--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't realise that I was so…" description: "\"I didn't realise that I was so accomplished on the guitar until someone said to me, 'How do you do that?' That someone was John Lennon. He asked me to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/donovan-5358_guitar_i-didn-t-realise-that-i-was-so-accomplis_1877665.jpg" --- # I didn't realise that I was so accomplished on the guitar… ![“I didn't realise that I was so accomplished on the guitar until someone said to me, 'How do you do that?' That someone was John Lennon. He asked me to teach him my technique.” quote by Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/donovan-5358_guitar_i-didn-t-realise-that-i-was-so-accomplis_1877665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/donovan-5358_guitar_i-didn-t-realise-that-i-was-so-accomplis_1877665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/donovan-5358_guitar_i-didn-t-realise-that-i-was-so-accomplis_1877665.jpg) > “I didn't realise that I was so accomplished on the guitar until someone said to me, 'How do you do that?' That someone was John Lennon. He asked me to teach him my technique.” [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker realized his guitar skill only after John Lennon praised him, prompting Lennon to learn his technique. **In simple terms:** Recognition reveals hidden talent. Key Takeaway Value feedback and share expertise. Themes humility recognition musical skill collaboration Mood inspirational encouraging Type motivational educational When to use this quote - music lessons - mentor programs - peer reviews - skill workshops Key Concepts self‑awareness peer influence learning transfer Questions to Reflect On - How does praise affect confidence? - What can we do to discover hidden talents in others? A Different Perspective Talent may be unnoticed without external validation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplished Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished-guitar-2631866/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-said-456825/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [John lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-lennon/) [Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lennon/) [Lennon Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lennon-asked-2631865/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't actually start to play till I was about 10. My father came home from work a Friday and he said: 'Would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/i-didn-t-actually-start-to-play-till-i-was-about-10-my-father-came/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) > [If one could have a wish, or an alternative life, I would've liked to have been John Lennon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/if-one-could-have-a-wish-or-an-alternative-life-i-would-ve-liked-to/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [It's a cliche, but John Lennon is my hero. He was so rebellious, so outspoken and so publicly opinionated, and I'm someone who's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emun-elliott/it-s-a-cliche-but-john-lennon-is-my-hero-he-was-so-rebellious-so/) [Emun Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emun-elliott/) > [I think what made John Lennon so exciting as an artist is that, like Dylan and other musicians with a truly important musical legacy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/i-think-what-made-john-lennon-so-exciting-as-an-artist-is-that-like/) [Randy Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-bachman/) > [“John Lennon said life was what happened while you made other plans. So was death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-castle/john-lennon-said-life-was-what-happened-while-you-made-other-plans-so/) [Richard Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-castle/) > [Imagine? Yeah I can imagine John Lennon being dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/imagine-yeah-i-can-imagine-john-lennon-being-dead/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [The only good thing about America is that you killed John Lennon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-wire/the-only-good-thing-about-america-is-that-you-killed-john-lennon/) [Nicky Wire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-wire/) > [“I wouldn't like to interview John Lennon, no, because I'd ask him one question and it'd go to another thing and I'd end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/i-wouldn-t-like-to-interview-john-lennon-no-because-i-d-ask-him-one/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [Yoko Ono never deserved any of the hate she got. Paul McCartney and John Lennon weren't getting along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/yoko-ono-never-deserved-any-of-the-hate-she-got-paul-mccartney-and/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [He murmers into my hair, "Forget what I said earlier, let's stick with this, I might not survive anything more." I laugh. Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/he-murmers-into-my-hair-forget-what-i-said-earlier-let-s-stick-with/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [I met John Lennon and he was with his wife in Tokyo. I met him there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-ferry/i-met-john-lennon-and-he-was-with-his-wife-in-tokyo-i-met-him-there/) [Bryan Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-ferry/) > [One of my great memories of John is from when we were having some argument. I was disagreeing and we were calling each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/one-of-my-great-memories-of-john-is-from-when-we-were-having-some/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I don't really have a lot of hip-hop and all of that, so I have a lot of John Lennon. That's one that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-robinson/i-don-t-really-have-a-lot-of-hip-hop-and-all-of-that-so-i-have-a-lot/) [Nick Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-robinson/) > [The thing you must remember is that I'm the Number One John Lennon fan. I love him to this day and I always did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/the-thing-you-must-remember-is-that-i-m-the-number-one-john-lennon/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I just shot John Lennon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-david-chapman/i-just-shot-john-lennon/) [Mark David Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-david-chapman/) ## More by Donovan > [Most people think that I heard Bob Dylan first and got a cap and harmonica. Really, it was Woody Guthrie. He was so influential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/most-people-think-that-i-heard-bob-dylan-first-and-got-a-cap-and/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [I have always just experimented, and I come from a very ancient, acoustic root. It was very hard to put a finger on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/i-have-always-just-experimented-and-i-come-from-a-very-ancient/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [I found in Rick Rubin a kindred soul. When I visited his home and looked in his library, I saw he was reading the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/i-found-in-rick-rubin-a-kindred-soul-when-i-visited-his-home-and/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [I have amassed an enormous amount of songs about every particular condition of humankind - children's songs, marriage songs, death songs, love songs, epic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/i-have-amassed-an-enormous-amount-of-songs-about-every-particular/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [In 1968, I bought a 114-foot yacht, built in 1946, and lived on the Greek islands for a while. We had an extraordinary time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/in-1968-i-bought-a-114-foot-yacht-built-in-1946-and-lived-on-the/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [I can't help it: when something strikes me, I write it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/i-can-t-help-it-when-something-strikes-me-i-write-it-down/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [My particular space has always been quite unique in popular music. I have a background in R&B and hard rock and straight pop, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/my-particular-space-has-always-been-quite-unique-in-popular-music-i/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [Celebrities can suffer a horrible loneliness even though they have millions of fans. I started doing meditations because I realized that a spiritual path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/celebrities-can-suffer-a-horrible-loneliness-even-though-they-have/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [The Faces are my old chums. We used to hang out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/the-faces-are-my-old-chums-we-used-to-hang-out/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [I am so highly skilled that when I pick up a phrase and then pick up my guitar, a form comes out almost immediately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/i-am-so-highly-skilled-that-when-i-pick-up-a-phrase-and-then-pick-up/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [The songs I write are about searching, and they're ambiguous - always to be understood in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/the-songs-i-write-are-about-searching-and-they-re-ambiguous-always-to/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [I'm in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Jimmy Page gave me the MOJO Maverick award. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/i-m-in-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-the-songwriters-hall-of-fame/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > ['Superman' had nothing to do with the superhero or physical power. It's a reference to the book 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra,' by Friedrich Nietzsche, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/superman-had-nothing-to-do-with-the-superhero-or-physical-power-it-s/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [Publishers and record companies love a broken heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/publishers-and-record-companies-love-a-broken-heart/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [There's only one thing, in the end, and that's singing truth in a pleasant way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/there-s-only-one-thing-in-the-end-and-that-s-singing-truth-in-a/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) [Explore all 101 Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) ## More Guitar quotes > [I'll tell you one thing: I will always play the sh\*\* out of my guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-i-will-always-play-the-sh-out-of-my-guitar/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I remember people would talk about Country Music like it was this sexist, lame thing. Well, no, because Dolly Parton is writing songs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-remember-people-would-talk-about-country-music-like-it-was-this/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [I took guitar lessons and recorded the song in New York. It was kind of a dream. I got to pretend I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-took-guitar-lessons-and-recorded-the-song-in-new-york-it-was-kind/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [There's a need for music that has urgency and emotional honesty. That's why people are reintroducing themselves to guitar music - that instrument has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/there-s-a-need-for-music-that-has-urgency-and-emotional-honesty-that/) [Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/) > [I like to be quiet and play guitar and just chill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/post-malone/i-like-to-be-quiet-and-play-guitar-and-just-chill/) [Post Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/post-malone/) > [My first proper 'Here's your guitar, Joseph' was a 1981 Chiquita, one of those Erlewine travel guitars. And it was good for a four-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-proper-here-s-your-guitar-joseph-was-a-1981-chiquita-one-of/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Kenny Burrell is the grand master of jazz guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/kenny-burrell-is-the-grand-master-of-jazz-guitar/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&B divas, but I'd hate to be just some pensive girl with a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-comfortable-with-these-r-b/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) [Browse all 3,915 Guitar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't realise that I was so accomplished on the guitar until someone said to me, 'How do you do that?' 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