--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm writing for the sake of writing…" description: "\"I'm writing for the sake of writing music. Whether it gets heard or not isn't an issue for me. It keeps my own juices going and my mind active.\" — Bill..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/billy-joel-1000_active_i-m-writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-musi_961165.png" --- # I'm writing for the sake of writing music. Whether it gets… ![“I'm writing for the sake of writing music. Whether it gets heard or not isn't an issue for me. It keeps my own juices going and my mind active.” quote by Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/billy-joel-1000_active_i-m-writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-musi_961165.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/billy-joel-1000_active_i-m-writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-musi_961165.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/billy-joel-1000_active_i-m-writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-musi_961165.png) > “I'm writing for the sake of writing music. Whether it gets heard or not isn't an issue for me. It keeps my own juices going and my mind active.” [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing music for its own sake fuels personal creativity and mental engagement, regardless of audience reception. **In simple terms:** Creating music energizes the mind. Key Takeaway Write for personal joy. Themes creativity self‑expression intrinsic motivation Mood focused content reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal journaling - solo practice - creative brainstorming Key Concepts Flow autonomy artistic fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How does intrinsic motivation affect artistic output? - What practices keep your creative energy high? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-music/) ## Related quotes > [I'm excited about being an owner, it's got my competitive juices going. I'm scared, but excited as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-staubach/i-m-excited-about-being-an-owner-it-s-got-my-competitive-juices-going/) [Roger Staubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-staubach/) > [Xena: I like to be creative in a fight. It gets my juices going. Gabrielle: Can we cook with your juices?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravishing-raven-aka-miracle/xena-i-like-to-be-creative-in-a-fight-it-gets-my-juices-going/) Ravishing\_Raven Aka Miracle > [A mind too active is no mind at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roethke/a-mind-too-active-is-no-mind-at-all/) [Theodore Roethke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roethke/) > [The agentive mind is not only active in nature, but it seeks out dialogue and discourse with other active minds. And it is through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bruner/the-agentive-mind-is-not-only-active-in-nature-but-it-seeks-out/) [Jerome Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bruner/) > [It's great to have other people's help. Then the music gets heard. There's a lot more commercial support for that now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-peyroux/it-s-great-to-have-other-people-s-help-then-the-music-gets-heard/) [Madeleine Peyroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-peyroux/) > [I think the music was speaking to that opening up of whose voice gets heard and how multidimensional that voice can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/i-think-the-music-was-speaking-to-that-opening-up-of-whose-voice-gets/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [Now everyone has a license to speak, it’s a question of who gets heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/now-everyone-has-a-license-to-speak-it-s-a-question-of-who-gets-heard/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [I never stopped writing music, I just stopped writing songs. I've been writing music continually ever since the last album of original tunes, "River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-never-stopped-writing-music-i-just-stopped-writing-songs-i-ve-been/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer, and a merely competent songwriter. ... I'm probably writing music now for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-consider-myself-to-be-an-inept-pianist-a-bad-singer-and-a-merely-2/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm probably writing music now for the same reason as I started writing songs when I was 14 - to meet women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-probably-writing-music-now-for-the-same-reason-as-i-started/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If you keep your mind active, regularly take on mental challenges, and continually think about the right things, you will develop the disciplined thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-keep-your-mind-active-regularly-take-on-mental-challenges-and/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The conventional mind is passive - it consumes information and regurgitates it in familiar forms. The dimensional mind is active, transforming everything it digests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-conventional-mind-is-passive-it-consumes-information-and/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [The main factor in meditation is to keep the mind active in its own pursuit without taking in external impressions or thinking of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-main-factor-in-meditation-is-to-keep-the-mind-active-in-its-own/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [The hell with the aging process. It happens to everyone - you just keep your mind active, you keep physically active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/the-hell-with-the-aging-process-it-happens-to-everyone-you-just-keep/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [Nowledge is not a passion from without the mind, but an active exertion of the inward strength, vigor and power of the mind, displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-cudworth/nowledge-is-not-a-passion-from-without-the-mind-but-an-active/) [Ralph Cudworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-cudworth/) ## More by Billy Joel > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Only the good die young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/only-the-good-die-young/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/in-a-way-we-are-magicians-we-are-alchemists-sorcerers-and-wizards-we/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I don't want some pretty face to tell me pretty lies, all I want is someone to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-don-t-want-some-pretty-face-to-tell-me-pretty-lies-all-i-want-is/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. If you play for a dead audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-ve-always-said-about-50-of-what-happens-at-a-concert-has-to-do-with/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [She's the quiet type who's into heavy metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/she-s-the-quiet-type-who-s-into-heavy-metal/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Rock and roll just used to be for kicks, now a days it's politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/rock-and-roll-just-used-to-be-for-kicks-now-a-days-it-s-politics/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Don't make music for some vast, unseen audience or market or ratings share or even for something as tangible as money. Though it's crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/don-t-make-music-for-some-vast-unseen-audience-or-market-or-ratings/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Usually when I'm writing, I try to write fairly quickly. If a song sits around too long, it starts to take on a stink.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/usually-when-i-m-writing-i-try-to-write-fairly-quickly-if-a-song-sits/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [My daughter sent me on a mission to get as many autographs as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/my-daughter-sent-me-on-a-mission-to-get-as-many-autographs-as-possible/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [ I was listening to stuff and I realized that I've had a lot of different lives. You know the theory \[that says\] every seven… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-was-listening-to-stuff-and-i-realized-that-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If you said good-bye to me tonight, There would still be music left to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-you-said-good-bye-to-me-tonight-there-would-still-be-music-left-to/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [If I need a cause for celebration, Or a comfort I can use to ease my mind, I rely on my imagination, And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/if-i-need-a-cause-for-celebration-or-a-comfort-i-can-use-to-ease-my/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [I'm carrying the weight of all the useless junk and modern man accumulates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-m-carrying-the-weight-of-all-the-useless-junk-and-modern-man/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [What will it take for you to believe in me, the way that I believe in you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/what-will-it-take-for-you-to-believe-in-me-the-way-that-i-believe-in/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) [Explore all 311 Billy Joel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/) [Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/) Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm writing for the sake of writing music. Whether it gets heard or not isn't an issue for me. 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