--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over the years I've had strong…" description: "\"Over the years I've had strong friendships with many priests. As a matter of fact, a group of Christian leaders from the National Council of Churches c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/dave-brubeck-10370_ask-me_over-the-years-i-ve-had-strong-friendshi_2516838.jpg" --- # Over the years I've had strong friendships with many… ![“Over the years I've had strong friendships with many priests. As a matter of fact, a group of Christian leaders from the National Council of Churches came to my house in the 1950s to ask me to write music for a Mass. I didn't think I was ready at that time. So, in a sense, I guess joining the…” quote by Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/dave-brubeck-10370_ask-me_over-the-years-i-ve-had-strong-friendshi_2516838.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/dave-brubeck-10370_ask-me_over-the-years-i-ve-had-strong-friendshi_2516838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/dave-brubeck-10370_ask-me_over-the-years-i-ve-had-strong-friendshi_2516838.jpg) > “Over the years I've had strong friendships with many priests. As a matter of fact, a group of Christian leaders from the National Council of Churches came to my house in the 1950s to ask me to write music for a Mass. I didn't think I was ready at that time. So, in a sense, I guess joining the church and writing the Mass was a culmination of a long journey that is still going on.” [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The musician reflects on longstanding friendships with clergy and a pivotal invitation to compose a Mass, viewing it as a milestone in an ongoing spiritual and artistic journey. **In simple terms:** Long friendships led to a chance to write a Mass, marking a key step in his path. Key Takeaway Recognize how relationships can open unexpected creative doors. Themes friendship spirituality creativity career journey Mood grateful hopeful Type inspirational narrative When to use this quote - composing - performing - teaching - community outreach Key Concepts artistic collaboration faith integration Questions to Reflect On - What relationships have shaped your creative path? - How do you prepare for unexpected calls? A Different Perspective Opportunities may arise later than expected, requiring readiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-leaders/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Long journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-journey/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Strong Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-friendship/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When writing for a mass audience, put a fact in every sentence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/when-writing-for-a-mass-audience-put-a-fact-in-every-sentence/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [“Part of being a Christian is recognizing that sin deceives us, and we need other believers to help us see the things we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/part-of-being-a-christian-is-recognizing-that-sin-deceives-us-and-we/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [You are not so good a Christian when you are neglecting a plain duty as when you are performing it. And joining the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-gladden/you-are-not-so-good-a-christian-when-you-are-neglecting-a-plain-duty/) [Washington Gladden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-gladden/) > [“Joining the church felt like joining a secret club; and you learned the rules after you joined. The first rule of the church was:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-white/joining-the-church-felt-like-joining-a-secret-club-and-you-learned/) [Stephen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-white/) > [Youre my best friend, You were from the start, Together we stand strong, And we will never part, We found a friendship, So powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/youre-my-best-friend-you-were-from-the-start-together-we-stand-strong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once we got to know each other, we had such similar impulses. We saw in a similar way, and we developed a strong friendship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-disney/once-we-got-to-know-each-other-we-had-such-similar-impulses-we-saw-in/) [Abigail Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-disney/) > [Most of my really strong friendships are with people I've known all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/most-of-my-really-strong-friendships-are-with-people-i-ve-known-all/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [It feels great to think that despite all the people who are hating you and your friends, you still manage to have a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-feels-great-to-think-that-despite-all-the-people-who-are-hating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A strong friendship doesn't need daily conversation, doesn't always need togetherness, as long as the relationship lives in the heart, true friends will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strong-friendship-doesn-t-need-daily-conversation-doesn-t-always-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Trust is the one most important base on which the beautiful building of strong friendship can be built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/trust-is-the-one-most-important-base-on-which-the-beautiful-building/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Yet how strong was friendship? Could it banish disagreement over a fundamental issue of human liberty—as if the issue and the disagreement didn’t exist?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jakes/yet-how-strong-was-friendship-could-it-banish-disagreement-over-a/) [John Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jakes/) > [“No. I don't want the love at first sight That sears my heart Like a bolt of lightning And disappears in the blink of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sowmya-thejomoorthy/no-i-don-t-want-the-love-at-first-sight-that-sears-my-heart-like-a/) Sowmya Thejomoorthy > [“This is only one of the reasons why a strong friendship is critical. A surface-level relationship might snap under the tension of disagreement, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabeel-qureshi/this-is-only-one-of-the-reasons-why-a-strong-friendship-is-critical-a/) [Nabeel Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabeel-qureshi/) > [You talk to your so called ''Friends'' and they talk about you,But you dont know. So is that what you call ''friends''? Nope,Dont trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/you-talk-to-your-so-called-friends-and-they-talk-about-you-but-you/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [It was an honor and a thrill to have the chance to meet His Holiness, Pope Benedict, and then to have lunch with Prime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/it-was-an-honor-and-a-thrill-to-have-the-chance-to-meet-his-holiness/) [Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/) ## More by Dave Brubeck > [I think the church should strive to give parishioners good music. Music is as necessary for worship as a building with a beautiful altar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/i-think-the-church-should-strive-to-give-parishioners-good-music/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [My own Brubeck Institute in California is turning out fantastic young jazz players, and I know great things will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/my-own-brubeck-institute-in-california-is-turning-out-fantastic-young/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [You have to be taught to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/you-have-to-be-taught-to-hate/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [When I was 20, Shostakovich was my favorite composer. I still find his Fifth Symphony wonderful, with its outstanding themes and rhythms. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/when-i-was-20-shostakovich-was-my-favorite-composer-i-still-find-his/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [Every individual should be expressing themselves, whether a politician or a minister or a policeman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/every-individual-should-be-expressing-themselves-whether-a-politician/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [If I told you all the people that have secretly told me I've influenced them, you'd never believe it, and you'll never see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/if-i-told-you-all-the-people-that-have-secretly-told-me-i-ve/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have normal hours, and get up early and work. When things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/if-there-s-a-deadline-i-work-late-if-not-i-like-to-have-normal-hours/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [My mother Elizabeth Ivey Brubeck was a pianist who studied with Dame Myra Hess and Tobias Matthey. As a child in California I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/my-mother-elizabeth-ivey-brubeck-was-a-pianist-who-studied-with-dame/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [That's the beauty of music. You can take a theme from a Bach sacred chorale and improvise. It doesn't make any difference where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/that-s-the-beauty-of-music-you-can-take-a-theme-from-a-bach-sacred/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [After the Second World War, I returned to California to study composition with Darius Milhaud, who wrote wonderful works like 'Le Boeuf sur le…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/after-the-second-world-war-i-returned-to-california-to-study/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [I started growing up in a hurry and taking a lot of the philosophy I'd heard from church as a kid a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/i-started-growing-up-in-a-hurry-and-taking-a-lot-of-the-philosophy-i/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [My dad was the manager at the 45,000-acre ranch, but he owned his own 1,200-acre ranch, and I owned four cattle that he gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/my-dad-was-the-manager-at-the-45-000-acre-ranch-but-he-owned-his-own/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [Many people don't understand how disciplined you have to be to play jazz... And that is really the idea of democracy - freedom within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/many-people-don-t-understand-how-disciplined-you-have-to-be-to-play/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [The reality for me is simple. When music is written, it is usually categorized as classical. When it is improvised, it can still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/the-reality-for-me-is-simple-when-music-is-written-it-is-usually/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [I was always very aware of drummers. My oldest brother Henry was a drummer, and he drummed on everything in the house from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/i-was-always-very-aware-of-drummers-my-oldest-brother-henry-was-a/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) [Explore all 66 Dave Brubeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) ## More Ask me quotes > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. 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If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [I am a conservative type of person, so sometimes when I'm chilling with myself, people always come ask me, 'What's wrong with you? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-wonder/i-am-a-conservative-type-of-person-so-sometimes-when-i-m-chilling/) [Wayne Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-wonder/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/) [Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/) > [I've never asked a girl out in my life, they have to ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-never-asked-a-girl-out-in-my-life-they-have-to-ask-me/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I would do almost anything Tina Fey asks me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-would-do-almost-anything-tina-fey-asks-me-to-do/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Space Jam is my favorite movie. 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