---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's any such thing as a perfect…"
description: "\"If there's any such thing as a perfect man, I think John Coltrane was one. And I think that kind of perfection has to come from a greater force than th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9f/elvin-jones-45398_coltrane_if-there-s-any-such-thing-as-a-perfect-m_811951.png"
---

#  If there's any such thing as a perfect man, I think John…

![“If there's any such thing as a perfect man, I think John Coltrane was one. And I think that kind of perfection has to come from a greater force than there is here on earth.” quote by Elvin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9f/elvin-jones-45398_coltrane_if-there-s-any-such-thing-as-a-perfect-m_811951.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9f/elvin-jones-45398_coltrane_if-there-s-any-such-thing-as-a-perfect-m_811951.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9f/elvin-jones-45398_coltrane_if-there-s-any-such-thing-as-a-perfect-m_811951.png)

> “If there's any such thing as a perfect man, I think John Coltrane was one. And I think that kind of perfection has to come from a greater force than there is here on earth.”

[Elvin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvin-jones/)

## About This Quote

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

Perfection is unattainable for humans; the closest example is a transcendent artist whose work reflects a higher, perhaps divine, influence

**In simple terms:** A perfect man is an ideal, not a reality

Key Takeaway

Recognize greatness in artistic expression

Themes

art excellence spirituality

Mood

admiring inspired

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- music performance
- creative pursuits
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

Aesthetics transcendence

Questions to Reflect On

- What qualities do you admire in artists?
- How can you embody those qualities in your own life?

A Different Perspective

Perfection may be an unrealistic standard

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[Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Perfect man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-man/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [To me John Coltrane was like an angel on earth. He struck me that deeply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvin-jones/to-me-john-coltrane-was-like-an-angel-on-earth-he-struck-me-that/)

[Elvin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvin-jones/)

> [ John \[Coltrane\] was like a visitor to this planet. He came in peace and he left in peace; but during his time here, he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ayler/john-coltrane-was-like-a-visitor-to-this-planet-he-came-in-peace-and/)

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> [My dad would play me all of these records: Miles Davis records, John Coltrane records, Bill Evans records, a lot of jazz records. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldar-djangirov/my-dad-would-play-me-all-of-these-records-miles-davis-records-john/)

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> [I'm aware of Yusef Lateef and Sun Ra and John Coltrane. My music cup runneth over. I try to encourage people: don't cut anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-m-aware-of-yusef-lateef-and-sun-ra-and-john-coltrane-my-music-cup/)

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> [ Bob Erlendson, a local piano player, taught me chord structure and which scales go along with them. Later, I began listening to \[pianists\] Bill… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-breau/bob-erlendson-a-local-piano-player-taught-me-chord-structure-and/)

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[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [For me, the bold jazz of John Coltrane and Miles Davis reflected the bold attitude in African-Americans finding their political identity and voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/for-me-the-bold-jazz-of-john-coltrane-and-miles-davis-reflected-the/)

[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/)

> [Lately, Ive been listening to some jazz albums. I love the new Pat Metheny album. John Coltrane. I still like good metal, though!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geezer-butler/lately-ive-been-listening-to-some-jazz-albums-i-love-the-new-pat/)

[Geezer Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geezer-butler/)

> [When you're playing the part of a saxophone or a trumpet player, both of which I have done, it would be nice to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/when-you-re-playing-the-part-of-a-saxophone-or-a-trumpet-player-both/)

[Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/)

> [John Coltrane is still probably one of the greatest musicians of this century. His tone truly puts demons on a leash. His gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/john-coltrane-is-still-probably-one-of-the-greatest-musicians-of-this/)

[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

> [Listen to John Coltrane enough and after two bars, just two bars at any place, and you know that's him. We all have signature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/listen-to-john-coltrane-enough-and-after-two-bars-just-two-bars-at/)

[Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/)

> [I love music/sounds that have a passion, a fire, an energy I can connect with. I love angry sounding beat tracks, dark sounds for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-harris/i-love-music-sounds-that-have-a-passion-a-fire-an-energy-i-can/)

Mick Harris

> [As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs-on-the-list-i-think-without/)

[Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/)

> [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/)

[Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/)

> [Speaking for myself I have influenced with lots of John Coltrane, Van Morrison, Joanna Newsom, Mississippi Records compilations, Simon & Garfunkel, Duncan Browne, Judee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/speaking-for-myself-i-have-influenced-with-lots-of-john-coltrane-van/)

[Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/)

## More by Elvin Jones

> [Music is a way of life, it's everything. I play drums and that's what I believe I was born to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvin-jones/music-is-a-way-of-life-it-s-everything-i-play-drums-and-that-s-what-i/)

[Elvin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvin-jones/)

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> [It's the honesty you apply to your playing that makes music enjoyable. The style of the music has little to do with it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvin-jones/it-s-the-honesty-you-apply-to-your-playing-that-makes-music-enjoyable/)

[Elvin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvin-jones/)

> [To me John Coltrane was like an angel on earth. He struck me that deeply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvin-jones/to-me-john-coltrane-was-like-an-angel-on-earth-he-struck-me-that/)

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[Explore all 9 Elvin Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvin-jones/)

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> [I think we've all had enough of Coltrane saxophonists. There's a case of someone ruining a generation of saxophonists, as Louis Armstrong may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/i-think-we-ve-all-had-enough-of-coltrane-saxophonists-there-s-a-case/)

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> [ John \[Coltrane\] was like a visitor to this planet. He came in peace and he left in peace; but during his time here, he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ayler/john-coltrane-was-like-a-visitor-to-this-planet-he-came-in-peace-and/)

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> [For me, musicians are poets. Beethoven describes himself as a poet of tones, just like Coltrane's a poet of tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/for-me-musicians-are-poets-beethoven-describes-himself-as-a-poet-of/)

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> [My dad would play me all of these records: Miles Davis records, John Coltrane records, Bill Evans records, a lot of jazz records. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldar-djangirov/my-dad-would-play-me-all-of-these-records-miles-davis-records-john/)

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[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-hear-many-extra-musical-things-somehow-in-coltrane/)

[Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/)

> [As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs-on-the-list-i-think-without/)

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> [I love music/sounds that have a passion, a fire, an energy I can connect with. I love angry sounding beat tracks, dark sounds for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-harris/i-love-music-sounds-that-have-a-passion-a-fire-an-energy-i-can/)

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[Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/)

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[Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/)

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[Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/)

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[Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/)

> [But you listen to Coltrane and that's something human, something that's about elevation. It's like making love to a woman. It's about something of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/but-you-listen-to-coltrane-and-that-s-something-human-something-that/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [Coltrane was moving out of jazz into something else. And certainly Miles Davis was doing the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-garbarek/coltrane-was-moving-out-of-jazz-into-something-else-and-certainly/)

[Jan Garbarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-garbarek/)

Browse all 82 Coltrane quotes

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