--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was by music that the ancient kings…" description: "\"It was by music that the ancient kings gave elegant expression to their joy. By their armies and axes they gave the same to their anger.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff0/confucius-164_ancient_it-was-by-music-that-the-ancient-kings-g_2736674.jpg" --- # It was by music that the ancient kings gave elegant… ![“It was by music that the ancient kings gave elegant expression to their joy. By their armies and axes they gave the same to their anger.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff0/confucius-164_ancient_it-was-by-music-that-the-ancient-kings-g_2736674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff0/confucius-164_ancient_it-was-by-music-that-the-ancient-kings-g_2736674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff0/confucius-164_ancient_it-was-by-music-that-the-ancient-kings-g_2736674.jpg) > “It was by music that the ancient kings gave elegant expression to their joy. By their armies and axes they gave the same to their anger.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music expresses both joy and anger for ancient kings, showing art mirrors all human emotions. **In simple terms:** Art reflects all feelings. Key Takeaway Use art to channel emotions. Themes emotion art expression Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - celebrations - warfare - personal reflection Key Concepts cultural history psychology creativity Questions to Reflect On - How does music help you process emotions? - What emotions do you express through art? A Different Perspective Modern audiences may not connect ancient contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-kings-2996270/) [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Axes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/axes/) [Axes Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/axes-gave-2996272/) [Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) [Elegant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elegant/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Expression Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression-joy-1826888/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Kings Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings-gave-2996271/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-ancient-2996269/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [When people come together around music, there's something ancient going on. 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The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. 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I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. 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