--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The simple act of sitting down and…" description: "\"The simple act of sitting down and playing something enormously complex and spiritually uplifting on a harpsichord just bores kids to tears. There's no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/david-ogden-stiers-17741_great_the-simple-act-of-sitting-down-and-playi_3177721.jpg" --- # The simple act of sitting down and playing something… ![“The simple act of sitting down and playing something enormously complex and spiritually uplifting on a harpsichord just bores kids to tears. There's no sizzle, there's no grab. But it's the great lesson of serious music, that it invites you to listen, rather than demands that you listen.” quote by David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/david-ogden-stiers-17741_great_the-simple-act-of-sitting-down-and-playi_3177721.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/david-ogden-stiers-17741_great_the-simple-act-of-sitting-down-and-playi_3177721.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/david-ogden-stiers-17741_great_the-simple-act-of-sitting-down-and-playi_3177721.jpg) > “The simple act of sitting down and playing something enormously complex and spiritually uplifting on a harpsichord just bores kids to tears. There's no sizzle, there's no grab. But it's the great lesson of serious music, that it invites you to listen, rather than demands that you listen.” [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serious music requires patient listening rather than flashy performance to convey depth. **In simple terms:** Music teaches listening over spectacle. Key Takeaway Listen deeply to music. Themes music education listening depth culture Mood thoughtful educational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - concert listening - personal practice - music appreciation Key Concepts attention mindfulness aesthetic appreciation Questions to Reflect On - What does listening reveal about yourself? - How can we make deep music more engaging? A Different Perspective Modern audiences may prefer instant gratification over patience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [The sound of the harpsichord resembles that of a bird-cage played with toasting-forks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/the-sound-of-the-harpsichord-resembles-that-of-a-bird-cage-played/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I mean, already in the French Revolution, the harpsichord becomes identified with the aristocracy, with the ancien regime. Plus, hey, you know, I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahan-esfahani/i-mean-already-in-the-french-revolution-the-harpsichord-becomes/) [Mahan Esfahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahan-esfahani/) > [I do have to admit that teaching, composing, and editing is a bit easier than sitting at the organ or harpsichord for seven straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-harbach/i-do-have-to-admit-that-teaching-composing-and-editing-is-a-bit/) [Barbara Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-harbach/) > [As long as there's a place for sundials and gardening and beautiful things, there's a place for the harpsichord. I completely reject the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahan-esfahani/as-long-as-there-s-a-place-for-sundials-and-gardening-and-beautiful/) [Mahan Esfahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahan-esfahani/) > [Well, harpsichord is kind of a big guitar, isn't it? I mean, it is plucked, after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahan-esfahani/well-harpsichord-is-kind-of-a-big-guitar-isn-t-it-i-mean-it-is/) [Mahan Esfahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahan-esfahani/) > [One of the tracks that I have is Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - by the way, that's Bach's second son - Emanuel Bach's variations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahan-esfahani/one-of-the-tracks-that-i-have-is-carl-philipp-emanuel-bach-by-the-way/) [Mahan Esfahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahan-esfahani/) > [“He looked up and saw her and his breath stopped in his throat. His hands stopped too, still spread above the keyboard. Harpsichord notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/he-looked-up-and-saw-her-and-his-breath-stopped-in-his-throat-his/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [“Arnie Kott owned the only harpsichord on Mars. However, it was out of tune, and he could find no one to service it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick-2/arnie-kott-owned-the-only-harpsichord-on-mars-however-it-was-out-of/) [Philip K Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick-2/) > [The harpsichord was actually ideologically considered a very questionable instrument in that period, much like I think it's ideologically considered suspect today in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahan-esfahani/the-harpsichord-was-actually-ideologically-considered-a-very/) [Mahan Esfahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahan-esfahani/) > [“Your friend Mr. Tulip would perhaps like part of your payment to be the harpsichord?" said the chair. "It's not a --ing harpsichord, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/your-friend-mr-tulip-would-perhaps-like-part-of-your-payment-to-be/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Oh, well,' Mrs. Zender continued, 'Mother always said that Mr. Zender had other talents. He was good looking, and I think Mother put looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg-2/oh-well-mrs-zender-continued-mother-always-said-that-mr-zender-had/) [E.L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg-2/) > [I mean to me, the harpsichord has a huge dynamic range. And I always say to people, come and listen to it. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahan-esfahani/i-mean-to-me-the-harpsichord-has-a-huge-dynamic-range-and-i-always/) [Mahan Esfahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahan-esfahani/) > [I don't use the harpsichord because it evokes a past time period: I use it because I like the sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-don-t-use-the-harpsichord-because-it-evokes-a-past-time-period-i/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [Someday we may have as many followers as the harpsichord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-condon/someday-we-may-have-as-many-followers-as-the-harpsichord/) [Eddie Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-condon/) > [I think I was drawn to the harpsichord because of the similarity of touch between the harpsichord and the tracker organ. When you press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-harbach/i-think-i-was-drawn-to-the-harpsichord-because-of-the-similarity-of/) [Barbara Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-harbach/) ## More by David Ogden Stiers > [Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/family-means-no-one-gets-left-behind-or-forgotten/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [A lot of my income has been derived from voicing Disney and family programming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/a-lot-of-my-income-has-been-derived-from-voicing-disney-and-family/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [If it's right and true, it's listened to and accommodated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/if-it-s-right-and-true-it-s-listened-to-and-accommodated/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [It's really important to stay engaged and involved in the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/it-s-really-important-to-stay-engaged-and-involved-in-the-character/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [I've played Lear three times, I would love to do it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/i-ve-played-lear-three-times-i-would-love-to-do-it-again/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [Kids now are so used to surround sound and the power in theater speakers, that the concert hall is a disappointment to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/kids-now-are-so-used-to-surround-sound-and-the-power-in-theater/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [When something really extreme happens, you have to find a way to embrace that and include it in how you think about the character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/when-something-really-extreme-happens-you-have-to-find-a-way-to/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [I am not a long-run actor. I admire actors who can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/i-am-not-a-long-run-actor-i-admire-actors-who-can-do-that/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [Very often, I don't make it through moments of recording because it is genuinely funny and absolutely ridiculous that a 60-year-old grown man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/very-often-i-don-t-make-it-through-moments-of-recording-because-it-is/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [Every time I hear, Cut. Print, something cold and electrical goes off in my head, because I'm never going to change that film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/every-time-i-hear-cut-print-something-cold-and-electrical-goes-off-in/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [It's rare to be treated like a friend you haven't met in a Hollywood meeting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/it-s-rare-to-be-treated-like-a-friend-you-haven-t-met-in-a-hollywood/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [Fun can happen on the interior. Nobody knows about it, but there are fireworks going on inside your spirit when you hear a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/fun-can-happen-on-the-interior-nobody-knows-about-it-but-there-are/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [Something happens to us all when we experience something as a unit that doesn't occur when we're on our couches or holding our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/something-happens-to-us-all-when-we-experience-something-as-a-unit/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [People are nice enough, but you can hear the giant tick of the second hand. People are so harried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/people-are-nice-enough-but-you-can-hear-the-giant-tick-of-the-second/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [I had a meeting in LA in which they took a really overstuffed hour and a half. It was as close to old Hollywood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/i-had-a-meeting-in-la-in-which-they-took-a-really-overstuffed-hour/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) [Explore all 36 David Ogden Stiers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) ## More Great quotes > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/i-m-very-proud-of-some-of-the-stories-i-ve-been-given-thanks-to-the/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. 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