--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People take things a little too personal…" description: "\"People take things a little too personal. I write these songs, and they're experiments with thoughts. That's it. I'm not a teacher.\" — Cass McCombs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/cass-mccombs-7112_experiments_people-take-things-a-little-too-personal_1759952.jpg" --- # People take things a little too personal. I write these… ![“People take things a little too personal. I write these songs, and they're experiments with thoughts. That's it. I'm not a teacher.” quote by Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/cass-mccombs-7112_experiments_people-take-things-a-little-too-personal_1759952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/cass-mccombs-7112_experiments_people-take-things-a-little-too-personal_1759952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/cass-mccombs-7112_experiments_people-take-things-a-little-too-personal_1759952.jpg) > “People take things a little too personal. I write these songs, and they're experiments with thoughts. That's it. I'm not a teacher.” [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees art as personal experimentation, not instruction, and warns against taking criticism too personally. **In simple terms:** Art is personal, not a lesson. Key Takeaway Create without feeling obliged to teach. Themes creativity personal expression criticism Mood reflective introspective Type artistic personal When to use this quote - songwriting - public performances - social media feedback Key Concepts artistic intent experimentation self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does personal vulnerability affect your creative process? - When should an artist set boundaries? A Different Perspective If audiences expect guidance, the artist may feel constrained. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Experiments Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments-thoughts-1684273/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Songs Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-experiments-1684272/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Thoughts Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-teacher-1313861/) [Write Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-songs/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Yoga is to find union - between mind and body, between the individual and her God, between our thoughts and the source of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/yoga-is-to-find-union-between-mind-and-body-between-the-individual/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I just write songs whenever I feel like it, whenever they come to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-just-write-songs-whenever-i-feel-like-it-whenever-they-come-to-me/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I don't really write for an album. I just write songs whenever I feel like it, whenever they come to me. It's all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-don-t-really-write-for-an-album-i-just-write-songs-whenever-i-feel/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I never really wanted to be an artist. I just really wanted to write songs. But, of course, I can't get placement unless I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-tiller/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-an-artist-i-just-really-wanted-to-write/) [Bryson Tiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-tiller/) > [If it came back I would be thrilled. I would be delighted to write more songs. I need them now because I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/if-it-came-back-i-would-be-thrilled-i-would-be-delighted-to-write/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [I want to write songs with meaning. I have high standards for my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-want-to-write-songs-with-meaning-i-have-high-standards-for-my-work/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I know a lot of artists say this, but it's hard to put myself in a box. I just write songs that I strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/i-know-a-lot-of-artists-say-this-but-it-s-hard-to-put-myself-in-a-box/) [Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/) > [Music is chaos. When I write songs, I'm opening the door to madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tillman/music-is-chaos-when-i-write-songs-i-m-opening-the-door-to-madness/) [Josh Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tillman/) > [When I write songs, it's very random. I get influenced by the most random things! Sometimes it just comes to me in my sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roshon-fegan/when-i-write-songs-it-s-very-random-i-get-influenced-by-the-most/) [Roshon Fegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roshon-fegan/) > [I think sometimes - not always - I write songs that are accessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-think-sometimes-not-always-i-write-songs-that-are-accessible/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [It was a lot easier to write songs before I had a record deal, because the record labels and the industry doesn't mean to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/it-was-a-lot-easier-to-write-songs-before-i-had-a-record-deal-because/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [Sometimes, but the year I lived in France I started to write songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/sometimes-but-the-year-i-lived-in-france-i-started-to-write-songs/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [I write songs from the heart, and I don't hold back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-write-songs-from-the-heart-and-i-don-t-hold-back/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I don't really write songs anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-vernon/i-don-t-really-write-songs-anymore/) [Justin Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-vernon/) > [I wanted to write songs that were as good as the covers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-thorogood/i-wanted-to-write-songs-that-were-as-good-as-the-covers/) [George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-thorogood/) ## More by Cass McCombs > [People expect not just songwriters but all personalities to pontificate about their egos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/people-expect-not-just-songwriters-but-all-personalities-to/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Elvis Presley wore a Star of David and a cross around his neck and, when someone asked him about it, he said, "It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/elvis-presley-wore-a-star-of-david-and-a-cross-around-his-neck-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I've always thought about myself as somewhat of a folk musician. I just write words. I don't think I'm even a musician. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-ve-always-thought-about-myself-as-somewhat-of-a-folk-musician-i/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I just write songs whenever I feel like it, whenever they come to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-just-write-songs-whenever-i-feel-like-it-whenever-they-come-to-me/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I think I like singing when I'm singing live. It's just in the studio when it's a drag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-think-i-like-singing-when-i-m-singing-live-it-s-just-in-the-studio/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [It's not my way to talk about my feelings. They're impudent to myself, so it wouldn't make any sense if I tried to explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/it-s-not-my-way-to-talk-about-my-feelings-they-re-impudent-to-myself/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Thank God we don't know a lot about Shakespeare or Moses or Homer or Lautreamont. These are the best guys we got, and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/thank-god-we-don-t-know-a-lot-about-shakespeare-or-moses-or-homer-or/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [All these biopics and biographies and people gossiping about so-and-so's drug abuse or who's sleeping with who, it's just a bunch of nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/all-these-biopics-and-biographies-and-people-gossiping-about-so-and/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [A lot of religious texts make for good reading. That's why they hold up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/a-lot-of-religious-texts-make-for-good-reading-that-s-why-they-hold-up/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Once biographical information contaminates your consciousness, it's impossible to erase it and look at someone's work the same way again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/once-biographical-information-contaminates-your-consciousness-it-s/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I don't like the word "happy." I wouldn't want to use it that context. I enjoy writing songs, it's a really good challenge, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-don-t-like-the-word-happy-i-wouldn-t-want-to-use-it-that-context-i/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [It doesn't mean that I'm overly enthusiastic about much music. Except the people that really touch me. It has to touch me, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/it-doesn-t-mean-that-i-m-overly-enthusiastic-about-much-music-except/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [Music is the marriage of the feelings of the living to the wisdom of the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/music-is-the-marriage-of-the-feelings-of-the-living-to-the-wisdom-of/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I don't care much about politics. That kind of witchcraft I stay away from because people end up dead. I'd rather die for music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-don-t-care-much-about-politics-that-kind-of-witchcraft-i-stay-away/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [When you play with great musicians, whether they're schooled or self-taught, they keep you on your toes. It comes down to people's personalities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/when-you-play-with-great-musicians-whether-they-re-schooled-or-self/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) [Explore all 94 Cass McCombs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) ## More Experiments quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [On July 26, 1916, I announced to all my friends in America that from now on I resolved to write no more poems in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/on-july-26-1916-i-announced-to-all-my-friends-in-america-that-from/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. 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Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [When people are suicidal, their thinking is paralyzed, their options appear spare or nonexistent, their mood is despairing, and hopelessness permeates their entire mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/when-people-are-suicidal-their-thinking-is-paralyzed-their-options/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [An observer situated in a nebula and moving with the nebula will observe the same properties of the universe as any other similarly situated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-bondi/an-observer-situated-in-a-nebula-and-moving-with-the-nebula-will/) [Hermann Bondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-bondi/) > [This isn't a picture filled with wonder and a sense of fun; it's so jaded and crass that I almost wonder if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/this-isn-t-a-picture-filled-with-wonder-and-a-sense-of-fun-it-s-so/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Your responsibility as an artist is to experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/squarepusher/your-responsibility-as-an-artist-is-to-experiment/) [Squarepusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/squarepusher/) > [Now, you might say – “But why should we pay people for doing what they’re supposed to do?” It’s a fair question – but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/now-you-might-say-but-why-should-we-pay-people-for-doing-what-they-re/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) [Browse all 1,721 Experiments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People take things a little too personal. 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