--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Applause should be an emotional response…" description: "\"Applause should be an emotional response to the music, rather than a regulated social duty.\" — Emanuel Ax" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/emanuel-ax-24390_applause_applause-should-be-an-emotional-response_1134912.png" --- # Applause should be an emotional response to the music… ![“Applause should be an emotional response to the music, rather than a regulated social duty.” quote by Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/emanuel-ax-24390_applause_applause-should-be-an-emotional-response_1134912.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/emanuel-ax-24390_applause_applause-should-be-an-emotional-response_1134912.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/emanuel-ax-24390_applause_applause-should-be-an-emotional-response_1134912.png) > “Applause should be an emotional response to the music, rather than a regulated social duty.” [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Applause should arise from genuine feeling, not obligation. **In simple terms:** Clap when moved, not out of habit. Key Takeaway Let emotion guide applause. Themes authenticity art appreciation social norms Mood thoughtful appreciative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - concerts - recitals - live performances Key Concepts emotional expression cultural expectations Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever feel compelled to applaud? - How can venues encourage genuine response? A Different Perspective Some audiences feel pressured to clap regardless. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-response/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) ## Related quotes > [I listen to music two ways: As a person, you have an instinctive, personal, emotional response. But as a music supervisor, you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-patsavas/i-listen-to-music-two-ways-as-a-person-you-have-an-instinctive/) [Alexandra Patsavas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-patsavas/) > [ There were really funny characteristics about this guy \[Richard Nixon\], chief of which would be that he seemed to devote about 85 percent of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/there-were-really-funny-characteristics-about-this-guy-richard-nixon/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [Symphonies can generate a tremendous amount of sounds, beauty, and emotion. That is part of their human feel and sweetness. Keyboards, on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/symphonies-can-generate-a-tremendous-amount-of-sounds-beauty-and/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [It is in the intellectual and emotional response, the conscious and subconscious associations of the artist, that the potential power of painting lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-buechner/it-is-in-the-intellectual-and-emotional-response-the-conscious-and/) [Thomas S. Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-buechner/) > [“That it is fairly improbable to get much emotional response out of this man, I am convinced. There is a long-conditioned hardness, an outer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-goldensohn/that-it-is-fairly-improbable-to-get-much-emotional-response-out-of/) Leon Goldensohn > [As you get older you realize how important your emotional response is to any kind of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/as-you-get-older-you-realize-how-important-your-emotional-response-is/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [The essential mark of the agitator is the high value he places on the emotional response of the public. Whether he attacks or defends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-lasswell/the-essential-mark-of-the-agitator-is-the-high-value-he-places-on-the/) [Harold Lasswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-lasswell/) > [My algebra was relatively poor. I found it very difficult to use equations that substituted numbers - to which I had a synesthetic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/my-algebra-was-relatively-poor-i-found-it-very-difficult-to-use/) [Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/) > [By all means give vent to your anger, let it out in nondestructive ways--if you are still deciding to have it. But begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/by-all-means-give-vent-to-your-anger-let-it-out-in-nondestructive/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [When I read scripts and when I read books, it's more of an emotional response and I was really drawn to these characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/when-i-read-scripts-and-when-i-read-books-it-s-more-of-an-emotional/) [Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/) > [If there were no rules about when to applaud, we in the audience would have the right response almost always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/if-there-were-no-rules-about-when-to-applaud-we-in-the-audience-would/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [We should welcome applause whenever it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/we-should-welcome-applause-whenever-it-comes/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [I have been trying to find out exactly when listeners and performers decided that applause between movements would not be allowed, but nobody seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/i-have-been-trying-to-find-out-exactly-when-listeners-and-performers/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Sometimes I wish that applause would come just a bit later, when it is so beautifully hushed that I feel like holding my breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/sometimes-i-wish-that-applause-would-come-just-a-bit-later-when-it-is/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Empathy depends not only on one's ability to identify someone else's emotions but also on one's capacity to put oneself in the other person's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-g/empathy-depends-not-only-on-one-s-ability-to-identify-someone-else-s/) Charles G ## More by Emanuel Ax > [The stage is close to being in the middle of the hall, so that the performers are surrounded by the listeners. I feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/the-stage-is-close-to-being-in-the-middle-of-the-hall-so-that-the/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [It is wonderful to see how happy all my friends in the LA Philharmonic are in their new home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/it-is-wonderful-to-see-how-happy-all-my-friends-in-the-la/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Everyone is different. Sometimes it's very exciting; sometimes very scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/everyone-is-different-sometimes-it-s-very-exciting-sometimes-very/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Sometimes I wish that applause would come just a bit later, when it is so beautifully hushed that I feel like holding my breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/sometimes-i-wish-that-applause-would-come-just-a-bit-later-when-it-is/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [How wonderful it is to play with someone you feel very close to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/how-wonderful-it-is-to-play-with-someone-you-feel-very-close-to/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have such a hard time just getting things right; arguing is for string players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/pianists-don-t-argue-too-much-generally-because-we-have-such-a-hard/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [We should welcome applause whenever it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/we-should-welcome-applause-whenever-it-comes/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [If there were no rules about when to applaud, we in the audience would have the right response almost always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/if-there-were-no-rules-about-when-to-applaud-we-in-the-audience-would/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [I have been coming to Los Angeles since 1975 to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/i-have-been-coming-to-los-angeles-since-1975-to-perform/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [A lot of it just has to do with luck, serendipity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/a-lot-of-it-just-has-to-do-with-luck-serendipity/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [When one plays a Steinway, there is a warmth and nobility in the sound that is unequalled by any other instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/when-one-plays-a-steinway-there-is-a-warmth-and-nobility-in-the-sound/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [If the audience walks out of a concert thinking, What a wonderful experience, then we have done our job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/if-the-audience-walks-out-of-a-concert-thinking-what-a-wonderful/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Pianists don't argue too much generally because we have a hard enough time just getting things right. Arguing is for string players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/pianists-don-t-argue-too-much-generally-because-we-have-a-hard-enough/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [Everybody makes his path differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/everybody-makes-his-path-differently/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) > [The sheer force of the music calls for a wild audience reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/the-sheer-force-of-the-music-calls-for-a-wild-audience-reaction/) [Emanuel Ax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) [Explore all 24 Emanuel Ax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/) ## More Applause quotes > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/) [Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/) Mak\_786 > [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/) Oem Software Buy [Browse all 556 Applause quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Applause should be an emotional response to the music, rather than a regulated social duty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emanuel Ax" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/applause-should-be-an-emotional-response-to-the-music-rather-than-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Applause" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/applause-should-be-an-emotional-response-to-the-music-rather-than-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/emanuel-ax-24390_applause_applause-should-be-an-emotional-response_1134912.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/emanuel-ax-24390_applause_applause-should-be-an-emotional-response_1134912.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/emanuel-ax-24390_applause_applause-should-be-an-emotional-response_1134912.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Applause should be an emotional response to the music, rather than a regulated social duty.” — Emanuel Ax", "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": "Emanuel Ax", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-ax/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Applause should be an emotional response...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/applause-should-be-an-emotional-response-to-the-music-rather-than-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-ax/applause-should-be-an-emotional-response-to-the-music-rather-than-a/#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 } } ] } ```