them from becoming obstacles. **In simple terms:** Take charge of your tools before they control you. Key Takeaway Maintain mastery over your equipment. Themes self‑control agency discipline Mood determined focused Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - musicianship - creative work - daily routines Key Concepts instrument mastery personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What tools need your attention now? - How do you prevent tools from dictating your actions? A Different Perspective Tools can still fail despite vigilance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) ## Related quotes > [I play the real instruments. I don't waste my time with anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-newsted/i-play-the-real-instruments-i-don-t-waste-my-time-with-anything-else/) [Jason Newsted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-newsted/) > [“You told me you weren’t a victim… Don’t let that attack hold you back from living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kessler/you-told-me-you-weren-t-a-victim-don-t-let-that-attack-hold-you-back/) [Lisa Kessler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kessler/) > [I started playing the drums at five years old and used to listen to a lot of screamo bands like Asking Alexandria, Dream Theater,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-brian/i-started-playing-the-drums-at-five-years-old-and-used-to-listen-to-a/) [Rich Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-brian/) > [I had the idea to do an anthology about instrument-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toop/i-had-the-idea-to-do-an-anthology-about-instrument-making/) [David Toop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-toop/) > [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/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In old age our bodies are worn-out instruments, on which the soul tries in vain to play the melodies of youth. But because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/in-old-age-our-bodies-are-worn-out-instruments-on-which-the-soul/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“Scattered among these things are reminders that sound once existed: a metronome, a drumming pad, a guitar pick, a trumpet mouthpiece, a music stand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-o-brien/scattered-among-these-things-are-reminders-that-sound-once-existed-a/) [Geoffrey O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-o-brien/) > [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. It is much more poetic than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/jazz-is-not-something-that-can-be-defined-through-blunt-instruments/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. That's also why I decided against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-frahm/the-only-thing-i-try-to-watch-carefully-is-that-i-never-lose-the-love/) [Nils Frahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-frahm/) > [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/) > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) ## More by Billie Joe Armstrong > [You want a drumstick? Like a ice cream cone or a chicken wing!?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/you-want-a-drumstick-like-a-ice-cream-cone-or-a-chicken-wing/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [Time passes by like lightning. Before you know it you're struck down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/time-passes-by-like-lightning-before-you-know-it-you-re-struck-down/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I just wanted to get the hell out of my town. I wanted to leave with reckless abandon. I didn't care where I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-just-wanted-to-get-the-hell-out-of-my-town-i-wanted-to-leave-with/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [There are many things in life that you feel you need such as television, magazines, teachers telling that you have to make money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/there-are-many-things-in-life-that-you-feel-you-need-such-as/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [The first time that you escape from home or the small town that you live in - there's a reason a small town is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/the-first-time-that-you-escape-from-home-or-the-small-town-that-you/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of 'Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-think-people-are-born-bisexual-and-it-s-just-that-our-parents-and/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I was on drugs when I wrote some of my songs. It was a rough time for me, but I'm lucky enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-was-on-drugs-when-i-wrote-some-of-my-songs-it-was-a-rough-time-for/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I hate television. I hate the internet. I hate cell phones. I hate cameras. I hate everything that destroys creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-hate-television-i-hate-the-internet-i-hate-cell-phones-i-hate/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [It's not necessarily getting older or the change that comes with it, I think it's more about the memories that you have. Where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/it-s-not-necessarily-getting-older-or-the-change-that-comes-with-it-i/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I thought everybody was in on the joke. But I was the joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-thought-everybody-was-in-on-the-joke-but-i-was-the-joke/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I just open my mouth and out it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-just-open-my-mouth-and-out-it-comes/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I never thought being obnoxious would get me where I am today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-never-thought-being-obnoxious-would-get-me-where-i-am-today/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [When someone is in a car accident and they're driving at 100 mph, drunk, who's tape do you think his listening to at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/when-someone-is-in-a-car-accident-and-they-re-driving-at-100-mph/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [History will tell if we were really a good band or just a one day fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/history-will-tell-if-we-were-really-a-good-band-or-just-a-one-day-fly/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [“If someone falls down, please pick them back up. Just because there's not a camera in your face doesn't mean you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/if-someone-falls-down-please-pick-them-back-up-just-because-there-s/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) [Explore all 199 Billie Joe Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) ## More Attack quotes > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/president-obama-has-never-summarized-the-obama-doctrine-with-such/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Everything has got a place in my house. If something is moved I get a panic attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/everything-has-got-a-place-in-my-house-if-something-is-moved-i-get-a/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) > [I mean, it's not just the rappers, you know what i'm saying? People want to attack anybody that's a large figure, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/i-mean-it-s-not-just-the-rappers-you-know-what-i-m-saying-people-want/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Free speech has a very small constituency on the modern campus, particularly if the speaker under attack is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/free-speech-has-a-very-small-constituency-on-the-modern-campus/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [Daniil is a player who will not give you many chances to attack. If I have enough power and choose the right moment, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/daniil-is-a-player-who-will-not-give-you-many-chances-to-attack-if-i/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [Distributed ledgers are inherently harder to attack because instead of a single database, there are multiple shared copies of the same database, so a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-walport/distributed-ledgers-are-inherently-harder-to-attack-because-instead/) [Mark Walport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-walport/) > [Attack life. It's going to kill you anyways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/attack-life-it-s-going-to-kill-you-anyways/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For those of us in the political business, generally, it's been pretty much an unwritten but understood rule that family and children are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/for-those-of-us-in-the-political-business-generally-it-s-been-pretty/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) Browse all 1,074 Attack quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Attack your instruments. 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