--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got finished, Gershwin paid me the…" description: "\"When I got finished, Gershwin paid me the ultimate compliment. He said, 'Boy, even I couldn't do that.'\" — Burton Lane" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/burton-lane-225176_gershwin_when-i-got-finished-gershwin-paid-me-the_401394.jpg" --- # When I got finished, Gershwin paid me the ultimate… ![“When I got finished, Gershwin paid me the ultimate compliment. He said, 'Boy, even I couldn't do that.'” quote by Burton Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/burton-lane-225176_gershwin_when-i-got-finished-gershwin-paid-me-the_401394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/burton-lane-225176_gershwin_when-i-got-finished-gershwin-paid-me-the_401394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c6/burton-lane-225176_gershwin_when-i-got-finished-gershwin-paid-me-the_401394.jpg) > “When I got finished, Gershwin paid me the ultimate compliment. He said, 'Boy, even I couldn't do that.'” [Burton Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burton-lane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognition from a great artist validates one’s work, highlighting humility and admiration. **In simple terms:** A master’s praise validates effort. Key Takeaway Value praise from admired peers. Themes humility recognition art validation peer respect Mood proud grateful Type personal career When to use this quote - career reflection - creative confidence - public acknowledgment Key Concepts music industry artist admiration career milestones Questions to Reflect On - How does praise affect your self‑esteem? - What drives you beyond external approval? A Different Perspective Relying on external validation can be limiting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compliment Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment-said-3598923/) [Finished Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished-gershwin-3598921/) [Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gershwin/) [Gershwin Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gershwin-paid-3598922/) [Ultimate Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-compliment-1520143/) ## Related quotes > [“He pushed away from the computer and pressed his chest against my back, wrapping me in his arms. “I love that you get all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devney-perry/he-pushed-away-from-the-computer-and-pressed-his-chest-against-my/) [Devney Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devney-perry/) > [“Thank you,” she said. “That wasn’t meant as a compliment,” he said. “I was criticizing you.” “That made the compliment all the more sincere,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/thank-you-she-said-that-wasn-t-meant-as-a-compliment-he-said-i-was/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [I guess anytime you are mentioned with Hank Aaron, it is the ultimate compliment, not only as a hitter, but obviously, the great ballplayer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rodriguez/i-guess-anytime-you-are-mentioned-with-hank-aaron-it-is-the-ultimate/) [Alex Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rodriguez/) > [You want to be the best at your position. And if people think of me as one of the best ever, that's the ultimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-urlacher/you-want-to-be-the-best-at-your-position-and-if-people-think-of-me-as/) [Brian Urlacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-urlacher/) > [It's the ultimate compliment to be imitated or at least be somebody's influence, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/it-s-the-ultimate-compliment-to-be-imitated-or-at-least-be-somebody-s/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [I am very happy when people write that they have worn out my books, or that they are held together by Scotch tape. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-scarry/i-am-very-happy-when-people-write-that-they-have-worn-out-my-books-or/) [Richard Scarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-scarry/) > [I think the ultimate compliment that someone can give you is that you're a technician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-think-the-ultimate-compliment-that-someone-can-give-you-is-that-you/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [Well, anytime you're compared to Derek Jeter, it's the ultimate compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-posey/well-anytime-you-re-compared-to-derek-jeter-it-s-the-ultimate/) [Buster Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-posey/) > [If somebody says I'm a leader or notices the things I try to do to be a leader, it's the ultimate compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dak-prescott/if-somebody-says-i-m-a-leader-or-notices-the-things-i-try-to-do-to-be/) [Dak Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dak-prescott/) > [“You look like a black American" was his ultimate compliment, which he told her when she wore a nice dress, or when her hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/you-look-like-a-black-american-was-his-ultimate-compliment-which-he/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“ Chapter 1 . He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion... no, make that: he - he romanticized it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/chapter-1-he-adored-new-york-city-he-idolized-it-all-out-of/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Porgy is...an interesting example of what can be done by talent in spite of a bad setup. With a libretto that should never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/porgy-is-an-interesting-example-of-what-can-be-done-by-talent-in/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [My father was always playing the piano. He played all kinds of music - Gershwin, all kinds of stuff. He was really a hugely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/my-father-was-always-playing-the-piano-he-played-all-kinds-of-music/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [I think my knowledge of music theory is rooted in jazz theory, and a lot of the writers of standards - Rodgers and Hart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-think-my-knowledge-of-music-theory-is-rooted-in-jazz-theory-and-a/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [I just love all the music. My grandma was a church organist for 40 years, and she got me into jazz music and great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-just-love-all-the-music-my-grandma-was-a-church-organist-for-40/) [Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/) ## More Gershwin quotes > [I just love all the music. My grandma was a church organist for 40 years, and she got me into jazz music and great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-just-love-all-the-music-my-grandma-was-a-church-organist-for-40/) [Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/) > [I think my knowledge of music theory is rooted in jazz theory, and a lot of the writers of standards - Rodgers and Hart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-think-my-knowledge-of-music-theory-is-rooted-in-jazz-theory-and-a/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [My father was always playing the piano. He played all kinds of music - Gershwin, all kinds of stuff. He was really a hugely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/my-father-was-always-playing-the-piano-he-played-all-kinds-of-music/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [Porgy is...an interesting example of what can be done by talent in spite of a bad setup. With a libretto that should never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/porgy-is-an-interesting-example-of-what-can-be-done-by-talent-in/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [“ Chapter 1 . He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion... no, make that: he - he romanticized it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/chapter-1-he-adored-new-york-city-he-idolized-it-all-out-of/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Gershwin's melodic gift was phenomenal. His songs contain the essence of New York in the 1920s and have deservedly become classics of their kind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/gershwin-s-melodic-gift-was-phenomenal-his-songs-contain-the-essence/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/not-many-composers-have-ideas-far-more-of-them-know-how-to-use/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) > [I do miss the stage. There's nothing like it, nothing. When I did my one-woman show and played the Palace and played the Gershwin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-do-miss-the-stage-there-s-nothing-like-it-nothing-when-i-did-my-one/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [I don't care if it's a Cole Porter song, or George Gershwin, or Lennon/McCartney, or Elton John, or you know, whoever, Bob Dylan. Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/i-don-t-care-if-it-s-a-cole-porter-song-or-george-gershwin-or-lennon/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [As a New Yorker you can't help but be proud of the fact that so much music and culture started here. Punk rock, jazz,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/as-a-new-yorker-you-can-t-help-but-be-proud-of-the-fact-that-so-much/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/in-time-the-rockies-may-crumble-gibraltar-may-tumble/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [As far as songwriters, I've always been a fan of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin; those guys mean a lot to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/as-far-as-songwriters-i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-irving-berlin-cole/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [From folk to tribal to Cab Calloway, Cole Porter, Gershwin to the Rolling Stones, whose first record was all covers, to country-western, bebop, blues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/from-folk-to-tribal-to-cab-calloway-cole-porter-gershwin-to-the/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [My father was always playing the piano. He played all kinds of music - Gershwin, all kinds of stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/my-father-was-always-playing-the-piano-he-played-all-kinds-of-music-2/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gershwin/jazz-i-regard-as-an-american-folk-music-not-the-only-one-but-a-very/) [George Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gershwin/) [Browse all 60 Gershwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gershwin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I got finished, Gershwin paid me the ultimate compliment. 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