---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a fundamental, social attitude that…"
description: "\"It's a fundamental, social attitude that the 1% supports symphonies and operas and doesn't support Johnny learning to program hip-hop beats. When I put..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/david-byrne-1206_attitude_it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that_1925320.jpg"
---

#  It's a fundamental, social attitude that the 1% supports…

![“It's a fundamental, social attitude that the 1% supports symphonies and operas and doesn't support Johnny learning to program hip-hop beats. When I put it like that, it sounds like, 'Well, yeah,' but you start to think, 'Why not, though?' What makes one more valuable than another?” quote by David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/david-byrne-1206_attitude_it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that_1925320.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/david-byrne-1206_attitude_it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that_1925320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/david-byrne-1206_attitude_it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that_1925320.jpg)

> “It's a fundamental, social attitude that the 1% supports symphonies and operas and doesn't support Johnny learning to program hip-hop beats. When I put it like that, it sounds like, 'Well, yeah,' but you start to think, 'Why not, though?' What makes one more valuable than another?”

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Society values elite art over popular forms, yet both can be equally valuable.

**In simple terms:** High art is prized more than popular art.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about cultural worth.

Themes

culture value artistic hierarchy

Mood

critical analytical

Type

sociocultural philosophical

When to use this quote

- music education
- policy making
- media criticism
- personal taste

Key Concepts

sociology economics

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we deem some art superior?
- How can we broaden cultural appreciation?

A Different Perspective

Popular art may lack perceived depth, leading to bias.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/)

## Related quotes

> [I've always been a guy who's pretty supportive, its just my nature, so I came in to the situation with the attitude that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-derringer/i-ve-always-been-a-guy-who-s-pretty-supportive-its-just-my-nature-so/)

[Rick Derringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-derringer/)

> [So you go to Brookings, or you go to Heritage or others, they know their position on any subject before they research it. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/so-you-go-to-brookings-or-you-go-to-heritage-or-others-they-know/)

[George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/)

> [Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table, because that will make you more welcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/be-good-at-something-it-makes-you-valuable-have-something-to-bring-to/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

> [“The only step that makes the valuable to become valueless is the negative side of your eyes that you use to see it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-only-step-that-makes-the-valuable-to-become-valueless-is-the/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [That had always been my purpose: to get people back in touch with what makes us so valuable as a human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/that-had-always-been-my-purpose-to-get-people-back-in-touch-with-what/)

[George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/)

> [Be good at something. It makes you valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/be-good-at-something-it-makes-you-valuable/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

> [“Consider what about you makes you valuable as a friend, and whenever you're in a new social situation, think about which of your assets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tynan/consider-what-about-you-makes-you-valuable-as-a-friend-and-whenever/)

[Tynan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tynan/)

> [You have to really understand and appreciate who are you are and know who you are and what you have to offer people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/you-have-to-really-understand-and-appreciate-who-are-you-are-and-know/)

[Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/)

> [“It doesn’t matter if you work at a fast food joint or if you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Your job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-angel-affect/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-work-at-a-fast-food-joint-or-if-you-are-the/)

The Angel Affect

> [It is how we feel about ourselves that provides the greatest reward from any activity. It is not what we get that makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/it-is-how-we-feel-about-ourselves-that-provides-the-greatest-reward/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [That's one thing I've really taken in pride in, is becoming that two way player, because that makes me that much more valuable for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-covington/that-s-one-thing-i-ve-really-taken-in-pride-in-is-becoming-that-two/)

[Robert Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-covington/)

> [Always do more than what you get paid for. It makes you a valuable person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/always-do-more-than-what-you-get-paid-for-it-makes-you-a-valuable/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [A thing of orchestrated hell-a terrible symphony of light and flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-thing-of-orchestrated-hell-a-terrible-symphony-of-light-and-flame/)

[Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/)

> [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/)

[Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/)

## More by David Byrne

> [The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/the-voting-booth-joint-is-a-great-leveler-the-whole-neighborhood-rich/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [Human beings have the incredible capacity for denial. I think they do. And although it's really hard to believe, I have my doubts. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/human-beings-have-the-incredible-capacity-for-denial-i-think-they-do/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [I remember talking with Arcade Fire after their first record, when they were getting all kinds of offers from major labels, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-remember-talking-with-arcade-fire-after-their-first-record-when/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [I ride my bike almost every day here in New York. It's getting safer to do so, but I do have to be fairly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-ride-my-bike-almost-every-day-here-in-new-york-it-s-getting-safer/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [I've been asking myself: 'Why put together these things - CDs, albums?' The answer I came up with is, well, sometimes it's artistically viable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-ve-been-asking-myself-why-put-together-these-things-cds-albums-the/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [“All that interconnectedness that facilitated much of the explosion of megawealth over the last decade also facilitated the interpenetration of everything, so no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/all-that-interconnectedness-that-facilitated-much-of-the-explosion-of/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [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/)

> [“I pick up a copy of Newsweek on the plane and immediately notice how biased, slanted, and opinionated all the U.S. newsmagazine articles are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-pick-up-a-copy-of-newsweek-on-the-plane-and-immediately-notice-how/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [When you fall in love, you feel like a missing piece of a puzzle that's been found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/when-you-fall-in-love-you-feel-like-a-missing-piece-of-a-puzzle-that/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [I wave to the double-decker buses from my bike, but the passengers never wave back. Why? Am I not an attraction?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-wave-to-the-double-decker-buses-from-my-bike-but-the-passengers/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [Technology has altered the way music sounds, how it’s composed and how we experience it. It has also flooded the world with music. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/technology-has-altered-the-way-music-sounds-how-it-s-composed-and-how/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [A lot of that worked itself out in the recording.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/a-lot-of-that-worked-itself-out-in-the-recording/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [I came to New York to be a fine artist - that was my ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-came-to-new-york-to-be-a-fine-artist-that-was-my-ambition/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [Sometimes the European and North American public like some things to be exotic and kept at arm's length. They don't want sometimes to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/sometimes-the-european-and-north-american-public-like-some-things-to/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [Why not invest in the future of music, instead of building fortresses to preserve its past?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/why-not-invest-in-the-future-of-music-instead-of-building-fortresses/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

[Explore all 274 David Byrne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

## More Attitude quotes

> [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/)

[MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/)

[Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/)

> [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/)

Isaiah Harden (Me

> [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/)

Sheye Hassan

> [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/)

[Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/)

[Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/)

> [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/)

[Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/)

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

[Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's a fundamental, social attitude that the 1% supports symphonies and operas and doesn't support Johnny learning to program hip-hop beats. When I put it like that, it sounds like, 'Well, yeah,' but you start to think, 'Why not, though?' What makes one more valuable than another?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Byrne"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that-the-1-supports-symphonies-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attitude"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that-the-1-supports-symphonies-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/david-byrne-1206_attitude_it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that_1925320.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/david-byrne-1206_attitude_it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that_1925320.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/david-byrne-1206_attitude_it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that_1925320.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's a fundamental, social attitude that the 1% supports symphonies and operas and doesn't support Johnny…” — David Byrne",
                "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": "David Byrne",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's a fundamental, social attitude that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that-the-1-supports-symphonies-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/it-s-a-fundamental-social-attitude-that-the-1-supports-symphonies-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
