--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I suppose that by being absent from the…" description: "\"I suppose that by being absent from the music business, it appeared that I just dropped out, but really I never did. I was continuously working and doi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/cat-stevens-2683_absent_i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the_936647.png" --- # I suppose that by being absent from the music business, it… ![“I suppose that by being absent from the music business, it appeared that I just dropped out, but really I never did. I was continuously working and doing various things.” quote by Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/cat-stevens-2683_absent_i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the_936647.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/cat-stevens-2683_absent_i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the_936647.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/cat-stevens-2683_absent_i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the_936647.png) > “I suppose that by being absent from the music business, it appeared that I just dropped out, but really I never did. I was continuously working and doing various things.” [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He stayed active behind the scenes despite appearing absent, showing continuous effort matters more than visibility. **In simple terms:** He kept working even when not seen. Key Takeaway Keep working, even if unnoticed. Themes perseverance career visibility Mood reflective determined Type advice personal When to use this quote - music production - songwriting - collaborations - networking Key Concepts self‑management industry dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay motivated when work isn’t visible? - What unseen contributions are most valuable? A Different Perspective Success may still require public presence for recognition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent/) [Absent Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent-music-1569242/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business Appeared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-appeared-1569245/) [Dropped Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dropped-really-1569244/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-business/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Suppose Absent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppose-absent-1569243/) [Various](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/various/) ## Related quotes > [If he does go, the change will be doleful. Suppose he should be absent spring, summer, and autumn: how joyless sunshine and fine days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-he-does-go-the-change-will-be-doleful-suppose-he-should-be-absent/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [When I got dropped, no one really wanted to work with me... I felt like my career was over and I didn't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-nesbitt/when-i-got-dropped-no-one-really-wanted-to-work-with-me-i-felt-like/) [Nina Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-nesbitt/) > [Being larger than life, or being projected as such in the music business, leads you to question yourself. Some people try to forget about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/being-larger-than-life-or-being-projected-as-such-in-the-music/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Anger clearly has its proper place at work, which is neither wholly absent nor ever present. The manager who is an emotional blank is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/anger-clearly-has-its-proper-place-at-work-which-is-neither-wholly/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [It's Simon, he's missing." Ahh." said Magnus delicately "Missing what exactly?" Missing!" Jace repeated "As in gone, absent, notable for his lack of presence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-s-simon-he-s-missing-ahh-said-magnus-delicately-missing-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [... if we are ashamed to imitate our Lord's sufferings, which He endured for us, and to suffer as He suffered, it is obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/symeon-the-new-theologian/if-we-are-ashamed-to-imitate-our-lord-s-sufferings-which-he-endured/) [Symeon the New Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/symeon-the-new-theologian/) > [“You may not appreciate the presence of good health, but you will definitely regret the absence of good health, because health is happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-may-not-appreciate-the-presence-of-good-health-but-you-will/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one; for if the dead man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-my-own-part-i-would-rather-be-in-company-with-a-dead-man-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The interesting thing about an absent father is, for a child, you don't know he's absent. You just think he's... tardy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/the-interesting-thing-about-an-absent-father-is-for-a-child-you-don-t/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. They seek each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/they-are-enthusiasts-devotees-addicts-something-about-the-circus/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Cat Stevens > [The spiritual quest was always the predominant aspect of my life. It's always been there. But there's also an incredible passion connected to it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/the-spiritual-quest-was-always-the-predominant-aspect-of-my-life-it-s/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Music is part of God's universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/music-is-part-of-god-s-universe/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Some extremists take elements of the sacred scriptures out of context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/some-extremists-take-elements-of-the-sacred-scriptures-out-of-context/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Knowledge is a thing you can carry around with you, but you may not apply it. Some knowledge is indiscriminate, and it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/knowledge-is-a-thing-you-can-carry-around-with-you-but-you-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [A person who steals bread during a famine is not treated as a thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/a-person-who-steals-bread-during-a-famine-is-not-treated-as-a-thief/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Don't you feel a change a coming From another side of time, Breaking down the walls of silence, Lifting shadows from your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/don-t-you-feel-a-change-a-coming-from-another-side-of-time-breaking/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I suppose that the media and their portrayal of Islam and the almost tribal separations and divisions of the Muslims are the greatest issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-suppose-that-the-media-and-their-portrayal-of-islam-and-the-almost/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [“You will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/you-will-still-be-here-tomorrow-but-your-dreams-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [There is a powerful need for people to feel that gust of hope rise up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/there-is-a-powerful-need-for-people-to-feel-that-gust-of-hope-rise-up/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [And if my mind breaks up In all so many ways I know the meaning of The words, "I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/and-if-my-mind-breaks-up-in-all-so-many-ways-i-know-the-meaning-of/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Find a girl, settle down, If you want you can marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/find-a-girl-settle-down-if-you-want-you-can-marry/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Oh I can't keep it in; I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out I've got to show the world; world's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/oh-i-can-t-keep-it-in-i-can-t-keep-it-in-i-ve-gotta-let-it-out-i-ve/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I never thought I'd be on the same stage as Kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-same-stage-as-kiss/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Miles from nowhere. Guess I'll take my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/miles-from-nowhere-guess-i-ll-take-my-time/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Sun is the reason And the world it will bloom 'Cause sun lights the sky And the sun lights the moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/sun-is-the-reason-and-the-world-it-will-bloom-cause-sun-lights-the/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) [Explore all 155 Cat Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) ## More Absent quotes > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. They seek each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/they-are-enthusiasts-devotees-addicts-something-about-the-circus/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [The interesting thing about an absent father is, for a child, you don't know he's absent. You just think he's... tardy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/the-interesting-thing-about-an-absent-father-is-for-a-child-you-don-t/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one; for if the dead man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-my-own-part-i-would-rather-be-in-company-with-a-dead-man-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“You may not appreciate the presence of good health, but you will definitely regret the absence of good health, because health is happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-may-not-appreciate-the-presence-of-good-health-but-you-will/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [... if we are ashamed to imitate our Lord's sufferings, which He endured for us, and to suffer as He suffered, it is obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/symeon-the-new-theologian/if-we-are-ashamed-to-imitate-our-lord-s-sufferings-which-he-endured/) [Symeon the New Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/symeon-the-new-theologian/) > [It's Simon, he's missing." Ahh." said Magnus delicately "Missing what exactly?" Missing!" Jace repeated "As in gone, absent, notable for his lack of presence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-s-simon-he-s-missing-ahh-said-magnus-delicately-missing-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Anger clearly has its proper place at work, which is neither wholly absent nor ever present. The manager who is an emotional blank is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/anger-clearly-has-its-proper-place-at-work-which-is-neither-wholly/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Religion has always been a matter of community building; a matter of building precisely those relations of compassion, fellow feeling and - I dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/religion-has-always-been-a-matter-of-community-building-a-matter-of/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [A FRIEND IS A PERSON . . . With whom you can be sincere. . . . To whom you never need to defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/a-friend-is-a-person-with-whom-you-can-be-sincere-to-whom-you-never/) [Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/) > [The very serpents bite their tails; the bees forget to sting, For a language so celestial setteth up a wondering. And the touch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-very-serpents-bite-their-tails-the-bees-forget-to-sting-for-a/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) [Browse all 490 Absent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I suppose that by being absent from the music business, it appeared that I just dropped out, but really I never did. I was continuously working and doing various things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cat Stevens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the-music-business-it-appeared/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the-music-business-it-appeared/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/cat-stevens-2683_absent_i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the_936647.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/cat-stevens-2683_absent_i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the_936647.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0de/cat-stevens-2683_absent_i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the_936647.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I suppose that by being absent from the music business, it appeared that I just dropped out, but really I…” — Cat Stevens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cat Stevens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I suppose that by being absent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the-music-business-it-appeared/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-suppose-that-by-being-absent-from-the-music-business-it-appeared/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```