--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is a public performance on the…" description: "\"Life is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along.\" — E. M. Forster" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-m-forster-1118_instrument_life-is-a-public-performance-on-the-viol_1360185.png" --- # Life is a public performance on the violin, in which you… ![“Life is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along.” quote by E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-m-forster-1118_instrument_life-is-a-public-performance-on-the-viol_1360185.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-m-forster-1118_instrument_life-is-a-public-performance-on-the-viol_1360185.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-m-forster-1118_instrument_life-is-a-public-performance-on-the-viol_1360185.png) > “Life is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along.” [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life resembles a concert where we must master skills while actively participating, blending learning with performance. **In simple terms:** Life is a performance where you learn while doing. Key Takeaway Embrace learning during action. Themes growth performance learning Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - public speaking - musical practice - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance preparation and improvisation? - What does “public performance” mean to you? A Different Perspective Learning on the fly can cause mistakes and anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Learn Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-instrument-256442/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life is like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-like/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Performance Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-violin-3615396/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin/) [Violin Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin-learn-3615395/) ## Related quotes > [Life is like a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the intrument as you go along](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/life-is-like-a-public-performance-on-the-violin-in-which-you-must/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [“Life' wrote a friend of mine, 'is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/life-wrote-a-friend-of-mine-is-a-public-performance-on-the-violin-in/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [You've got to learn your instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-parker/you-ve-got-to-learn-your-instrument/) [Charlie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-parker/) > [What I think is the most important thing to learn about any instrument is the basics of music. Learn your ABCs before you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yngwie-malmsteen/what-i-think-is-the-most-important-thing-to-learn-about-any/) [Yngwie Malmsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yngwie-malmsteen/) > [Learning to play old instruments was a challenge. 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It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Reverence is fatal to literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/reverence-is-fatal-to-literature/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [This element of surprise or mystery - the detective element as it is sometimes rather emptily called - is of great importance in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/this-element-of-surprise-or-mystery-the-detective-element-as-it-is/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [It is so difficult - at least, I find it difficult - to understand people who speak the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/it-is-so-difficult-at-least-i-find-it-difficult-to-understand-people/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/railway-termini-are-our-gates-to-the-glorious-and-the-unknown/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Ah, but you see, I didn't want to be fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/ah-but-you-see-i-didn-t-want-to-be-fair/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [The final test for a novel will be our affection for it, as it is the test of our friends, and of anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/the-final-test-for-a-novel-will-be-our-affection-for-it-as-it-is-the/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [America is rather like life. You can usually find in it what you look for It will probably be interesting, and it is sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/america-is-rather-like-life-you-can-usually-find-in-it-what-you-look/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [A critic has no right to the narrowness which is the frequent prerogative of the creative artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/a-critic-has-no-right-to-the-narrowness-which-is-the-frequent/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [All men are equal — all men, that is to say, who possess umbrellas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/all-men-are-equal-all-men-that-is-to-say-who-possess-umbrellas/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Before the civil war, Pottibakia was a normal member of the Comity of Nations. 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Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Liking one person is an extra reason for liking another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/liking-one-person-is-an-extra-reason-for-liking-another/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [We are not concerned with the very poor. They are unthinkable, and only to be approached by the statistician or the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/we-are-not-concerned-with-the-very-poor-they-are-unthinkable-and-only/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) [Explore all 287 E. M. 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